I thought this lecture open my eyes to really understanding a great deal more about affirmative action. Through my years of experience I used to only think that affirmative action applied only to people of color in particular people who identified themselves as blacks. The first thing about the lecture that lead to a better understanding was the reshowing of the Oprah show and how the differences of the school districts really affected people’s lives. I also agree that certain things like advantages in schools are hard to change simply because we as individuals are selfish and do not want our own to go without. It is easier to let someone else’s child do without something because you probably do not feel like you relate to them or some in contact with the direct affect going without quality education causes. I can honestly say that nepotism was a new word introduced to me even though it was not a new concept. I can personally say that I have gotten certain places and certain things simply because my mom or my friend’s mom knew someone and asked if they could help out with assisting to get a certain job or something. I feel as though sometimes jobs almost always look for that especially when you fill out a job application and it ask for you to list people who work for that company that you know or are related to. Most of the times if that person was a good worker or did well within that company it adds extra points for you and also give you a better chance at getting a job. I feel as though anyone who has had this type of advantage 9 times out of 10 has used it to help them get a job or obtain something faster. I feel like a lot of people are against affirmative action not realizing that many people in the work force get certain positions simply because of the people they know. I do not understand why affirmative action is so opposed by certain people. It is a chance for an individual I feel who is qualified for the job but not obtain in on a regular basis simply because of certain stereotypes about a group of people they might relate to. Individuals who simply get job positions because of who they know many times may not be qualified for the position but still get it because of connections. So, personally I do not see why affirmative action cannot be in play especially for individuals who are qualified for a position that they want. I thought that this lecture really reiterated all of the topics we discussed and it was all put into a nut shell in this topic.

I agree that certain things and situations are always going to be 100% fair and if they were I don't think that a lot of people would be in the situations that they are in now. However, I do think that making it partially or more than half way equal for those who do not always have the same act advantages as other groups of people is more than needed. I think certain things like affirmative action is needed for everyone. In situations where an individual might be at a disadvantage because of race, no matter the race I think that this chance should be offered.

The first interesting thing in the lecture that really caught me was that immigration laws are set up to control business and resources. I think that is interesting for a couple reasons the first being that if we did allow just anyone to come into our country we would not have a lot of things for ourselves. I do believe that we would become over populated among a lot of other things if we had weaker immigration laws. Despite my parents being immigrants I do not think that it would be okay to just let any and everyone just come into our country. The second reason I think that this particular statement was interesting was because immigration is definitely a business. Currently if we removed every immigrant currently in our country there would be so many things left undone. I feel like a lot of the times immigrants do many of the jobs that people who are born here do not want to do. So I think it is a business in a sense that the very immigrants do some people some of the jobs that carry low wages do not want to let into our country. The last thing I thought about from that statement was why don’t we want to share our resources when we take up and use up other countries resources? Our country has a great deal of power and wealth and I feel as though they use those advantages to go in and take from people who might not have certain advantages but have a resource that they want. The ultimate example is how we got this land in the first place, which is taking it from someone else who gained it for him or her. Another thing that I thought was interesting was the portion about relaxed borders so that they could help out businesses, I find that interesting because as much as our homeland security says it doing to control illegal immigrants I find it very hard to believe and I also find it false. If our country really did not want illegal immigrants then I do not think we would have them I think they would do every and anything possible to help control the issues. Something that I learned about that I never really knew was the immigrant versus refugee policy immigrants usually seeks they own to get to where they want to go. Pretty much for better education, life, or family members already here. Whereas, refugee policy helps individuals who are in countries that have an allies with our country which takes us back to everything being about gain and business interest. I think it’s a big circle that we all will never really understand.

I totally agree also with the portion of the lecture where he talks about how history is told. I know that deleting certain portions of history is wrong because we don't get the full mindset of everyone involved in certain events but I can see why it happens. As humans we always tell stories to make ourselves look better so why would the story be different for history. If you are the one who succeeded in doing something your always going t tell the story how you want to and that story is gonna be told with facts only from you true or not. I just think its sad how long it takes to uncover certain things and get an understanding for it because our history is so tarnished.

I thought the lecture on multiculturalism was very interesting, and introduced me to some stats and fact I really didn’t really know about. I must say though by most of the things I saw I was not surprised or taken back because being that my parents are from different countries so I had to take in my mother’s culture as well as my father’s culture. I rarely feel uncomfortable when it comes to meeting people of different ethnic backgrounds. In fact it actually excites me, being of two different ethnic backgrounds I feel like it makes me eager to want to meet people that are different from me. It allows for me to learn about their culture and also allow me to share my culture with them.
I think the most intriguing lecture was the one about sexual identity. I think that it was very important that this topic be brought up because there is so much hate and un-acceptance for that group. The first thing that he brought was about why people of color might not accept people who are gay and I think as a person of color there is an obvious reason for that. As a person of color and I feel especially for black people we already particular know that there is inequality for us out in the world. So, when you add on the idea of being gay and black that is a hard thing to accept, because not only will you be at a disadvantage for being black you will have an added disadvantage for being gay. Another note also is for black men to be black and gay many have a problem with that because not only now do we have a large number of black males in prison but now some are gay which reduces that chances for black women as well. I personally have no problem with people who are in fact I have a couple of friends who are homosexual and I have the issue with that, would I choose that for myself no. I just feel it’s a difficult thing now for our society and it shouldn’t be. I particularly dislike people relating this topic back to religion, because over all one of the main morals for many religions is not to judge others so inflicting our morals and beliefs on to them is simply absurd especially for those who so firmly believe in a higher power. I do not feel like people should have to hide who they are because other people are uncomfortable with what they choose for their lives. As pointed out in the lecture if you look at it we are all sinners how ever bigger or small, what makes us any different from them?

I do agree that people have their own personal choice to do want they want. However, I do believe that we should care because everyone is entitled to their rights as humans so whether that is the right to freedom of speech or marring the same sex they still deserve it. When we start to allow a certain group of people’s choice to start being taken away then we open the gate for a great deal of unlawful and unmoral things to happen in the future. When we include people even if it’s against what we believe we allow them to feel a part of our society.

I think that it is very important that people who are adopted and are of different racial background from their adoptive parents be taught about their own racial and ethnic background. I think that's important because just because the parent might view the child a certain way does not mean everyone else will. As an individual entering the outside world we do not always get to know your background so how we see you is what we judge you by. So if parents are able to raise children with their values but still incorporate their racial and ethnic background it will benefit the child in their later life especially as a minority.

I think the story about the young black girl brings up a lot of thought provoking questions. I know for me I knew that I was black when I was younger and it wasn’t because of the outside world but it was because my parents are foreigners and so they started very early instilling their ideas and values into me and my siblings. From there I knew I was black or African American but not in a negative way. I honestly did not start having certain negative views about being African American until I came to college and that was because I was treated very differently than white and because I was darker complexion I also felt different from black people who are lighter complexion. So now being a senior in College I do see race every day and I find that strange because prior race wasn’t that big on my radar. I thought it was interesting about the statement about managing whiteness. I personally felt as though I had to control certain aspects of my life so that I did not become seen as more white. I think that Idea is weird I thought that was a weird thought idea to grapple with. I thought the video is a great example of how blacks especially for black women of how negativity finds their way into their psych at a very young age, which is something that also negativity to repeat and then be learned by later generations. I can also agree with the anger, I have noticed since being to college I find myself disliking white people at times, almost some sort of remorse with them. Although this doesn’t happen often when I do find it happening and I ask myself why, because I want know what has been evoked within me that causes me to see white people in a different way than I did prior to being exposed to such a diverse white culture here at college. I wanted to know does having a preference like he said in the lecture become racist. I wonder sometimes am I racist because I prefer to be around blacks rather than be with white people. Whenever I do have these kinds of thoughts I automatically return the answer to this question with white people hang out with whites all the time and they do not question themselves, but I believe that is an easy way out of trying to push the borders and step outside of my comfort zones. I did not really like his statement about if they did not like the what white schools were teaching them then why do they not attend HBCU and honestly it’s because not all schools are not respected in the same manner. I wanted to go to an HBCU but I came to Penn State because I knew my degree would be respected in a different manner.

I totally agree with you about people representing their entire race. I personally have no white friends and I would have no problem with having white friends actually I do one day hope to have a friend that is white. I feel sometimes what stops me currently is the environment that I am in here at State College. I have been i feel treated differently by white people because I am black and because of this I feel sometimes apprehensive about being friends with someone white because I do not know how to receive them. So I'm trying to change my way of thinking so that I do not see every white person as someone who might be racist.

I really think Dr. Richards opened up the lecture in a great way, which is the first rule whit people learn not to speak about race. I honestly never thought about the reason why many white people might avoid speaking about race but this does make sense. If white people themselves do not speak about race with each other then it would only make sense that they would not need to speak about race with people of color. This also them to see everyone as not having a race or away to rotationally keep themselves from being racist. I do not know how much I agree with this because does that mean that people who do see and appreciate other racist could be racist? I do not particularly understand. I also feel like its just another way for a white person to make himself or herself comfortable about the fact that they are interacting with people of color. I can also see why people of color may see that the avoidance of the acknowledgement of color could make people think that they are racist simply because they are avoiding what people of color sees as what makes them who they are. I really thought that the video clip was very sickening and also very scary. I just don’t understand how people rationalize these things to their children especially things about hate. I do not understand how they find this expectable especially in the kind of society we live in today, where there are so many different types of people. I think that as long as these types of people live in the world racism will always be around. I also found it interesting that she said their children were home schooled because this also keeps them from interacting with other children who might help change their mind about the thing they are learning. I think for people who do take notice to racial issues and inequality sometimes have trouble standing up and speak out about what they feel. I think its difficult because there are certain family members or friends who do not think the way they do or even try to understand they feel that they should just be simply stuck in their ways. I also think its hard because as you question also who you are as a person and how you should go about certain things in society, because they very things you question are the same privileges you receive. When he asked who felt guilty about being white I did not really think anyone would raise their hand. I find it surprising that people do feel bad about something they have no choice over. I do think though that the actions they continue to do is sometimes guilt worthy. This lecture was a good continuance to the first one.