In the contemporary era, the issue of race remains a prevalent topic in public discussion. Thus, Colson Whitehead’s The Underground Railroad is meaningful as it explores the legacy of racial injustice in the United States and its consequences in today’s society. In his development of the underground railroad as a literal and physical vehicle to freedom, Whitehead is able to candidly detail the ubiquitous nature of racial prejudice and the horrors associated with it. Over the course of his novel, the author utilizes a variety of rhetorical devices in order to further explore the many hardships that ‘freedom’ inevitably entails.
On another interview with Patricia Gantt she states: “ Wilson did acknowledge himself to be "a race man," claiming the Black Power Movement of the 1960s as "the kiln in which I was fired," the experience that caused him to see how deeply embedded race and racism are in the culture of the United States (2001,12). He felt that race is the single most important aspect
Each section goes in depth about a certain topic. The topics that stood out the most to me while I was reading and taking notes were; the idea of the New Jim Crow, the war on drugs and mass incarceration. These topics stood out the most to me because Michelle Alexander proves how they relate to the Jim Crow Laws established during the Reconstruction Era. The two chapters that I read were titled “The Rebirth of Caste” (Chapter 1) and “The Lockdown” ( Chapter 2). These two chapters tackle the controversial topic of the new racism living today and also the war on drugs.
Not only is it a big part of History, but slavery could possibly still exist today if it wasn 't emancipated by President Lincoln. We can apply our knowledge from the Dred Scott decision to conflicts in racism today. We can compare where we are in racism and conflict to when the Dred Scott vs Sandford case was happening in 1857. Applying our knowledge from the Dred Scott decision is good because we know that, in history, African Americans couldn 't become citizens and were called property. Keeping America multicultural is important and we can do so by using our knowledge of the Dred Scott
Ward goes out even further on a limb in deciding to exclude the troublesome but pervasive “N” word. Wishing to shed “more light than heat” he writes that in expunging the word he removes “one more layer of fog, one more level of static, through which to learn about slavery and the war” (305). Ward justifies this troublesome intrusion on the grounds on the same grounds he uses for cleaning up the dialect of slave testimonies. There is much to admire in a work that seeks to put front and center the slaves’ perspective, voice, ideology, and ultimately, analysis, of what is still the major war and defining era in American history--the Civil War. The Slaves ' War is a fine book that broadens and deepens the historical canvass of the war.
This book is called Racism Without Racists: Color-Blind Racism and the Persistence of Racial Inequality in the United States, and it was written by Eduardo Bonilla-Silva. It focuses on the new type of racism that has risen in the United States, colorblind racism. The author explains how minorities (Blacks, Latinos, etc) have been suffering the consequences of this new racism, it goes from how did it started, the consequences of it, interviews, story telling, surveys as proof, how can we eradicated, and other things related to the topic. In this book review I will give a summary of each chapter and I will conclude it by giving my opinion on the arguments made by the author. Color blind racism suggest that minorities (Latinos were used as an
The black subordination social order had remained, unbroken by the abolishment of slavery or the Amendments that followed. The first sign of an attempt at a new social order was seen in Lincoln’s Emancipation Proclamation of 1862, where slavery was legally abolished in the Union states. Paired with Union victory at Antietam, emancipation looked to be a serious threat to the well-established institution of slavery in the Confederacy, or Southern states. In 1865 Congress had approved the Thirteenth Amendment; it
It is an existing theory that our society is constructed via racial dimensions, and that racial equality is a figment of the imagination. This very principle is highlighted in Michelle Alexander’s novel, “The New Jim Crow.” The specific dimensions covered within the text include the unjust aspects of the federal drug policy, and by connection that of mass incarceration as well. Alexander claims that racism is still very prominent in present day society and is direct and frank about the heavy influence of white supremacy. One of the main arguments pushed by Alexander in this book is that mass incarceration is “ a stunningly comprehensive and well-disguised system of racialized social control that functions in a manner strikingly similar
To justify his desire for racial justice and equality, he uses ethical, emotional and logical appeals. The purpose of the letter was to address one of the biggest issues Birmingham was facing at the time. He begins by stating his point in nonviolent protests and that it is a lawful act as blacks civil rights movement. He further explains his motives saying that it is time for black men to have the same rights as whites.
The title of the article I chose to address is titled “The rise of Black Lives Matter: Trying to break the cycle of violence and silence”. This article extend beyond the idea of Black Lives Matter and wants the reader to be informed on what it is like to be black in america. The author includes a wide amount of information to help the reader understand why this cry for help was even created and why they want to stand up and make a change in our society. The purpose of this piece is to inform the general audience as to what Black Lives Matter really is and explain how they hope to rise as a movement. All though there may be issues within the group and outside forces that are wanting to go against them they will still not be silenced.
It challenged the preconceptions that slavery was a dark chapter and did not contribute anything useful for the future. Instead, the Hortons showed that slavery was a huge influence on American history. From integrating their culture to fighting in wars, slavery has left a legacy in America. Unfortunately, while African American culture has survived through the decades, so have racial prejudices. This book was daring to shine a light at this sensitive topic.
In the article by Jim Crow, it is clear that black Americans are today facing the challenge of the legacies that slavery left behind. In the article, Coates adds that the African Americans need reparation from the government. During the talk to defend the article, Coates discussed his motive for the paper and presented the future of the article. This paper aims at presenting the reasons for the Coates’ argument that reparation should be done.
Letter From Birmingham Jail: A Statement of Truth Racism in America was and still is an issue that is faced. Since the time of the Civil Rights movement America has improved but still has to do some work. The people who started the fight for racial equality were the brave ones who decided enough was enough. Colored people in America had been treated unfairly for much too long and were ready to fight for their rights and get rid of the social injustices they had to face.
Slavery is over therefore how can racism still exist? This has been a question posed countlessly in discussions about race. What has proven most difficult is adequately demonstrating how racism continues to thrive and how forms of oppression have manifested. Michelle Alexander, author of The New Jim Crow, argues that slavery has not vanished; it instead has taken new forms that allowed it to flourish in modern society. These forms include mass incarceration and perpetuation of racist policies and societal attitudes that are disguised as color-blindness that ultimately allow the system of oppression to continue.
The “13th” is a documentary about the American system of incarceration and the economic forces behind racism in America especially in people of color. One of the claims that the author mentioned is that today incarceration is an extension of slavery. It is also mentioned that most of the time in society we are defined by race. In the documentary, we can see how African Americans are sentenced for many years since they are too poor to pay their fines or sometimes most of these people plead guilty to get out of jail fast. However, African Americans are separated from their families and also treated inhumanly in prisons just because they are of a particular race.