- Race is a Four-Letter Word by Teja Arboleda (pgs. 120 - 124)
- Three Ways of Meeting Oppression by Martin Luther King Jr. (279 - 282)
On Thursday, we're also going to engage in a Grammar Hotspots Challenge. Prepare for it by reviewing pages 561 - 601 in our book.
For Discussion:
1. How would you describe Teja Arboleda's racial ethnic identity? How is this different from his cultural identity? How does he distinguish between the two? Finally, how would you describe your own racial ethnic identity, and does this identity differ from your cultural identity? In what ways?
2. Martin Luther King Jr writes, "To accept passively an unjust system is to cooperate with that system; thereby the oppressed become as evil as the oppressor" (281). Give an example of an "unjust system" that we (as Americans, as people) or you personally have come to accept. What is the danger in accepting this system?
1. Teja Trbolenda said that your race is determined by your skin color...he has been mistaken for many different ones. I believe that Teja's racial ethnic identity would be what his parents are. Teja is a mix. to most "Americans"...he would be just another minority Teja said that your cultural identity is determined by what experiences and interactions with society you taken part in
ReplyDeletei was raised to be both Honduran and Egyptian i pray when i can and i dance Merengue every chance i get.
The things i actually do have nothing to do with my race or nationality unless its a family party or at a masque. I grew up with my siblings older friends who were multi cultural. I just took little parts of every older friend i came in contact with from elementary school. From what i learned on the street, school, my travels and from elders in the family. i developed ME. To the outside world I'm a light skin kid with a hat on.
2. The unjust system that i personally have had to accept is the specific racial profiling of arabs. Every time i go to the airport i am "randomly searched". I don't look like bad guy but as soon as they see that last name.."uh..sir..can you step to the side?". It doesn't bother me now as much as it did before. I have come to accept it and plus...i don't want anything going wrong on my plane. It goes much deeper than airports. My name also gives trouble with cops,jobs,parents(Dates) among others.
I don't see any dangers in accepting the system unless it prevents me from doing what i want to do in life.
1. Arboleda says that race is determined by outward appearance and his cultural identity is determined by outside influences and actions. My race(if we go by its definition) is Black. I'm technically of mixed race(Caucasian and African-American). Culturally however, I am a mix of several ethnic groups. All of which have a major impact on my cultural identity.
ReplyDelete2. Profiling is a huge part of our system that is incredibly unjust. Racial profiling is something that some come to terms with, but I feel that it gives the public a false sense of safety. No one can predict who will commit a crime because of what race they are. Whose to say that while we're looking at the "suspicious character" to cause a problem, that the "soccer mom" wont be robbing you blind? Its an inefficient system and its wrong.
I would describe Teja Arboleda racial ethnic identity as complicated, beccause no matter your race people may describe or call you many names whether you like it or not. They determine your race basically by your skin color. Teja cultural identity on the other hand is determined by his life time experiences and interactions he had/ve with his society.
ReplyDeleteI am african-american I am not mixed with anything other than black, maybe my ancestors not me personally. When I go places or meet new people they always think that I am mixed with asian because of my eyes. My cultural identity is also how I was raised in my household, school etc.
The unjust system to me is bascially when americans have no say so on what's going on because of their race. This unfair because different races might have different oppurtunties when doing things whether its a job or not.
1.According to the text, Teja Arboleda's race is predominantly determined by skin color. In my opinion he is a mixture of many races through the bloodline of his family tree. Teja's culture is defined by his experiences and interactions in many different society's.
ReplyDeleteMy racial identity is white, irish and german. Some people stereotype irish culture as being big alcohol drinkers. Almost every weekend I go to a bar and have a good time resposibly. This is not an irish thing, its a hobby that most people my age do. This comment is usually said by friends that are not irish and are sitting right next to me at the bar two drinks ahead of me.
2. Unfortunately racial and unjust systems are still a small part of this country today. However this country has made great leaps and bounds toward this sensitive issue. I believe there is no unjust system in this country to a certain extent. One hundred years ago, a black man could not even drink from the same water fountain as a white man. Today the top political leaders such as the President, senators, Governors and mayors that run this country are all mixed in racial identity. This would not be possible without Martin Luther King Jr's sacrifice, which he paid the ultimate sacrifice with his life. This is a great attribute to us people as a whole that helped shaped and mold what was a bad unjust system. The United States has not perfected this, but does have the best just system in the nation today. Thats partly why its called the land of the free and home of the brave.