Racism

Racism abounds in America. We can deny, hide it or ignore it, but it exists. We often like to think that we have evolved to a level where race is not even looked at, but even this idea is somewhat racist. By ignoring the differences between us we ignore the trials that some in this country go through. Tim Wise succinctly said "The denial of racism is a form of racism itself.” Only by accepting that racism still exists can we take further steps to correct it. For a revealing look at how we are racist without knowing it on the left and the right read Wise's article,

With Friends Like These, Who Needs Glenn Beck? Racism and White Privilege on the Liberal-Left

When I have talked to students in my high school classes, they argue that race is a real category. Many believe that it is genetic or scientifically defined. I try to make them realize that it is a social construct that is highly inaccurate and leads to discrimination. An excellent website I found that can help build lessons that reveal the flaws of race and the dangers of racism is:
http://www.bcbst.com/about/diversity/General_lesson_plans/DramaLessonPlans.pdf
I also sometimes show Michael Moore's "Brief History of the United States" cartoon from his documentary "Bowling for Columbine." It shows very well the history of racism and gun rights. It is shocking and I like to have them write a reaction to it. It can be found below:
<iframe title="YouTube video player" width="640" height="390" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/zEVPSfJIQ84" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>

LAstly, a great site that lays out the issues of racism in the world today and how to fight it is the UN's World Conference Against Racism:
http://www.un.org/WCAR/

Across

2.     An oversimplified set of beliefs about members of a social group or social stratum.

4.     A social category of people who share a common culture.

7.     The perception and treatment of a racial or ethnic group or member of that group, as intellectually, socially, and culturally inferior to one's own group.

9.     The droup that assigns a racial or ethnic group to subordinate status.

10.   A process whereby some social category takes on what societ percieves to be racial charecteristics.

Down

1.     Overt negative and unequal treatment of the members of some social group or stratum solely because of their membership in that group or stratum.

3.     The belief that one's group is superior to all toher groups.

5.     A group treated as distinct in society based on certain characteristics, some of which are biological, that have been assigned social importance.

6.     The evaluation of a social group and the individuals within based on conceptions about the group held despite facts that disprove them.

8.     Any distinct group in society that shares common group characteristics and is forced to occupy low status in society because of prejudice and discrimination.

Global Stratification

The stratification that takes place in the world is a crime against humanity that can't be punished. The reason for this pessimism is that the victim has no voice to cry for justice and the bystanders are too comfortable to get involved. Those of us who are privileged enough to have been born in a first world country take what we have for granted. We have no idea how bad most people in the world have it and quite frankly, we don't care.

We can read all day about what the perceived cause of global poverty is, but let me give it to you simply: IT IS YOU! AND ME! Everyone of us that basks in the glow of our privileged birth, is giving the apathetic finger to all of those in the world who live, in spite of being absolutely impoverished. In his article "The Duty to Eradicate Global Poverty: Positive or Negative", Pablo Gilabert argues that it is the responsibility of the wealthy to aid the poor, because it is the system of the rich that has caused the poverty.The full text can be found at http://www.jstor.org/pss/25733600.  I agree.

In a comedic, yet vivid look at the need to help end global poverty I recommend that you watch an interview of Peter Singer by Stephen Colbert. http://www.colbertnation.com/the-colbert-report-videos/221466/march-12-2009/peter-singer. The humor really helps reflect how ridiculous the apathetic outlook of many Americans is.

It is only too simple to say it is too large a problem, and your small contribution couldn't possible lead to any real change. However Anne Frank said "How wonderful it is that nobody need wait a single moment before starting to improve the world." It may seem cliched, but it isn't! DO SOMETHING!

If you feel so inclined, here are two websites that can help you find an outlet to give your money or services to help alleviate world poverty and be sure what you give, actually will help:

http://www.endpoverty2015.org/
http://aidwatchers.com/

 

Across

   1.     The total output of goods and services produced by residents of a country each year divided by the population.

   3.     This is the type of poverty in which people live on less than $.75 per day.

   4.     The term used to describe an individual who is not receiving adequate amounts of food, water, vitamins, etc.

   7.     The process of benefiting at the expense of another, due to their weaker or inferior state.

   8.     The money or goods given from nation to another to alleviate poverty.

9.     This is the type of poverty in which people live on less than a $1 per day.

   10.   The process by which the world delineates into rich and poor countries.

  Down

2.     Poor, under-developed periphery countries.

5.     The process whereby a powerful country controls another, but without direct military or political involvement.

6.     The type of poverty is compared amongst others within a nation.