Watching the videos and reading the readings taught me a lot about mass incarceration in the United States. Mass incarceration began shortly after reconstruction but took off after the late 70s and 80s (Davis, 1997). According to Michelle Alexander, "Poor people and people of color are locked in cages and treated worse than animals and the stripped of civil rights like the right to vote, public benefits, and education." The criminal justice system is completely corrupt. They put away the people that "deserve it" but they also put away those that fit the look of people that "deserve it" which leads to people of color being wrongly put away. Our criminal justice system is more or less a cast system (The Future of Race in America). Learning this made me realize that the justice system is not based of justice at all, its simply based off of race and those in power wanting to stay in power.
The fact that the criminal justice system is biased is truly what has stuck with me the most. There are more black adults incarcerated than were enslaved a decade before the world war began. At the peak of the drug war, 80-90 percent of drug offenders sent to prison were African American but it has been proven that white youth are more likely to use and deal drugs. This topic relates to current events because currently, there are more people in prison on drug convictions than there were people in prison in 1980. Even though it is clear that race is what drives police, it is hard to prove because you cannot claim for racial discrimination unless there is "evidence" of bias (The Future of Race in America, Alexander).
Friday, May 6, 2016
Friday, April 22, 2016
White Privilege Blog Post Assignment
White skin privilege is a transparent preference for whiteness that saturates our society. White privilege provides white people with "perks" that are not earned and that people of color do not enjoy. White privilege allows white people to be immune to many challenges and it shapes the world in which we live and how we navigate and interact with one another and with the world (Crandall, Dostie & Douglass Books, Inc., 2000).
On the Privilege Point Questionnaire, I scored a 12 which means that "In U.S. society many obstacles will be put in place that will interfere with you getting the things required to have what the society considers a good life, simply because of your race (Carol Cheney, Jeannie LaFrance and Terrie Quinteros, 2006)." I believe this is true because white privilege exists and because I am black, I am instantly pre-judged in certain situations. Though this may create certain struggles, I believe that I am capable over overcoming them.
Reading "On Racism and White Privilege" I gained insight on what white privilege truly is. One example of white privilege that I never realized is that when a white person needs a band-aid, they get one that is flesh-colored and generally matches their skin tone. Another "perk" that is gained from white privilege is that a white person's skin color does not work against them in terms of how people perceive their financial responsibility, style of dress, public speaking skills, or job performance (Crandall, Dostie & Douglass Books, Inc., 2000).
On the other hand, white privilege can be used to empower those who are denied of the privileges. For example, in the video we watched in class about the woman who was facing racial discrimination in the grocery store, her white sister-in-law used her white privilege to help her sister. I believe that white privilege can be used in positive ways like this one.
On the Privilege Point Questionnaire, I scored a 12 which means that "In U.S. society many obstacles will be put in place that will interfere with you getting the things required to have what the society considers a good life, simply because of your race (Carol Cheney, Jeannie LaFrance and Terrie Quinteros, 2006)." I believe this is true because white privilege exists and because I am black, I am instantly pre-judged in certain situations. Though this may create certain struggles, I believe that I am capable over overcoming them.
Reading "On Racism and White Privilege" I gained insight on what white privilege truly is. One example of white privilege that I never realized is that when a white person needs a band-aid, they get one that is flesh-colored and generally matches their skin tone. Another "perk" that is gained from white privilege is that a white person's skin color does not work against them in terms of how people perceive their financial responsibility, style of dress, public speaking skills, or job performance (Crandall, Dostie & Douglass Books, Inc., 2000).
On the other hand, white privilege can be used to empower those who are denied of the privileges. For example, in the video we watched in class about the woman who was facing racial discrimination in the grocery store, her white sister-in-law used her white privilege to help her sister. I believe that white privilege can be used in positive ways like this one.
Reconstruction Reflective Response Assignment
In 'A Red Record' by Ida B. Wells, she points out that "the first excuse given to the civilized world for the murder of unoffending Negroes was the necessity of the white man to repress and stamp out alleged "race riots." This excuse is invalid for various reasons. One reason being that for years immediately following the war, there were an appalling number of colored people being slaughtered. Also, it was shown that during these race riots, only Negroes were killed and all white men escaped unharmed. This shows that the true perpetrators of the race riots were the Whites (Wells-Barnett, 1925).
Historically, race riots were a result of conflict caused between black and whites due to black wealth and home ownership (History Channel, 2015). Another reason for the race riots was a fear of "Negro Domination" due to it being maintained that "This is a white man's government". In all, the race riots were caused by racism.
In 1921 in Tulsa, Oklahoma, a substantial race riot occurred. Within Tulsa, Oklahoma, was the town Greenwood created for blacks which caused conflicts between black and whites due to the black wealth and home ownership happening within the town. The spark of the riot was on May 30, 1921 when Dick Rowland, a black man, allegedly assaulted Sarah Paige, a white woman, in an elevator. News reports led citizens to believe that Rowland raped Paige which led to the gathering of numerous citizens at the courthouse where Rowland was being held. Armed African American men also gathered at the courthouse in an effort to provide extra protection for Rowland. The riot began when shots were fired at the courthouse and continued into Greenwood. The police sided with the white rioters and began to deem random white citizens deputies giving them the power to arrest and detain any black citizen. These riots destroyed the community and there was an estimated 5 million dollars in physical damage, 6,000 blacks put into interment camps, and 1,000 black homes and businesses destroyed. Not only was Greenwood negatively impacted by these riots, but Tulsa was as well because the economy came to a halt due to the vast numbers of black workers being locked up or killed. The number of dead is uncertain, approximately 300 (History Channel, 2015).
Regarding the concept of freedom, during the reconstruction era, freedom was unattainable. Blacks were placed into internment camps and during this time they were segregated with no aid. Also, the government put a road/ highway through the town which did more permanent damage than the riot. Overall, freedom was unreal.
In 1921 in Tulsa, Oklahoma, a substantial race riot occurred. Within Tulsa, Oklahoma, was the town Greenwood created for blacks which caused conflicts between black and whites due to the black wealth and home ownership happening within the town. The spark of the riot was on May 30, 1921 when Dick Rowland, a black man, allegedly assaulted Sarah Paige, a white woman, in an elevator. News reports led citizens to believe that Rowland raped Paige which led to the gathering of numerous citizens at the courthouse where Rowland was being held. Armed African American men also gathered at the courthouse in an effort to provide extra protection for Rowland. The riot began when shots were fired at the courthouse and continued into Greenwood. The police sided with the white rioters and began to deem random white citizens deputies giving them the power to arrest and detain any black citizen. These riots destroyed the community and there was an estimated 5 million dollars in physical damage, 6,000 blacks put into interment camps, and 1,000 black homes and businesses destroyed. Not only was Greenwood negatively impacted by these riots, but Tulsa was as well because the economy came to a halt due to the vast numbers of black workers being locked up or killed. The number of dead is uncertain, approximately 300 (History Channel, 2015).
Regarding the concept of freedom, during the reconstruction era, freedom was unattainable. Blacks were placed into internment camps and during this time they were segregated with no aid. Also, the government put a road/ highway through the town which did more permanent damage than the riot. Overall, freedom was unreal.
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