en-us https://www.intensedebate.com/users/1155220 Comments by kam5154 https://www.racerelationsproject.org/2010/06/week-6-lesson-9-stages-of-racial-identity-people-of-color-stages-1-4__trashed/#IDComment81821981 I like the way you compared cultures between people from New York and people here in pennsylvania. I am from New York and I am constantly tell people the exact same thing. I think it is a very interesting topic and I also can understand that you can not imagine how it is because honestly it is a very sticky subject but black people should not be compared with people in this country now. Simply because people here see black people once in a while but think about how it was when black people first came to this country. Honestly there is no comparison between the two. Do not worry I still think your cool man! Thu, 24 Jun 2010 01:41:56 +0000 https://www.racerelationsproject.org/2010/06/week-6-lesson-9-stages-of-racial-identity-people-of-color-stages-1-4__trashed/#IDComment81821981 https://www.racerelationsproject.org/2010/06/week-6-lesson-9-stages-of-racial-identity-people-of-color-stages-1-4__trashed/#IDComment81820571 Honestly I love this class and usual agree with Dr. Richards comments and topics. However I do not think that black people should feel guilty about the genocide of Native Americans. Keep in mind that black people did not create that problem nor did they really contribute to the genocide of Native Americans. Which means Blacks can not feel guilty about something they had no control over. To be honest I was a little offended and disturbed. Dr. Richards usual is completely honest and is very much doing a great job, however this time I feel he went to far. Blacks people as a whole were shipped to the Caribbean as well as America for the purpose of free labor or cheap labor. The Native Americans were being killed by the hand or disease of the new comers that came to American and wanted to seek political freedom. In that process they gave the natives deiseses and sickness that they have never seen before. Black came to what is not the US by way of Whites, and some Native Americans were shipped right along side them. They were in bondage right along with the Native Americans. Honestly maybe I feel this way because I am black and I think that society has a very bad opinion of us as a people. Also another spin on it is that young African Americans are going to believe that they should feel guilty about something their ancestors did not take part in. Honestly I believe blacks were to busy taking care of themselves and trying to survive their own hardship. Whites are taught to view everyone as equal, but how far does that go when the same parents that told them that hold up picket signs because Blacks are being bused into the community. It makes me wonder how we are supposed to move forward as a society when mind set like that still exist. To be honest parents teach their children racism or a new form of racism and when they confronted they say they teach their children to treat everyone fair. However, children usually follow what there parents usual say and think. I don’t think one White person should feel guilty about who and what but as a whole I do feel that they should try to change or understand what there ancestors did before them. It is a very complicated situation and honestly I do not want to completely put the blame on only them. Honestly white people love black music but would most likely not bring a black person home to meet there family. After few generations race is not, going to be color, but it will be what you are wearing and how much money you are worth. Thu, 24 Jun 2010 01:34:04 +0000 https://www.racerelationsproject.org/2010/06/week-6-lesson-9-stages-of-racial-identity-people-of-color-stages-1-4__trashed/#IDComment81820571 https://www.racerelationsproject.org/2010/06/week-5-lesson-8-stages-of-racial-identity-white-people-stages-3-4__trashed/#IDComment81166308 While watching this week’s lecture I realized so many areas of my life are ones in which I never really stopped to think about in a whole. I think this class does a good job of forcing you to stop and think. I might feel that I am normal in certain people views but I know I am not. I also think my family has done a great job in making feel as normal as everyone else. I went to catholic school all my life and my parents have been together for 23 years and are very happy. I am also black latino since my family is not from here and speak spanish but I look just like every other black kid. I was born and raised in brooklyn and was brought up with my parents being able to provide for me. Since most of these qualities are normal as I just went through life I have never really thought about them and how they impact my viewpoint on life. It is through is class I realize how lucky I am and that these week lecture hit me right on the head. It is very strange to think about how if I was white person that it would most likely make an impact on everything I do. I sometimes think how life would be different is I have white and how much more opportunities I might have but never really truly thought it as I do now. Another topic Dr Richards brought up that I thought was interest was if you are gay you have that “light bulb moment” and how did you realize or now when you were not straight. Thoughts like that would never cross my mind, honestly I just always thought gay people knew from the beginning and was just to afraid to tell people. It is strange to think about. Well I have to say that this by far was my favorite lecture. Not only was the lecture hilarious but it was very interesting as well. The Dave Chappelle clip about white people was so funny yet so true. I am very glad he played that and was completely shocked because it is one of my favorite shows. In State College going to Penn State I realize a lot of that skit was completely true and on the money. I also believe why he was so successful was because he allowed people of all colors to see a little about themselves and their actions but in a funny way. Dave was totally right if that happened to a black person that individual would wake up swinging or come after you because they don’t tolerate that immature stupid stuff like that. I never really noticed that only white people do stupid things like that until I actually started thinking about it and seeing it for myself here at Penn State. Mon, 21 Jun 2010 02:51:39 +0000 https://www.racerelationsproject.org/2010/06/week-5-lesson-8-stages-of-racial-identity-white-people-stages-3-4__trashed/#IDComment81166308 https://www.racerelationsproject.org/2010/06/week-5-lesson-8-stages-of-racial-identity-white-people-stages-3-4__trashed/#IDComment81161830 I completely agree with what you are saying. I also believe that how you view other people come from the training you get at home. I honestly believe family starts everything and is a center or core of your thinking. I also believe is a very logical approach to look at it that way because I have met several people who tell their children not to treat anyone differently and be good to all people. I also think it is a very touchy subject and I also think my thought process does not fit with all people but honestly who do most people go to for everything and majority of the time is their family. Mon, 21 Jun 2010 01:58:39 +0000 https://www.racerelationsproject.org/2010/06/week-5-lesson-8-stages-of-racial-identity-white-people-stages-3-4__trashed/#IDComment81161830 https://www.racerelationsproject.org/2010/06/week-5-lesson-7-race-and-ethnic-inequality__trashed/#IDComment80501592 I never thought about what it may be like to be white because I can not since I am black. However I can see how white is not considered as different, it is normal in my opinion. The professor started by talking about your sense of “self” is shaped by other people around you. I also think it makes no sense that white people may not be aware of their themselves because people generally do make white people feel more comfortable or feel normal. When you are in a different environment where white people become the minority which happens very rarely then they became aware of the fact that they are actually white but I think they still understand that they will be just fine with no major worries. Something entertaining that I thought about while watching the lectures was how people often do not put themselves in sections based on just their actual color. However in New York I do believe that happens but up here not really. I believe they base themselves on cultural background like Latino or being international student. I find that to be so funny because in a major city they are put into a box and up here they try to find themselves and fit where they want to be. To the people who are not white they are white people, however not all are really all white which to me is extremely interesting. I honestly think race relations are the first step to really understand our differences. Also not just to notice them or be afraid to question or explore our differences in culture and simple things like food. Using the wheelchair example was a great way of showing how we are not able to understand things that we do not know about. In most cases people are not exposed to different people, and it is going to be hard to understand them or try to relate. It is hard because people by nature make generalizations of people from their own experiences and just what they think. Also a few people who may be a representation in their eyes for a type of people or culture. These types of situation makes me appreciate getting to know people on many different types of levels. Which I believe is more effective in helping us understand different people as well as try to relate to one another. I am a young black man and I was not offended by Senator Byrd words. I believe the point he was trying to get across by using the term “white nigger” is that nigger means ignorance and you do not need to be black to be called a nigger. Wed, 16 Jun 2010 23:47:29 +0000 https://www.racerelationsproject.org/2010/06/week-5-lesson-7-race-and-ethnic-inequality__trashed/#IDComment80501592 https://www.racerelationsproject.org/2010/06/week-5-lesson-7-race-and-ethnic-inequality__trashed/#IDComment80490534 I don't know If i agree with what you think. In my opinion honestly like Sam said white people are at the top of the mountain. Where you are the minority or majority being white is always an advantage. I think you should consider yourself very lucky. The law and society we live in honestly if favor towards white people. I understand this country is a very diverse place but it doesn't mean it a fair and equal nation. Also I understand you have may feel funny in a black neighborhood but that is just one neighborhood when white people own the whole country as well as the world. I think honestly we all go through discriminations or being stared down however I believe it happens way more for blacks as well as other minorities. Wed, 16 Jun 2010 22:20:33 +0000 https://www.racerelationsproject.org/2010/06/week-5-lesson-7-race-and-ethnic-inequality__trashed/#IDComment80490534 https://www.racerelationsproject.org/2010/06/week-4-lesson-6-race-and-ethnic-inequality__trashed/#IDComment79383030 The topic of wealth completely got me thinking, especially because I am an Economics major and that is what we do on a daily basis. There are many ways that a person can succeed like going to college. Society today makes you believe that college is the only way to get ahead in life. However on the road to success a little luck with some skill can put in the position you want to be. When Dr. Richard's asked why the people of Haiti are so poor I was so shocked, I have several Haitian friends and for him to put out there like was so outrageous. I couldn’t really come up with an answer to why they are so poor. I read an article in Sociology one written by Dr. Richard's about poverty and cellphones. He basically explained how people are so poor that they can not afford food but will have a cellphone. I honestly do not have an answer and if I was in class I just would have been thinking and came up with absolutely nothing. The fact is they don’t choose to be poor, most of them work so hard to provide for their families. I am positive many parents send their children to school and want them to be successful. So why are Haitian people so poor? I honestly believe it is the government and that they need to establishment of a better society for people to live in and maybe they will not be so poor. It is the same in most 3rd world countries in this world, poverty is so dominant that know has an idea how to fix it. It makes you wonder, is hard work really all it takes to succeed in life? I honestly do not think so because while hard work is a major factor in trying to be successful, it is also God and natural luck plays another important role. Some people may have a great job and work very hard at it, but if you are not blessed to t know they right people or be in a good position, they may not be able to advance or have a good paying job. Sometimes success or wealth is all about being just plain old fortunate. I do believe networking plays a major role in succeed in life, the people you surround yourself is very important. I also enjoyed how Dr. Richards discussed the invisible strings that we all have, that reminds me of Sociology 1 and made me feel good to conitue with him for this course. It is amazing how many outside factors shape us as a whole. Who we are and the choices we make are all controlled by these invisible strings. Thu, 10 Jun 2010 00:51:47 +0000 https://www.racerelationsproject.org/2010/06/week-4-lesson-6-race-and-ethnic-inequality__trashed/#IDComment79383030 https://www.racerelationsproject.org/2010/06/week-4-lesson-6-race-and-ethnic-inequality__trashed/#IDComment79373488 I agree with you. I am from new york city and most of the time that is all I see. Statistics show every bad result but honestly no one is perfect and people sometimes go down the wrong path. Especially in big cities from my experience because they feel like life is crushing down on them. I am not saying it acceptable but you have to understand people situations. When Sam brought this topic up I was extremely intrigued. I also think we all know one person that is in that particular situation. I think life is what you make it and I am proud of people like that because they accept their responsibility and handle the situations they put themselves in. What doesn't kill you makes you stronger. Wed, 9 Jun 2010 23:27:35 +0000 https://www.racerelationsproject.org/2010/06/week-4-lesson-6-race-and-ethnic-inequality__trashed/#IDComment79373488 https://www.racerelationsproject.org/2010/05/week-3-lesson-5-social-inequality__trashed/#IDComment78854651 I really liked these two lectures. Sometimes I do not always agree with what Sam says. However with that being sad I thought these lectures were cool classes. I am glad he finally talk about difference between whites and blacks, even worse how the native Americans have been treated throughout history. He also explain how is came to be and explained exactly how it happen. I thought it was good for him to do so because this is how I felt for many years. People have this preconceived notions about other races especially African Americans because we built this country from the ground up and receive nothing but ridicule. This makes me think about my future and my family for the money situation as well the recession we a facing now. I knew that Africans were way better at running than Koreans for obvious reasons, because of the longer legs and are built completely different than Koreans. They also have smaller torso, unlike the Koreans who are the opposite. When he started to talk about the possibilities of why black people dominate basketball I was so excited. A lot of the things that he discusses in class is something that I already knew, but I never applied it to life or thought about it the way the Professor does and that is why I enjoy this class so much. When he started talking about what kind of professor he was I started to laugh. He stated was not an ivy league professor, but plain old Penn State professor was so funny. He made me feel like he was just like everyone else. He made it seem like he grew up in a working class family and not a rich upper class family. For that I really and truly respect him. I thought it was interesting to why white people play hockey and other expense sports because of the cost of how much the equipment may cost or for lessons, but basketball is free all you need is a ball. When the girl in the front of the room stated the reason why was because white people more than the blacks come from cooler climates which I think explains a lot more than just sports. So they have ice as well as access to other things, unlike the blacks where it is hot where they live. I never thought of the reasons of the cause of inequality and how it can be related to people’s choices. It just made me wonder should I start concentrating more on society as well as my own personal life. Also how things related to people’s socioeconomic differences. According to what Professor Richard's said in lectures biological differences can be explain social inequalities and different climates. Mon, 7 Jun 2010 02:15:46 +0000 https://www.racerelationsproject.org/2010/05/week-3-lesson-5-social-inequality__trashed/#IDComment78854651 https://www.racerelationsproject.org/2010/05/week-3-lesson-5-social-inequality__trashed/#IDComment78851384 I am replying to this comment because I can relate. My mother did the same thing for me and my sister. she made a lot sacrifices so that she could provide for her family. Since my mother as well the rest of my family was not born in this country she has showed me time and time again that americans especially me are lazy and do not try to excell in what they do. I am also extremely humble and proud that i can take this class and be at home in New York with my family and tell them about this great class. Mon, 7 Jun 2010 01:28:54 +0000 https://www.racerelationsproject.org/2010/05/week-3-lesson-5-social-inequality__trashed/#IDComment78851384 https://www.racerelationsproject.org/2010/05/week-3-lesson-4-ethnocentrism__trashed/#IDComment78850789 I was really compelled with the topic of Iraq and the whole middle east. My girlfriend is from Saudi Arabia and I find it to be completely interesting to talk about Islam as a way of life. My father was in the military and also served as a Marine. It was surprising to me that my father describe some of the same topic discussed in my Sociology class. It also pointed out to me that was extremely interesting to me. America or war itself never takes place in beautiful countries or in a powerful country, it is always in a deserted and destroyed places. It is a country filled with poverty. Some military soldiers told me that the Iraqi people hate the Americans and wanted the soldiers to leave. It interesting to me that when I speak to Arab person in this school that america being in Iraq was such a bad idea. Even though they may not agree with Saddam Hussein and his practices. On the other hand, if you speak to a typical american they believe that they are helping and that they are making the country better. Honestly I have many Muslim friends and I think that they are nice and caring people. I was told by other people that the children in Iraq were so interested and curious about the American military members. Also focuses on the american way of life and culture. Stoning has been around for hundreds of years and it is a form of corporal punishment. When Professor Richard's brought up stoning he made a good point, our death penalty is just a bad. It is just a different way of doing the same thing. People make it seem that stoning is the worst because everyone watched and participates. however honestly some group of people watch men die in the gas chamber or lethal injection. It seems as if the embarrassment from being publically stoned would be enough of a punishment in my opinion. I personally could not sit there and throw stones at a person until they died, it seems inhumane and kind of heartless to me. The part about the extreme Christians got to me. Some of the things these men and women were saying were completely shocking. I went to catholic school for about thirteen years and I was once told that I needed to convert during my religion class in high school. To make things completely obvious I am not Catholic and nor will I ever be. I am just a plain old simple Christian and do not belong to a specific section or part of Christianity. I believe that when it comes to religion people should be able to practice and worship their own God. Mon, 7 Jun 2010 01:20:16 +0000 https://www.racerelationsproject.org/2010/05/week-3-lesson-4-ethnocentrism__trashed/#IDComment78850789 https://www.racerelationsproject.org/2010/05/week-3-lesson-4-ethnocentrism__trashed/#IDComment78848151 I completely agree with a new form of slavery. I am also a slave to my everyday life. A cellphone is a great example of it, because if I ever lost my phone I would feel like I am lost. My life is over if I do not have a communication device, when honestly when I was younger a cellphone was the last thing i wanted. Also I am a slave to clothes and being presentable, wearing brands to define who I am or my sense of style. I can not help it but I truly believe that it is really crazy. Mon, 7 Jun 2010 00:44:00 +0000 https://www.racerelationsproject.org/2010/05/week-3-lesson-4-ethnocentrism__trashed/#IDComment78848151 https://www.racerelationsproject.org/2010/05/week-two-lesson-2-intro-to-race__trashed/#IDComment78309750 First I would discuss that he actually described these people by their color. I do believe when he was talking about other nations and cultures he did not show any favoritism. He just explained that white people started society and basically controlled and showed how things where going to be carried out. I mean it would surprise me that he would show white to be the superior to all the different colors. When he discussed that slavery still exist today I was very surprised. I guess I am like any other person and just think slavery is still dead. However being a black person it made me feel terrible that he was right and that I did not do anything about it. I did not google or at least try to investigate what is going on in the world today. The subway video in Japan made me laugh and makes me think of typical Asian countries and figure that is just how things work over there. If I went to any Asian country I would think that they all look alike and if I went to African I would think the same thing and I am black. I think that is very sad honestly but because of society today I have a very funny way of looking at things around me. I would have probably have been confused if I went to South Africa and saw a white person walking around, but it would make me think of apartheid and what white people did over there for many decades. I think that when Sam talks about his travels to other countries he says that all the people started to look the same i probably would have thought exactly the same. America itself as i stated in the blog for lesson one is a huge melting pot but at the same time we are completely grouped and separated. I think that we as the United States do have a huge array of different cultures but need to do a better job in breaking down racism and become more integrated and also erase our mindsets about other cultures and people. I like agree with the whole swear word soap box that Sam was talking about and he also said the same thing in Sociology 1 and i thought it was so funny. I mean these words are that just words. It made me wonder who invented or started using these words first and made it acceptable to do so. it basically made me wonder about norms in my life and what made those things accepted also. Maybe i just need to understand to question everything around me. I mean I think that some other words could be better used for swear words that would make them fun to say so people could say them all the time. Thu, 3 Jun 2010 03:15:53 +0000 https://www.racerelationsproject.org/2010/05/week-two-lesson-2-intro-to-race__trashed/#IDComment78309750 https://www.racerelationsproject.org/2010/05/week-two-lesson-2-intro-to-race__trashed/#IDComment78308052 The main focus that stood to you during this lesson was the definition presented in the lecture of ethnicity was the same thing I was thinking. Ethnicity is not what you actually features are, it can even be what you are taught and from what I learned in Soc 1 it can be the invisible strings that are tied to you. That to me also describes you ethnicity. I think that you are right a young male could grow up in a family and think he is a a regular white boy simply because that is what he was always raised to think and also the strings that are tied to him. Also not let him know about his ancestry was a bad idea. All along his mother is hiding the fact he is truly Caucasian and Mexican. Thu, 3 Jun 2010 03:01:33 +0000 https://www.racerelationsproject.org/2010/05/week-two-lesson-2-intro-to-race__trashed/#IDComment78308052 https://www.racerelationsproject.org/2010/05/week-1-lesson-1-whadya-know__trashed/#IDComment78306860 I completely understand and agree with what Professor Richard's is saying. I was surprised that the largest group of Americans identified themselves as Mexicans. Also political correctness as taught or trained people to be tolerate and moderate. Political correctness is a very sensitive issue and is taught to connect and have a common ground with people of different cultures. Also white people agree with the opinion that Asian are crafty and devious in business. I found it very interesting that immigrants who came to the U.S have longer life spans than native born Americans. The way the professor explained and open our eyes to these truths, for example I was not aware of how many native american tribes still exist in the U.S today which is 562. Basically thoughts and "norms" that we think of as people in the United States are questions and examined in this class and I found that very compelling. I was also very happy when he stated that the people that do immigrate to the U.S are the hard working go getters type people. The lazy ones with no dreams and aspirations believe that they can't make it here do not succeed. I found that to be such an amazing statement because that is exactly what my family did and is the main reason I am alive today. Some cultural differences and language barriers among different ethnic groups have frequently given rise to problems between them. Also sometimes immigrants are unable to quickly assimilate themselves to the rest of America social life. This sometimes have often prevented them from attain the income and standard of living that they hope to get when they left their county. Furthermore the Professor follows by saying that people from all parts of the world look down on immigrants especially Americans. I am now understanding through this class that American was built on immigrants and I find it to be quiet ironic and comical that they do not like immigrants. Immigrants have made a lot economic, social and cultural contributions to the United States. Another surprising fact that I learned in this lesson that 27 million people are still enslave today. I always thought that slave was a thing of the past and would never happen again and to my surprise that is not true. Also he touched on that some Arabs that are in this country are Christians and are family in Christ. Although most American have bad views of Arabs or muslims and share a common religion. Thu, 3 Jun 2010 02:50:58 +0000 https://www.racerelationsproject.org/2010/05/week-1-lesson-1-whadya-know__trashed/#IDComment78306860 https://www.racerelationsproject.org/2010/05/week-1-lesson-1-whadya-know__trashed/#IDComment78304141 I completely understand and agree with you. I was very surprised with LBGT community as well. Committing suicide is a very serious issue and to my ignorance i thought it was only for white people. While watching the lecture for this weeks lesson many issues were brought to my attention. I have also been around many different cultures and ethnic backgrounds and i believe that has made me into the man i am today. I know a few females who have committed suicide in Brooklyn when I was in high school and I thought they where good people no need for that non sense. To me women are the strong hold in family and should be given more credit than they get. I also agree that the LGBT community would have to hide it from family and friends and also the pressure of the fear of coming out and not being accepted would force them more to suicide. Thu, 3 Jun 2010 02:26:40 +0000 https://www.racerelationsproject.org/2010/05/week-1-lesson-1-whadya-know__trashed/#IDComment78304141