Race, Class, & Gender

Danielle Karkkainen Prof. Shaleen Seward SOC. 301, Race/Class/Gender Writing date December 4, 2012 I am an the Statesn, says oer 308,745,538 muckle in the joined States this year (2010 Census Data. ) These people originate from everywhere America is a melting pot of culture, and that can unfortunately cause social inequalities to switch off through the Matrix of Domination, a theory that mirrors the intersectionality of ladder, class, and internal practice, as co agent of Race, Class, & Gender, an Anthology Patricia hummock Collins claims (Andersen, and Collins xi-xiii. These two terms give label to the stock(a) phenomena of race, class, and gender work within a system of social relationships. The ground of people from another(prenominal)wise cultures has grown in legion(predicate) courses over the record of the United States. America is starting to realize that the ethnocentric, or judgment of others culture through the values of their own, is no long-term an accepta ble way to coming others. There is st misfortune a long way to go to more than firmly develop a country with a planetary appreciation of diversity and inclusive thought.Knowledge is the queen that will keep populations in intermissionful, cultural awareness and harmonious equality. Anderson and Collins share mevery views of American life and morality through the different cultural perspectives of its citizens (and noncitizens. ) These articles prove that race, class, and gender all play separate, dynamic roles in the interrelated origins of discrimination. In the article, The polish of rawened Femininity and School Success, the realization that sullen women permit historically been raised to consciously be more aggressively determined to obey as they had the least amount of power in the education system.The contradict between young, black females and school officials usually ended up in a positive social change because the understanding that their race, class, and gender is evermore pinned up against them (Lewis, Mueller, and et al 187-193. ) In our patriarchal society, women lack power. In adjunct to that, these women are African American, which creates more issues in fighting against discrimination from those who break more power, such(prenominal) as a potential employer. Speaking of employment, black women in America generally come from a lower-class certifyground, which deeds against them in gaining power to change their spatial relation in life.The people with power in America are generally the ones who dont save issues receiveing wealth or status. This social construct has perpetuated whiley centuries, and today, it is go ton most clearly by the egg white, educated males who are educated to become those with the power, that is, the white-collar employers and employees. On the flip-side of this case, minorities are educated in technical schools often, those with blue-collar or lower status jobs. For this, America has adopted lega litys alike Affirmative Action as a safety-related measure to eliminate discrimination issues in the workplace.Some people think this law is un prerequisite as America means equality for all however, this color-blind approach keeps those with the white privilege in ignorance (Gallagher 91-95. ) Inclusive thinking is necessary from a young age to create a more evaluate atmosphere and society within the United States. To t all(prenominal) these concepts, the hidden order of business initiated from toddler-age on, which keeps the powerless under the thumb of the effectual must be eliminated. reasonableness and accepting differences will be the easiest and most valuable, long-lasting way to move on the position of the powerless, i. . the minorities of America. Only when an equal percentage of minorities and Caucasian people obtain degrees and sufficient income will equality be a tangible possibility. American educational facilities have adopted the Black History Month as a role model for inclusion, however, why a single nonage of a population have a single month of history created to what seems like a pacification of the lack of recognition of the importance of African Americans in America since the countrys birth. The hidden curriculum keeps social constructions of discrimination liveborn in our schools.We have a long way to go, as author Jeanne Theoharis proves in her article, I Hate It When People Treat Me Like a Fxxx-up the students of color in one school (as well, assumed in other schools) received unequal treatment, services, and materials because school officials believed the students did not care about their education. However, the minority students kept a journal of how important their education was and the tolerance of the unsporting treatment toward the minorities was exposed and corrected (Theoharis 409. The idea that minorities, particularly African American, do not care about their education or are a problem population because of their rac e, and the typical disadvantages that come along with that is primitive. From the days of Harriet Tubman and slaveholding, to the powerful re answer of Rosa Parks, to the incredible cultured rights acts in the 1960s, to the most sozzled woman in America being African American, black people have changed their face and the face of our history throughout time. African Americans have a type of double understanding created by society.The majority (white people,) have created a belief shared amongst much of the black population on some kind of level. This perspective is that of an acceptance of a secondary race and not as worthy as Caucasians. The other perspective that whitethorn be what powers the young, black female in particular as aforesaid(prenominal) is that of strength and faith. The African American community has always had a hale connection with one another, still excluded from the mainstream of America. In the days of slavery, the seeds of this double consciousness were pl anted in the African American culture.Upon rowing on overcrowded ships, ill with plague, and maliciously beaten by the white man, Blacks began to see themselves as white people did- property. This was the lowest point in African American history, and many black people rose as a type of Over-Man in order to save their peoples culture and lives. Harriet Tubman saved hundreds of different African Americans from slavery by hiding them in an underground tunnel to the more lay off North, which was the first step in abolishing slavery by the African American population.Many years after slavery of African Americans ended, Jim gasconade laws still nonintegrated the minority group from the rest of society. Jim Crow laws were not necessarily legal, nor written, solely they were implied, and explicitly enforced. These laws kept the less powerful African Americans away from and in service to white Americans. In the 1940s and 1950s, Americas law of the land was Separate notwithstanding Equal, meaning there were separate areas for facilities, separate lines for tickets, restricted seating, etc. This was march on obvious through the lack of proper education for African Americans.If Jim Crow laws were broken, African Americans were severely punished. This could have mean nauseate beatings, lynching, or imprisonment. commission of African Americans was entirely lacking and causing a rising strain between the rivaling African Americans and white Americans. With rising violence and aggression, leaders such as Malcolm X and Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. arose with two separate types of action calls for African Americans. Muslim activist Malcolm X proposed progression at any cost.Linked with the Black Panthers, a lower-class black activist group, violence was encouraged if peace did not reap reward and cost this leader his life. This caused many riots, resulting in police brutality and discrimination towards people of color. The Hammurabi-like code an nub for an eye app roach does not work when take oning for understanding and acceptance. For this, Martin Luther King proposed a solution to the racial discrimination to end. This was to keep a steady, calm head and fall out with absolute resolution to positive social change and peaceful rioting.This approach seemed to work better, although only with complete determination and self-control. After many marches, protests, and exchanges, as well as Dr. Kings assassination, the power of black Americans was starting to be recognized by the world. The Equal Employment Opportunity Committee was created in 1967 to embolden minorities receive the jobs they deserve, reviewing and protecting applicants from employer discrimination. This created over 4,000 injuries in ensuing riots and a bring to call to action for equal treatment of minorities (Jackson Sun. ) This was the result of yet another attempt at equality for all American citizens. However, this attempt joined forces with the Affirmative Action law President John F. Kennedy created in order to stop racism bleeding into the employment world. Giving black Americans more power, the social class of African Americans rose for a ecstasy before hitting a bump in the progression of African American historical timeline when crack cocaine hit the streets along with the influx of HIV/AIDS. African Americans were amongst the hardest hit by these two pandemics.Bringing African American morality down, and degrading masking to the poverty lifestyle, gangs boomed, creating a family unit and showtime of income for many urban African Americans. In the 1990s, gang violence skyrocketed. In direct opposition, so did police brutality, particularly of African Americans. The teachings of gang members grew exponentially through the powerful words of American rap by gangsters like Tupac Shakur and Biggie Smalls, who both grew up in the slums of opposing American coasts and shared the dread(a) life occurrences they witnessed or took part in.Not only did these artists glamorize the thug lifestyle, scarce the women in the music videos of these artists created a further degradation of females as sexual objects, not humans to be respected. Tupac addressed these issues with his poetry I see no changes wake up in the morning and I train myself Is life worth living should I blast myself? Im tired of bein wretched & even worse Im black My stomach hurts so Im lookin for a crease to snatch Cops give a damn about a inkiness Pull the trigger kill a ***** hes a hero consecrate the crack to the kids who the hell cares One less hungry mouth on the welfareFirst ship em dope & let em deal the brothers Give em guns step back watch em kill each other Its time to fight back thats what Huey said (Changes. ) This is an explicit example of the war-like lifestyle African Americans maintained in the streets of urban centers. Police officers and government officials were discriminating against African Americans more than any other minority. The con sistent oppression of black people lead by police roused many riots. Perhaps the most well-known of all instigators of civil rights call to actions is the infamous 1992 Rodney King beating.Four police officers beat Rodney King, a screwball guilty of a DUI until he had broken 11 facial bones, among other injuries (Rodney King. ) Americans were outraged by the unnecessary brutal treatment of this man and deemed it an complete example of police discrimination. This tension between African Americans and police officers created 53 deaths, 2,383 injuries, more than 7,000 fires, damage to 3,100 businesses, and nearly $1 billion in monetary losses (Rodney King. ) Finally, African Americans were making their case for equality known.The United States has fitting re-elected Democrat, Barack Obama for a second term in office. This man is half African American, half Caucasian. It is almost unfathomable that we finally have a man of color in the Oval Office upon seeing the constant failures o f activists who propensity to see equality for all. These failures are not what they seem, as collectively, they catapulted African Americans to a much more comfortable position in the United States. bonnie because our President is half black does not mean the fight for African American equality is over.Unfortunately, there are still plenty of hate crimes heard in the headlines are the country to this day. African Americans are gaining status in society now that there are much more firm laws in place deterring employers, instructors, or officials to discriminate based on race, class, gender, or orientation. In the near future, the minorities of America will no longer be considered the minority as our global as well as country-wide population is ever-changing and increasingly becoming more well-rounded.Hopefully, this will care in eliminating the hate crimes, prejudice, and discrimination against those who do not have the prodigality of inherently obtaining the white privilege. U nderstanding that race, class, and gender all works for and against us constantly due to social construct will create a more positive awareness of the importance equality and the beauty of each individuals unique qualities, experiences, and characters. Race, class, and gender still remains unequal amongst American individuals, so teaching positive social change and appreciation of a multicultural society will always remain a necessity.Works Cited Andersen, Margaret, and Patricia Collins. Race, Class, & Gender. 8th ed. . Belmont Wadsworth Cengage Learning, 2010. xi-xiii. Print. Gallagher, Charles. blind Privilege. Trans. run Race, Class, & Gender. Margaret Anderson and Patricia Collins. 8th ed. Belmont Wadsworth & Cengage Learning, 2010. 91-95. Print. Lewis, R. L, Jennifer Mueller, et al. The Culture of Black Femininity and School Success. Trans. Array Race, Class, & Gender. Margaret Andersen and Patricia Collins. 8th ed.Belmont Wadsworth & Cengage Learning, 2010. 187-193. Print. National Civil Rights Timeline. Jackson Sun Jackson 2003, n. pag. Web. 2 Dec. 2012. . Rodney King. 2012. . Shakur, Tupac, writ. Changes. 1998. Song. 1 Dec 2012. Theoharis, Jeanne. I Hate It When People Treat Me Like a F&up. Trans. Array Race, Class, & Gender. Margaret Andersen and Patricia Collins. 8th ed. Belmont Wadsworth & Cengage Learning, 2010. Print. United States. U. S. Census Bureau. 2010 Census Data. Washington, D. C. , 2012. Web. .