en-us https://www.intensedebate.com/users/3078087 Comments by SulianieM http://www.worldinconversation.org/2011/06/30/week-8-%e2%80%93-lesson-14-affirmative-action/#IDComment170516535 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. Thu, 7 Jul 2011 03:40:54 +0000 http://www.worldinconversation.org/2011/06/30/week-8-%e2%80%93-lesson-14-affirmative-action/#IDComment170516535 http://www.worldinconversation.org/2011/06/30/week-8-%e2%80%93-lesson-14-affirmative-action/#IDComment170512338 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. Thu, 7 Jul 2011 03:21:31 +0000 http://www.worldinconversation.org/2011/06/30/week-8-%e2%80%93-lesson-14-affirmative-action/#IDComment170512338 http://www.worldinconversation.org/2011/06/26/week-7-%e2%80%93-lesson-13-immigration/#IDComment169490733 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. Mon, 4 Jul 2011 03:21:19 +0000 http://www.worldinconversation.org/2011/06/26/week-7-%e2%80%93-lesson-13-immigration/#IDComment169490733 http://www.worldinconversation.org/2011/06/26/week-7-%e2%80%93-lesson-13-immigration/#IDComment169487026 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. Mon, 4 Jul 2011 03:01:31 +0000 http://www.worldinconversation.org/2011/06/26/week-7-%e2%80%93-lesson-13-immigration/#IDComment169487026 http://www.worldinconversation.org/2011/06/26/week-7-%e2%80%93-lesson-12-multiculturalism-lgbt/#IDComment168172169 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? Thu, 30 Jun 2011 03:35:26 +0000 http://www.worldinconversation.org/2011/06/26/week-7-%e2%80%93-lesson-12-multiculturalism-lgbt/#IDComment168172169 http://www.worldinconversation.org/2011/06/26/week-7-%e2%80%93-lesson-12-multiculturalism-lgbt/#IDComment168165410 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. Thu, 30 Jun 2011 02:59:14 +0000 http://www.worldinconversation.org/2011/06/26/week-7-%e2%80%93-lesson-12-multiculturalism-lgbt/#IDComment168165410 http://www.worldinconversation.org/2011/06/22/week-6-%e2%80%93-lesson-10-stages-of-racial-identity-%e2%80%93-people-of-color-stages-1-4/#IDComment165915083 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. Thu, 23 Jun 2011 20:13:15 +0000 http://www.worldinconversation.org/2011/06/22/week-6-%e2%80%93-lesson-10-stages-of-racial-identity-%e2%80%93-people-of-color-stages-1-4/#IDComment165915083 http://www.worldinconversation.org/2011/06/22/week-6-%e2%80%93-lesson-10-stages-of-racial-identity-%e2%80%93-people-of-color-stages-1-4/#IDComment165913966 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. Thu, 23 Jun 2011 20:08:56 +0000 http://www.worldinconversation.org/2011/06/22/week-6-%e2%80%93-lesson-10-stages-of-racial-identity-%e2%80%93-people-of-color-stages-1-4/#IDComment165913966 http://www.worldinconversation.org/2011/06/07/week-5-%e2%80%93-lesson-9-stages-of-racial-identity-%e2%80%93-white-people-stages-3-4/#IDComment164307172 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. Sun, 19 Jun 2011 16:02:24 +0000 http://www.worldinconversation.org/2011/06/07/week-5-%e2%80%93-lesson-9-stages-of-racial-identity-%e2%80%93-white-people-stages-3-4/#IDComment164307172 http://www.worldinconversation.org/2011/06/07/week-5-%e2%80%93-lesson-9-stages-of-racial-identity-%e2%80%93-white-people-stages-3-4/#IDComment164305924 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. Sun, 19 Jun 2011 15:56:51 +0000 http://www.worldinconversation.org/2011/06/07/week-5-%e2%80%93-lesson-9-stages-of-racial-identity-%e2%80%93-white-people-stages-3-4/#IDComment164305924 http://www.worldinconversation.org/2011/06/07/week-5-%e2%80%93-lesson-8-stages-of-racial-identity-%e2%80%93-white-people-stages-1-2/#IDComment163059234 Being a women of color I also wonder why it is that I feel the need to incorporate my race into how i describe who i am or why it is that i am always think about my race especially when i am around people of another race them me, I would simply have to say that society has made it this way, when you are consider in a group that is associated with a negative factors you will always think about it. I also bring up my race because the values and experiences I have learned from being a certain race; if i were another race the my experience would be completely different which is why I feel people of color almost always bring up their race. Thu, 16 Jun 2011 03:47:41 +0000 http://www.worldinconversation.org/2011/06/07/week-5-%e2%80%93-lesson-8-stages-of-racial-identity-%e2%80%93-white-people-stages-1-2/#IDComment163059234 http://www.worldinconversation.org/2011/06/07/week-5-%e2%80%93-lesson-8-stages-of-racial-identity-%e2%80%93-white-people-stages-1-2/#IDComment163058467 I think that this lecture was very interesting and it starting to touch on the very thing I’m really interested in, which is how individuals who are a race other then my own view themselves and also how they believe other people perceive them. The first thing that caught my attention and got me thinking was when he stated that even though people of color believe that they know what it means for white people to be white we really have no idea. In all honesty we can all get an idea of what it means to be a certain race or think we really know we really don’t ever get the whole understanding. We can only experience what someone goes through in a second person stand point we really do not get the experience first hand. The second thing I found interesting was the pointing of the mindset of people who are part of the majority group. As individuals when we are the majority we do lack to think and make an effort to understand how individuals who are in a lesser position than us might feel or think. His examples were great for instance being gay or being a female one might question those things because our outside society forces us to do so. I like how the different paths are set up in awakening; I actually believe that white people really do embody these paths. For instance I feel like some white people do avoid racial issues simply because it makes them uncomfortable or they feel like they might make someone else uncomfortable. Also for them they think this is safe all it allows them to do is help build a world that is unjust and a world they are not willing to question simply because they fee uncomfortable. Then there are individuals who deny that there are inequalities between racial groups and I feel like they also allow society to be a place where those who are truly in bad situations and are not being equally treated go without. This allows for certain things like quality of school and environment continue. The last group those who seek to have a deeper understanding of race issues. I feel as though there are very few of these types of individuals simply because why would you want to challenge something that could eventually take you out of the top spot? Many whites like knowing or unconsciously enjoy the fact that they get certain perks or do not have to experience certain things because they are white. I feel a perfect relatable scenario would be if you ask a male if they would want to be females they would quickly deny because being a women in society get negative attributes. I think this first lecture gave me a lot to think about and I can’t wait to watch the continuation. Thu, 16 Jun 2011 03:43:06 +0000 http://www.worldinconversation.org/2011/06/07/week-5-%e2%80%93-lesson-8-stages-of-racial-identity-%e2%80%93-white-people-stages-1-2/#IDComment163058467 http://www.worldinconversation.org/2011/06/02/week-4-lesson-6-race-and-ethnic-inequality/#IDComment160834809 I totally agree with you and that our world would be completely different if people were based solely on what we accomplished and have done in the world. I would just provide an equal playing ground for everyone to have the same advantages as every individual around them. However, I feel like if we weren't judge on race or sex etc. we would find something to separate ourselves from others. I feel as though its in our nature to want to dominate or be better than other that are around us so even if it wasn't based on race we would still try to judge people and make superior groups based on something else. Thu, 9 Jun 2011 03:56:54 +0000 http://www.worldinconversation.org/2011/06/02/week-4-lesson-6-race-and-ethnic-inequality/#IDComment160834809 http://www.worldinconversation.org/2011/06/02/week-4-lesson-6-race-and-ethnic-inequality/#IDComment160834016 I thought that this lecture was very mind provoking and the first thing I agreed with from the lecture was about the invisible strings. For so many people across our nation they are put into situations that overall control their entire outcome in particular situations. As humans we sometimes do believe we are free in our choices but honestly we are not. We live by standards set for us and we participate in things like going to college and other activities to aspire to those preset standards. So people in negative situations or have negative controlling “strings” in their life are sometimes set for bad outcomes despite how much they try to make a change for themselves. Richards reasoning for how certain groups gain dominance was greatly displayed by the game king of the mountain. I feel like it could be really somewhat explains how certain people obtained their power. As well as explaining how we might help people within our own group when we have power. It always makes sense for any person or human that when you have power, wealth, and knowledge would want to share that with your family members because it will always give them an advantage to get ahead in life or further then the current situation they are in. The example of inheritance is a perfect example of individuals sharing what they have only with their family members. How dominant groups keep their power I feel is by always giving a disadvantage to those who are lower then them, and I feel they do that with more than just wealth. I feel like people in power will always use mind-controlling ideas to keep your mind in certain state. In addition to that they also keep control of resources as said in the lecture. I feel like everything he said about inequality is so true and up to date. It is hard to remove those who are in power because they have the resources and also somehow effect the mindset of those they can control they are hard to over power. It takes more than just the individuals at the current situations to overcome their oppressors. So they question is how can we change that today when we have so much more knowledge? Why is it that we have so much more understand abbot certain things and still continue to let people go without or undo? For me I feel like everyone likes being on top or in control, if I could have a bag or allow someone to eat we would chose something that benefits ourselves I feel we are selfish in a way which is why its so hard to change. Everything in our society is a mindset. Thu, 9 Jun 2011 03:52:53 +0000 http://www.worldinconversation.org/2011/06/02/week-4-lesson-6-race-and-ethnic-inequality/#IDComment160834016 http://www.worldinconversation.org/2011/05/25/week-3-lesson-5-social-inequality/#IDComment159612916 I agree with you, I never really thought about the economic status of immigrants coming to America either. Sadly to say my parents are immigrants and the lecture pointed out to me how much more harder it would have been for my parents to have gotten here if they didn't have some type of money to get here. However I do not think that biology determines why certain ethnic groups should dominate over another I feel like we socially have created this for ourselves and its a hard wall to break down. I feel as though whites are dominant as Sam said in the lecture because whites created social structure first and when ever you can you are gonna try and put yourself on the top of the pyramid, and I think that's with everything. I just which the factors didn't intertwine that people truly could be judged on an equal playing field for the choices they make. Sun, 5 Jun 2011 16:38:27 +0000 http://www.worldinconversation.org/2011/05/25/week-3-lesson-5-social-inequality/#IDComment159612916 http://www.worldinconversation.org/2011/05/25/week-3-lesson-5-social-inequality/#IDComment159610345 The first thing that struck me in this lecture was the charting and the information displayed. I must say that I wasn't very surprised at how much of a gap the various racial groups fall from whites; what I will say is that it is disturbing. I do not understand how so many people claim that everyone has equal opportunities and yet we can put graphs and charts together and see how so clearly minorities are at a disadvantage which simply steams for skin first and later other factors. I thought it was an interesting fact that he pointed out those immigrants many of them from further places only got here if they have money. I think that makes perfect sense being as though plane tickets and other amenities cost money. I personally believe that a lot of inequality is based on race or ethnicity which then effects other aspects of life such as where a person might live which effects other things such as education, economic status etc. I do agree sometimes that people do make wrong decisions and choices, which also affects their life, standard, however I do not feel everyone wrong decision impacts them the same. I feel as though a minority making the same negative decision as a white person with the exact same background would be worse of then a white just because of the society we are in. I highly agree with the fact of free will and determinism I sometimes think that it because individuals do have the factors that they do pull themselves out of negative situations especially ones like poverty. I think the three factors that he pointed out biological, socio-cognitive, and structural all do play a part in how we are divided and seen amongst each other but I also believe the biological leads us to the other two factors. It’s very disturbing to me how he stated that test scores were so determinate on what the parent’s income was. I think the Oprah clip shows us the reality to what we are looking at on the graph and what we hear about all the time. In the same state we see such an inequality among high schools. I feel like the girl in the math class made an excellent point so many children who do well in lower ranking high school and might make it to good colleges and universities then fail out because they were not prepared for school. I also couldn’t help but notice that the good school had white people in the school and the other had majority of black children. I feel like this is the perfect example of why so many minorities are held back and can not progress even if they would like too. Sun, 5 Jun 2011 16:30:31 +0000 http://www.worldinconversation.org/2011/05/25/week-3-lesson-5-social-inequality/#IDComment159610345 http://www.worldinconversation.org/2011/05/25/week-3-lesson-4-ethnocentrism/#IDComment158406449 This was my first time being introduced to the term ethnocentrism, and I feel its another layer of race and ethnic relations that everyone participates in without knowing it. I would say that I do not particularly compare my race or ethnicity to Caucasians or white, but i do compare and sometimes believes that my ethnicity is better than certain other group but i have done it blindly. Through watching the lecture I wasn't sure at first if he was stating that cultural relativism was important or not, but later on he clearly stated how it affected race, culture and other things. I believe that trying or making an attempt to understand certain things about other people's culture is very important even though sometimes you might not always fully experience what they do. As a person of color with ethnic background I feel sometimes not a lot of people fully comprehend or try to understand my culture and I would especially say that for blacks. I feel sometimes people who consider themselves blacks or African Americans don't fully comprehend or they to understand the culture of ethnically varied blacks. I really like his comparison to stoning and the electric chair. It kind of reminds you that we may do or go about certain things in our cultures differently from others but sometimes or intended outcomes are the same. What we think maybe so wrong in another culture maybe similar in our very own culture. In the second portion of the lecture what struck me the most were the reasons given about why the people wanted their photos to be taken. I do feel like if that were here in America it would be totally different, I feel like we would have been more aggressive towards the outsiders. I just feel other countries and the way people live there put then always in a different mind set then what we have. I feel their more accepting of certain things. I think he makes some good points about the war in Iraq and pushes us to want to see how people on the other side of the spectrum might see what is happening. I think a lot of the things done in countries are for political gain for the political leaders. I feel as though America is a great country and country where many come to get ahead in life and away from the poverty in their own countries. Despite that I also feel as though because we have the wealth and poor we dominate other countries like Iraq, to get what we want to get ahead. I also feel as though because so many Arabs in the middle east are Muslims it paints a horrible picture for those who are Muslims and Arab here, it makes us have a very negative view about what certain people are about. Thu, 2 Jun 2011 03:43:30 +0000 http://www.worldinconversation.org/2011/05/25/week-3-lesson-4-ethnocentrism/#IDComment158406449 http://www.worldinconversation.org/2011/05/25/week-3-lesson-4-ethnocentrism/#IDComment158403364 I really agree with your statements on ethnocentrism. I feel like as individuals we should try to step out of our comfort zones and try to see the world how others see it and understand it. I feel doing this would certainly reduce so many of the racial and ethnic issues we have in the world. So many more people would be treated better and we would truly maybe understand the notion of humanity. Although we would like this to be done I do not believe that it s that easy, because if it was we would be doing it now. As humans I think its hard to take your mindset of f of what you think and believe on a day to day basis which makes it hard to look through the lens of other to truly and fully understand certain things. Thu, 2 Jun 2011 03:31:00 +0000 http://www.worldinconversation.org/2011/05/25/week-3-lesson-4-ethnocentrism/#IDComment158403364 http://www.worldinconversation.org/2011/05/22/week-two-lesson-2-intro-to-race/#IDComment156209279 I agree with your statement of skin tone. Many people across many cultures see being lighter or being white as an more appropriate or the best thing to be. For many centuries it has been taught to people that being white was correct or being of European decent was better than any other race and ethnic group. Now we can see the effects in blacks, Asian, and Indian groups; many times in these cultures the lighter you are the better your treated or seen as more beautiful. I think its a shame and that all skin colors and people should be seen the same especially in this day and age. Thu, 26 May 2011 03:38:28 +0000 http://www.worldinconversation.org/2011/05/22/week-two-lesson-2-intro-to-race/#IDComment156209279 http://www.worldinconversation.org/2011/05/22/week-two-lesson-2-intro-to-race/#IDComment156205267 I find it very hard and complicated to speak about race on the basis of many reasons. The first reason being that I have heard many times and seen research on how there is no gene for race yet when we speak about it we speak about it as though it is something genetic. I thought it was very interesting about how race truly came about because I never really knew, I wish however that race would have been constructed in a different matter. If they would have constructed it as a way to see different groups but did not make one group more superior then the other I think maybe our world would be totally different today. Sadly, when everyone wants to be on top someone has got to be on the bottom. The next portion of the first lecture that I really thought was interesting was the categorizing of students. It shows how you really can't tell what someone racial or ethnic background is just by looking at them because our world is so diverse and integrated. In the second portion of the lecture he talks about skin color and I found it interesting to know that many people have had ancestors that may have looked slightly to completely different from us. I think its so fascinating to know how environmental factors have had such a great impact on things like skin color, face shape, nose structure etc. What I find kind of sad today is that people use skin color as signs of beauty so some black women would rather be of lighter skin tone because within that culture that is seen as more beautiful. Also, sometimes in the white culture being pale or pale is seen as a negative thing and people would rather tan their skin. I never though of the one drop rule as being a way to keep people enslaved but that is a great point, because if you allow people to think they are like or similar to you how can they be less than you or different. Something I had to say WOW at was the fact that certain Italians had African ancestry that something that is definitely new to me. The other shocking fact is that skin whiting products are number one cosmetic products and the sad thing is people only want use these products because people around the world believe that lighter is better. Thu, 26 May 2011 03:22:14 +0000 http://www.worldinconversation.org/2011/05/22/week-two-lesson-2-intro-to-race/#IDComment156205267