Ethnic Groups and Multiracial Identity - Essay Example

Ethnic Groups and Multiracial Identity Introduction Question one My US Senators are Dianne Feinstein and Barbara Boxer. My US house of Representatives is Mike Thompson for CA District I. In my congressional district the State Senator is Sr. Dianne Feinstein while my two State House of Representatives are Mike Thompson for District 1 and Wally Herger for CA District 2. Question 2: personal issues 250 I would like my Senator to address several issues during the current time. I want the Senator to address job creation since majority of the young people do not have meaningful employment. Racial stereotyping and crime in the society is partly attributed to the poverty levels in the society among people from a particular race. The Senator should address the issue of education and in particular the low enrollment levels and high drop out rates from school by children from particular races. The ability to attain good jobs can only be related to the ability to secure good education and training hence members of the African American community have been segregated in employment due to lack of enough education. High unemployment rates among the youth are the leading causes of crime like drug peddling and violent robberies hence the Senator should ensure youth receive property education. The Senator should also increase the rehabilitation facilities for drug patients and the correctional facilities for petty offenders. Lack of counseling and support services have increased the crime levels in the neighborhood. The Senator should work towards racial integration by establishing cultural centers and community centers where each racial group can celebrate and preserve their unique culture and traditions. The Senator should consider increasing the welfare benefits to the poor citizens. The Senator should consider the issue of taxation where he can advocate for reduction in the tax rates for the people whose income is not adequate for housing and other basic needs. The Senator should increase the housing provision facilities. Question 3 people of power: law, Supreme Court and congress Dr Friedman asserts that people lobby and assert pressure on their government for many social changes. He continues by saying the legal justice system is the product of people demand. The society shapes the legal framework and must live within the framework. The legal system reflects the power structure and authority in the society. He believes that the wealth and power influence the making and execution of the laws where big corporations and rich people run the country. He believes the middle class can be powerful but its keeps being divided and fragmented. He believes the minorities and civil rights are protected by the law but our ideals affect the policies which we pursue. Laws are made by legislatures enacted through popular vote and rulings are given by the Supreme Court hence want counts are the strength of the pillars holding the systems. The Supreme Court was established by Article 3 of the US constitution which did not explain the clear duties and powers of the Court. American Constitution denied African Americans citizenship. In 1865, the Thirteenth Amendment and Civil Rights Act of 1866 gave all citizens equal rights and ended slavery. Citizenships were granted to Non-white Americas in 1868 where no State was required to make laws that deprive any person of life, property without due law process being followed. African Americans were granted the right to vote in 1870 but on criteria that they could read the Constitution provisions fluently without any error. In 1854, the Supreme Court in the case of Scott V. Sandford, ruled that Dred Scott was still a slave despite having lived in “free states” for several years hence he was the property of the owner. In the same case, Justice Taney ruled that Scott had no the capacity to bring the case to court since he was not a U.S citizen. The most historic Supreme Court ruling on race was delivered by Justice Thurgood Marshall who was the first black Justice. In the case of Brown V. Board of Education 1954, he challenged the “separate but equal” doctrine which had contributed to racial discrimination in public schools system hence his ruling held that it was unconstitutional and denied the Black children equal standards of education as their white counterparts. His ruling precipitated the Civil rights Act of 1964 which prohibited racial, religious, color, gender and sexual orientation discrimination. Question 4: Cartoon 250 white privilege The cartoon in Week 5 has stressed the existence of white privilege in the American society. The cartoon indicates that whites experience open doors in every aspect of their life. This indicates that whites believe they can excel in education, employment and political life due to their unearned advantage of their race. The cartoon shows the negative thinking of the whites towards other races, for instance, they believe that immigration laws should be changed for some races to immigrate to other places. The cartoon shows the discrimination in the housing where certain races are not expected to live in some neighborhoods. For instance, young African American males who marry white women may face discrimination in housing when moving in white dominated neighborhoods. The cartoon shows that some races are discriminated in the financial system due to racial prejudices on poverty and illiteracy. For instance, the whites can easily get mortgages from banks to purchase houses due to their trust. The cartoon further shows that some races are more likely to experience high poverty and homelessness due to racist prejudices which hinder them from accessing financial facilities. The cartoon highlights the racial discrimination in employment. For instance, Bob’s dad gets a job due to his race but the other applicant is turned down due to his race. This shows white privilege is high in the workplace. The employment procedure does not follow the qualifications and skills of the applicant but the racial background of the applicant. Most of the employers are whites hence other races find it difficult to secure meaningful employment due to racial prejudice. The court shows that whites are not wiling to co-exist with other races in the workplace. White privilege according to the cartoon also exists in the law enforcement system and judicial system. For instance, the police officer is not willing to charge the white offender for the possessing of drugs which is a criminal offense. The white offender is merely released with a warning which implies that the law enforcement agency may be dominated by white people. On the other part, a similar offender who is mainly of African American race, is arrested for the same offense and charged in court. The court simply implies racial stereotyping that Blacks are more notorious and more likely to commit crimes. In the last part of the cartoon, blacks contain on the white privilege that there race does not benefit them. The black race begins agitating for equal opportunities both in employment and financial matters. The black race also wants equal treatment from the justice system and equal treatment in civil rights like the housing facilities. Question 5: unpacking the invisible Knapsack 300 I decided to review some of the daily effects of white privilege in my life. I will attach more preference to skin color than other kinds of prejudice like class, religion, status and geographic location. I am not in the company of my people most of the times. I do not avoid spending time with people who I was taught to mistrust. I can freely purchase property in an area which I need to live but I am not quite sure if my neighbors would be happy with me. Sometimes I fear being harassed while shopping but I greatly appreciate when people of my race are widely represented in the Newspapers and Television news. I appreciate how people of my race struggled for equality in civil rights and my children can testify to the existence of their race. I can find great publishers on my findings of white privilege and my voice can be heard in groups even if I am the only one of a different race. I can confidently shop for music of my race and tradition since it is widely available in supermarkets and use credit cards since financial institutions do not question my financial credibility. My children will not be intimidated in school or employment but my dressing and low illiteracy levels of my race are attributed to bad morals. I can openly criticize government policies but traffic cops may single me out because of my race. I easily shop for books, magazines and post-cards featuring famous people of my race but may body shape may be taken as a reflection of my race. An affirmative action employer may give me a job with co-workers suggesting that the decision was influenced by race and can seek public accommodation without fear of racial prejudice. I can seek legal and medical help without worrying of my race and can find figurative and imagery in all arts to testify the experience of my race. Some neighborhoods may not easily approve our household but I feel welcomed and normal in public life including institutional and social life. According to 12, I can easily shop for music in the supermarkets since it is widely represented. I observe my cultural traditions without worrying about my race and intimidation from members of the other races. I enjoy my traditional staple foods and I can cut my hair in a style of my choice without worrying of racial harassment. According to 16, I am sure my teachers and employers will tolerate my children without worrying about the race. The government has enacted various legislations which prohibit discrimination in education and workplace on the basis of race hence my children will be accorded equal opportunities like any other child from the other races. Question six: multiracial “Fluid” 300 Multiracial fluid identity is evident in American society. Most of the neighborhoods are dominated by either blacks or whites. Since the black rights movements, the whites have responded to the demands of the blacks with violence. African American families are associated with homelessness, poverty and violence. Blacks are also subordinated in the provision of health care and education services. In the justice system, blacks have been associated with violent crimes like murder, rape and organized crimes. The blacks have also been identified with prostitution and strip dancing due to their popular culture which glories violent struggle and unique music genre which features women struggles and suffering. Blacks have mainly inhabited Columbia district where they account for nearly 30 percent of the population. The blacks are characterized by their poor living conditions in communities which are dominated by all social evils like air pollution and violent crimes. States like New York, Indiana and Georgia have blacks as a minority group. Blacks are also characterized by low education levels hence less than 20 percent have a bachelor’s degree qualification. Blacks do not own major businesses and majority of them cannot afford health care insurance. Blacks have low home ownership and less than half live in families as married couples. The United States would label people according to their race, their color, sexual orientation and religion. For instance, the female African Americans are intimidated due to their body shapes and hair color. They are labeled as prostitutes and pop stars whose main activity is music but not other economic activities. The male African Americans are labeled as a liability to the government since they are largest recipients of social welfare. The Asian Americans and especially Muslims would be labeled as agents of terrorism due to their strict Muslim teachings. The black males are labeled as criminals since they are associated with violent robbery and other social evils and offenses like rape. Question 7: Ethnicities in the news 500 (2 stories) There are different Newspapers which have carried stories of racism in America. For instance, New York Times has published an article on racism titled; black? White? Asian? More young Americans choose all of above which was published by Susan Saulny on January 20, 2011. (http://www.nytimes.com/2011/01/30/us/30mixed.html?_r=1&pagewanted=all). The article explores the multiracial society of America by looking at the racial combination of the students. American colleges and Universities are full of many races hence more students don’t identify themselves with any particular race (Saulny 1). According to the article, racial intermarriages have produced new multiracial society which combines both the white race and black race. The article tells us that multiracial and Multiethnic Americans are the largest growing demographic group as of the 2010 census (Saulny 3). Young adults are currently rejecting the color lines. Racial trends have changed where currently Americans are allowed to identify themselves as multiracial. The article advises that multiracial aspects have not only been witnessed in student population but also in politics, business and sports. There are also multiracial advertisements, film festivals and consumer products and also dating websites which are dedicated to multi-race audience. The multiracial identity is gaining prominence (Saulny 4). According to our studies, the society needs racial integration which is important in ending the racial stereotypes. Racial intermarriages have resulted to the multiracial identity which identifies with the cultural and traditional values of different races. Racial stereotypes and identities are declining due to participation of all the races in social, economic and political affairs of the country. The American society can end racist by ensuring equal opportunities for all citizens and equal rights and freedoms for the minorities (Saulny 5). The second newspaper which carried racism article is the Chicago tribune where the title of the article was racism is racism by Alice Solovy. The article was authored on April 6, 1997 and can be accessed using the following link (http://articles.chicagotribune.com/1997-04-06/news/9704060149_1_racism-rose-survival). The article explains that even defamatory statements no matter how minute they may seem still account to racism. The article says that regardless of the motivation of the defamatory statements, racism will remain racism despite the cause of the racism. The article offers a solution to racism by emphasizing that children should be taught at the early stage to respect their peers. According to previous lecturers, the need of societal values which respect the fundamental civil rights and freedoms of all citizens was stressed. All citizens should receive equal treatment in education, school and in the workplace. Negative racial attitudes are passed from one generation to the other hence the importance of education on respect for others is essential. The importance of multiracial society is emphasized in the previous lecturers hence more young people should know and appreciate the culture and traditions of the different races. Conclusion Racism has been prohibited by Civil Rights acts of 1964. Blacks have a long history of racial stereotyping since they have been discriminated in housing, employment and the education system. However, modern society is characterized by multiracial where students, politicians and business people identify themselves with more than one race. Works cited: Saulny, Susan. “Black? White? Asian? More young Americans choose all the above.” New York Times January 20 2007 Viewed on 16th February 2012 from http://www.nytimes.com/2011/01/30/us/30mixed.html?_r=1&pagewanted=all Read More