Simply admitting there is an issue is the first step. The overwhelming reality in the “racial” variance of persons incarcerated is a clear indicator that there is a systemic issue and cancerous cycle of behaviors, institutions, and complacent onlookers. I truly feel that a reformation in the government assistance programs (welfare, food stamps, reservations, etc) that most minorities rely on in the country wills the only action strong enough to readjust this variance. Something as simple as placing a lifetime limit of the duration of welfare requiring documentation stating that an individual has tried to obtained employment but failed for one reason or another will be the only valid excuse for an extension. Or government bonuses for sustaining employment and outstanding job performance. Just a thought.

The concept of systematic discrimination to me is something that I feel I have lived with all my life and can personally attest to its existence. I truly believe as an American and a Capitalist that the concept of haves and have-nots is the society we live in. Both as a result of Luck and Decision Making as Sam expressed in the lecture. I also agree with the fact that if I were making the rules I would adjust them in my favor as well. This I believe is more than a set of behaviors from a specific group of people but a direct reflection of human nature. As a species (as with all creatures on this earth) we are in a constant struggle to rise to dominance and propagate.
In our society it goes without question that white people are the dominant “race” and set the rules to ensure that they remain in power. The only exceptions to this rule (and this in my opinion is only a current trend) is the concept of globalization and the influx of wealth from other persons non-white. I believe that the King of the Mountain game eventually will be a color-less concept and will revolve purely behind families and collective wealth. The people that control land, resources, and cash will be the dominant Kings of the Mountain with a semblance of racial and ethnic allegiances however their decisions and negotiations will revolve around maximizing wealth and power regardless of the skin color of the person they are doing business with.
I was absolutely BLOW AWAY by the data on financial services issued to WWII veterans, the rules set for issuing loans, and the ripple effect those decisions had on the population of colored people in the united states. I legitimately had an emotional reaction to the effect that this has had on the current state of America and the race relations in our country today. I find myself wondering, what would the Harlem community be like (which I live in) if these synthetic boundaries were not put in place or even better if the tables were reversed. Imagine in that scenario if a majority of the financial services and assistance was directed towards people of color.
Again I feel that a slight shift is happening and in my 27 years on this planet I have had the luxury to experience many advances in colored people; first black astronaut, first black president, etc. I just wonder how much sooner these milestones would have happened if the tables were turned. Would America be in the situation that it’s in now with the Middle East?

Hey, I definitely can share your surprise. I never really considered that race was a "human construction" before, however after Sam mentioned it now it feels clear as day. I genuinely feel however that the removal of race clasiffications serves to complicate things sometimes and some of the groupings should be preserved; like Asian, Black, White, Latino. I am sure that there are a LOT of people on this planet that are very mixed in race however I think that there are even more people that are straight up 1 thing. Ethnicity is a totally different story, we should have as many of those as we want lol!

I am again very impressed by the content of the conversation that Sam creates in his lectures. The reality of Race in America and the lack of knowledge that surrounds it is astounding. I consider myself very aware in regards to race and ethnic relations but I am always humbled by the content and explanations that Sam has every week. The differentiation of Race and Ethnicity is such a core competency in today's society, and I am thrilled that it was explained. I however, was unaware of the concept of the idea that race is a human construction and I ABSOLUTELY agree with this line of thought. I do feel that there are general groupings of physical characteristics that are required. Without it we would lose all structure and ability to classify ourselves, however we should always understand that there is the reality that we are all compositions of these groups.
I do have a questions for the class about this.
Does anyone feel that humans in general in the expanse of our history on this planet have begun to interbreed more as time goes on? If so do you feel that there is a point in the foreseable future where the majority of the people on this planet will be "racially unidentifiable" because they are so mixed together that they all look similar again but in a new way?

I am in the same boat as you guys! I am still blow away by not the simple fact that they are the "poorest people", but by the fact that if the topic doesn't exist unless it's part of some discussion. I feel that this society for lack of better terms has literally be swept under the rug of America.
We hear about poverty and disaster all the time in everyday conversation but very rarely does it include the Native American people who are in the worst situation of all.
I have a very close friend that completed a portion of their medical residency at a reservation and their reaction and description of the experience was jaw dropping. She expressed that it was "like walking into a third world country, I just didn't think I was in America anymore". Hearing that made my heart drop. I truly hope that we can do something as a nation to one day lift these guys back up and incorporate them into the society that we all know and love!

First and foremost I would like to humbly admit that as much as I though I knew about race and cultures I still have a long way to go, and lets just say I'm very happy the "whad'ya know" quiz grade does not count towards our final grade!
I am very excited to hear how open and free Sam is with discussing the topics that are so focal in todays web of race, ethnicity, and religion. I look forward to learning and growing in this community as well as sharing my personal experiences with others. That being said I am very interested and excited about engaging in discussion about the differences in the black race. I was thrilled when Sam stated that African-American and Black are different terms that are NOT interchangeable. I have a few friends of African descent that become borderline upset when people use the incorrect blanket statement of African-American and its nice to finally hear that we are taking steps to adjust that behavior.
The second thing that stood out to me in Lesson one was the ranking for suicides. I was very shocked to hear that it was Hispanic Females and am inclined to agree with Sam's in lecture correction of it being the LGBT community. However what really shocked me was the black females are the least likely to successfully commit suicides. My assumption would have been Black or Hispanic males being the least likely. I am very curious to see how the "social networks" that Sam mentioned play a role in suicide prevention and how these networks are being deployed to the Hispanic female and LGBT communities to assist in suicide prevention.
Lastly the question about what percentage of Arab's living in the United States are Muslim was VERY shocking! I absolutely thought that they would almost always be Muslims and not how Sam stated as being Christians. I am Christian and have been going to church all my life and have definitely encountered Arab Christians, but I would have never assumed that to be the majority faith for that ethnic group.
Again I am looking very forward to all of the interesting discussions that will surly arise in this course and the valuable learning experience we will garner from it.
Thanks everyone!