In the article, “Duck Dynasty” and Quackery, Blow focuses on the comments made by Phil Robertson, the male head of the show. In the interview, Robertson says, “I never, with my eyes, saw the mistreatment of any black person. Not once.” In conclusion, Robertson was an extremely ignorant person and he did not realize the discrimination going on around him. He never experienced it, which is why he was not able to notice the suffering of other people that faced discrimination. “Robertson doesn’t seem to acknowledge the possibility that black workers he encountered possessed the most minimal social sophistication and survival skills necessary to not confess dissatisfaction to a white person on a cotton farm (no matter how “trashy” that white person might think himself).” In conclusion, black workers and black people in general were extremely cautious in front of white people. They would think twice before saying anything, especially in front of white people since they are considered the superior race. Through the passage on race from the interview, I concluded that Robertson did not put in the effort …show more content…
to notice the little things that were going around him. He believed what he wanted to which was that everything around him was happy and that there was no mistreatment of any black person going on around him. Human suffering is a physical, mental, or emotional pain.
Blow believes that this is an extremely important and serious topic. He believes that Roberson’s comments about discrimination are inappropriate because they do not depict the seriousness of the matter. According to Blow, this phenomenon does cause pain and suffering for the people that are discriminated due to their color, race etc. In the article Blow says, “only a man blind and naive to the suffering of others could have existed there are not recognized that there was a rampant culture of violence against blacks, with incidents and signs large and small, at every turn, on full display.” In the quote, Blow clearly states that there were incidents in which black people were discriminated and treated poorly. This quote helps prove that the social phenomenon discussed in the article does contribute to human
suffering. Blow’s approach is a macro approach. It is the functional perspective. In his approach, he does not talk about a quirk that is unique to Robertson. In the article, he talks about black people in general and how they are being mistreated. He talks about the inequality between black and white people. He talks about the different laws that helped establish the inequality between black people and white people. “There were the black codes which sought to control interactions between blacks and whites and constrain black freedom.” In the article, he focuses on the content of a specific passage about race from the interview. He talks about Robertson’s insensitivity to whatever is going on around him. Blow’s approach discusses how the phenomenon is the result of inequality, which leads to discord and other negative things. A social issue is an issue that impacts a significant number of people within a society. The topic in the article represents a social issue, which is a result of historical/ social forces. For many years, people have viewed the different races in a certain way just like Roberson did. He has the “this-is-just-the-way-I-see-it kind of Southern folksiness.” There have been multiple laws made that support that view. “In 1890, the State Legislature passed the Separate Car Act. “ The act stipulated that all railway companies in the state “shall provide equal but separate accommodations for the white, and colored races” in their coaches.” The creation of these laws made the problem a public and possibly political one. This problem is a social issue because it has a social root and is shared by many other people. This problem is something that is seen throughout the world. According to the data, 46% of southern whites have been treated with less respect while 77% of southern blacks have been treated with less respect. The data also shows that the police have racially profiled 15% of southern whites while the police have racially profiled 44% of southern blacks. This data proves that the blacks are being mistreated and that many people have very strong opinions about them. People do not have good opinions about black people, which is why they are discriminated. People never believe the story of a black person even if it is the truth. They always trust the white people because they are considered the superior race in the eyes of our society. One recommendation is to create policies that increase the interaction between the black and white people. Just like there were policies for the segregation of different races in cars, busses and schools, there could be policies in which people with different races can travel together, go to the same school and do other things that they were not allowed to do at one point in time. There could be a type of group therapy for black people in which they can talk about how they feel. This will help build relationships and make black people feel like they are not going through it alone. It will give them the moral support that they need. Doing more research on the topic would help people understand the importance of it and the effect that it has on the people of those races.
For as long as I can remember, racial injustice has been the topic of discussion amongst the American nation. A nation commercializing itself as being free and having equality for all, however, one questions how this is true when every other day on the news we hear about the injustices and discriminations of one race over another. Eula Biss published an essay called “White Debt” which unveils her thoughts on discrimination and what she believes white Americans owe, the debt they owe, to a dark past that essentially provided what is out there today. Ta-Nehisi Coates published “Between the World and Me,” offering his perspective about “the Dream” that Americans want, the fear that he faced being black growing up and that black bodies are what
People in America are not all seen as equal, and this is especially true when it comes to people of color. According to “Theories and Constructs of Race” by Linda Holtzman and Leon Sharpe: “The continuous racial targeting of people of color and the privileging of whites, along with the misinformation about race passed along from one generation to the next and reinforced through the media, has imbued people of all races with a distorted sense of personal and group identity” (Holtzman and Sharpe 604). This quote means that people of color are often targeted in a negative way, which shows that racism and discrimination is something that can be passed down or learned from the media. Today, there are people who still think minorities are inferior based on the color of their skin. “Theories and Constructs of Race” also mentions how from an early age, minorities become the target for racism, blame, and overall hatred. According to “Theories and Constructs of Race” by Linda Holtzman and Leon Sharpe: “The myth of racial inferiority and superiority has been upheld not only by physical violence and discriminatory policies but also by the psychological violence conveyed through stereotyping and racist messaging” (Holtzman and Sharpe 604). This quote means that minorities are constantly targeted both physically and psychologically, which shows that inequality is a “monster” due to the damage it causes to individuals on multiple levels. Racism can also lead to internalized racism, which causes individuals to adapt a self-deprecating attitude and engage in self-destructive behavior. Furthermore, hate, racism, and discrimination often result from people not understanding that not everyone is offered the same opportunities due to the lack of
America have a long history of black’s relationship with their fellow white citizens, there’s two authors that dedicated their whole life, fighting for equality for blacks in America. – Audre Lorde and Brent Staples. They both devoted their professional careers outlying their opinions, on how to reduce the hatred towards blacks and other colored. From their contributions they left a huge impression on many academic studies and Americans about the lack of awareness, on race issues that are towards African-American. There’s been countless, of critical evidence that these two prolific writers will always be synonymous to writing great academic papers, after reading and learning about their life experience, from their memoirs.
One examples is, even before his surgery was complete and he had not made the full transition from white to black yet, he was startled at what he heard from his doctor. At the time of his surgery, he spoke with the dermatologist who was changing his skin color, and found out that even this man had prejudices over black people. The doctor was insistent that the “lighter-skinned Negroes” were more ethical and more sensible than the darker-skinned ones. This man, with a high intellectual IQ and much schooling, also claimed that, as a whole group and race, blacks are always violent. Griffin, horrified that he let this man be in charge of his operation, was utterly and completely appalled that a liberal man could indulge in such hateful fallacies. Not only before and during his surgery does Griffin find himself being appalled by white people, but also during his time as a black man in the south he experienced many harsh and unfriendly situations, he never would have experienced if he was a white man. For example, on his first day as a black man he goes into a drugstore forgetting his skin color and that he now, since he is black, he forbidden from ordering a fountain drink, but after a few mean and disgusted looks from the white workers he realizes, he wasn’t even allowed in the store. His first day hit him hard when he figured out that everywhere he went whites seemed to look at him with suspicion and hostility. Also, after having the word nigger seem to never escape his ears its implications almost became unbearable. Hearing this really made me think about all of the black people in the south that have had to put up this and even worse things every day of their lives and how strong they all were; a white man has been through this one day and can barely take it; how have these people put up with this for so
I didn’t have racism and I didn’t grow up with segregated ideals. While his family was surrounded with segregated ideals. (Blow, 2014, p.47)
Earlier in the semester we watched a video over Post-Traumatic Slave Syndrome by Dr. Joy DeGruy. This video was inspiring for people to look at what has happened in our history and society. This has been a major social injustice to African-Americans for so long, and it is now time that it needs to be confronted. People are often confused about why some people get upset about the way African-Americans react to some things, it is because they never had the opportunity to heal from their pain in history. In the article “Post-Traumatic Slave Syndrome,” it is talked about how racism is, “a serious illness that has been allowed to fester for 400 years without proper attention” (Leary, Hammond, and Davis, “Post-Traumatic Slave Syndrome”). This is
In the United States, racial discrimination has a lengthy history, dating back to the biblical period. Racial discrimination is a term used to characterize disruptive or discriminatory behaviors afflicted on a person because of his or her ethnic background. In other words, every t...
Racism is still prevalent as it has been demonstrated by Colin Kaepernick of the 49ers being called a traitor and other derogatory names for protesting the national anthem by choosing to take a knee when it’s playing. Oftentimes, black bodies feel oppressed and often view themselves being targets of police brutality and injustice which are sensationalized by the social media and thus, they protest. A movement called Black Lives Matter has emerged and been brought to the attention of the whole world. People of color want the freedom to excel without oppressions let alone, to be treated equally based on personal merits regardless of the color of their skin. The majority of American realizes it, is very concerned about it, and wants to do something about it. As a member of this group, Rankine took action by delivering this
He states that Black life still does not seem to matter in America to the point that at time it feels as if the mere existence of Blacks is ignored. He claims that blacks are still readily denied decent education, employment, and opportunities available to their white counterparts and they are harassed, criminalized, incarcerated, animalized and killed due to the color of their skin. There have been several recent incidents strengthening the fact that even in the year 2015, America is still plagued by the evil of racism, presumed racial superiority and
“The racial hierarchy positions whites at the top, blacks at the bottom (as the “fixed star”) and other racial groups in between” (Module 3, Differences in Experiences of U.S. Minority Groups). When Europeans encountered the people of other lands, they collected information about what they were seeing and experiencing. This became the basis for constructing a racial hierarchy. In Orlando Sentinel Series, the racial hierarchy between whites and blacks is seen in the article “Minorities often face pressure to fit in.” This article describes the experiences of LaVon Wright Bracy. She was a victim of racial hierarchy because white students at her school avoided the hallways she walked in and would leave the lunch table once she sat down. The white students didn’t think Bracy was good enough to sit with them or be around them due to the color of her skin. Racial hierarchy in contemporary times is a mindset that many people carry around with them, many times unconsciously. It guides people’s judgments and attitudes regarding their understanding of race relations, which is clearly seen in the case of
Discrimination has always been there between blacks and whites. Since the 1800s where racial issues and differences started flourishing till today, we can still find people of different colors treated unequally. “[R]acial differences are more in the mind than in the genes. Thus we conclude superiority and inferiority associated with racial differences are often socially constructed to satisfy the socio-political agenda of the dominant group”(Heewon Chang,Timothy Dodd;2001;1).
Racism exists in many forms and is unavoidable. A major cause of biased racial dissertation is that is has been the way it is for so long. Caucasians do represent a disproportionate percent of wealthy and powerful businessmen and political leaders in American and their influence contributes to the racial stereotypes that are in existent today. When President Barack Obama first ran for his presidency in 2008 it is safe to say the world was shocked to say the least. President Obama’s race is a mix of Hawaiian and African American. In 2009 Michal Payne wrote an article in The Daily Item on President Obama’s election and Tim Wise’s novel, Between Barack and A Hard Place. In the article Payne disuses Wises two forms of racism; ‘Racism 1.0 is “old-fashioned racism” and Racism 2.0 is “enlightened exceptio...
They may be a little under-informed on what he said, but they are still offended. NAACP states that, “Mr. Robertson claims that, from what he saw, African Americans were happier under Jim Crow.” They then go on to talk about the “lynching[s] and beatings” of blacks that he did not witness, which they did say from what he saw, but they entirely forgot about that he didn’t witness the bad things, therefore he didn’t know about them. They have their historical facts straight, but use them in a poor, misunderstood way. NAACP was also more sophisticated in the wording of their letter to A&E, unlike the first text, which seemed a little snarky at points. Such as telling the audience to go “look it up” when referring to a bible verse and his obvious distaste towards the Robertsons’ appearance (Buckley). Although the NAACP were slightly biased, they stated their opinions in a polite manner, saying things like, “As you may know [...]” and “His words show an unbridled lack of respect for [...] the ongoing challenges members of our communities continue to
Prejudice, racism, discrimination have always been present in society. Combined together, they form one of the most terrible and dreadful ways of treating and thinking about another human being. The effects of these actions and views on individuals have impacted society in an irreparable and tragic way. Judging someone by the color of their skin creates permanent impacts in people’s lives. A consequence caused by that old-fashioned way of thinking and seeing society in general is the effects these views have on black children education: a considerable number of American black children suffer to get a good education since they are in preschool.
In my opinion, I agree with Brent Staples and his view on the public when they misjudge him. The way Staples reacted to discrimination was admitting it. He does not seem angry with the public misjudging him. Staples writes “where fear and weapons meet— and they often do in urban America—there is always the possibility of death” (Staples 224). Stereotyping can be dangerous because it may cause chaos and violence in the society. The way he coped with this situation was a good way because it was safe for him. He chose to deal with his problem by accommodating to people...