Sociology 255

For those of you who posted posts or comments AFTER 12 noon, they were automatically pushed into a “pending” box.  That’s why they’re not posted.  They won’t be counted toward your or someone else’s grade.

My senior year of high school I took the class “African American History” and while we did talk about history the class ended up being a discussion of race and racism at our high school and how we could take steps to end it. Taking this sociology class has reminded me of that history class from 4 years ago and I have enjoyed it but at the same time it makes me a little sad because we are talking about the same issues. It seems that there are issues that may not be resolved in my lifetime but I can say that my class 4 years ago would never have imagined there being a black president.

What do people get from this class? A sense of acomplishment, a sense of regret, or both maybe? I am glad we are talking about these issues and being pushed out of our comfort zones but at the same time will there ever be a time when we don’t have to talk about race?

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/21134540/vp/29884710#30136393

This video talk about a fried chicken place named “Obama Fried Chicken”. The owner appears to be indian or middle eastern. This certainly strikes me as stereotypical and racist, although some in the video say that we shouldn’t concern ourselves over something so trivial. Your thoughts?

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/21134540/vp/29884710#29884710

This video claims that blacks are actually worse off now than they were 8 years ago. This flies in the face of traditional view of race relations - that it is a steady march forward. Do you agree that blacks are worse off now? If so, why?

If you haven’t noticed on campus, the Youth for Western Civilization is I suppose protesting T.I coming to campus because he is a danger to the Vanderbilt community because of his previous conviction for fire arms. The fact that there organization has flyers on our campus really confused me.

Below is the group’s mission statement

Youth for Western Civilization will educate, organize and train activists on campuses across the nation to create a culture that will promote the survival of Western Civilization and pride in Western heritage. This movement is focused on the support of Western history, identity, high culture, and pride and opposition to radical multiculturalism, political correctness, racial preferences, mass immigration, and socialism.

Our class is almost over and as other students I was contemplating what I learned in this class and how that has changed my perspective on issues. I can’t say that I have changed a lot except maybe made me a little more depressed about whether I will leave to see a world of complete equality (but that is not the point that I am trying to make).

My issue is that we are often fed the idea that racist individuals are a thing of the past and that the only individuals who are still racist are ignorant and backwoods people. However, I would consider Vanderbilt to be filled with intelligent individuals and the Youth for Western Civilization has followers that are students who sit beside us every day.

I wanted to know how do other individuals  feel about those who promote, support or tolerate hate groups?

Does anyone feel that Vanderbilt should have denied Youth for Western Civilization access to our campus?

Why wasn’t there a large campaign to condemn hate groups as there was for Juicy Campus???

If we can condemn Juicy Campus despite it being in the realm of free speech, why can’t we condemn this obvious hate group.

(I will make the bold statement that Youth for Western Civilization is a hate group. There is no doubt in my mind and I cannot be persuaded that it is anything other than that).

Since we have not solved all the world’s race problems, how has this class causes a change in anyone’s perspective about race? Will anything change?

I was looking through some articles from Black In America from CNN and I found this article where a senator discovers that he has a large group of black family members. He seems happily surprised by this revalation and he seems to quickly embrace his new family members. It almost seems like they are taking it as a fun joke:

“The revelation has inspired a few jokes among the senator’s family and friends. “I always knew you were one of us,” an African-American friend told the senator with a nudge and wink.”

Do you think this is a legit reaction from a prominent white politician from the South or do you think he has had to change his perspectives for this article? I feel like this kind of a revalation would come as a shock as opposed to the nonchalant reaction the senator gives.

http://www.cnn.com/2009/LIVING/wayoflife/02/25/rand.family.roots/index.html

I can’t speak for anyone else, but I feel a bit different. This class and its (at times) searing discussions about race in America have created in me an obligation. An obligation to not just point at things and people and say “Aha! Racism!”, but to actually change things. Change is hard, like half-a-millenium- worth-of-work hard. But it’s worth it. And though a racially equal and integrated society may seem like a dishearteningly distant dream, we have no choice but to move forward. As the year ends, I would like to hear your comments about:

What a racially just America would look like,

And what is the most important step we need to take to get there?

it’s been real.

Since this is my last blog I decided to write about my thoughts about the class. I never thought we would delve into so many racial issuse in the span of a semester. But I like that we did. It gave everybody a chance to see things from different viewpoints. I also never thought I would began to see things with a new eye. My eyes have been open wider because of this class. Yes, some of the topics an discussions rubbed me the wrong way but race does that to everyone.

During my senior year in high school I applied for a scholarship meant to help Native American descendants pay for higher education. My mother encouraged me to apply for the scholarship. The problem with this scholarship was that I had to prove that my blood line actually had Native AMerican blood somewhere in there. Initially I was ok with idea but now I can of feel upset. Upset due to the fact I know what I am and I do not need somebody questioning my family history. No other race is questioned so why Native AMericans?