For your new blog response, do the assigned reading for tonight. Then answer one of the following questions:
--> According to Wachtel , in "Talking About Racism," what is wrong with using the term "racist"?
--> What is the "paradox of guilt" that Wachtel refers to?
--> Explain what institutional racism is and give one example of it.
--> What does Wachtel mean by "Otherness" and what are the benefits of using this concept to think about race?
Length: At least one well-developed paragraph
Due: Before our next class
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According to Wachtel using the term "racist" is wrong because it makes dealing with people who are different more difficult than it already is. many people already have their own judgments about other groups of people from experiences and stories. when we use the term "racist" we are trying to add a harsher meaning to something than needed when there are so many better words that fit better like bias, prejudice, discrimination,stereotyping, etc.
ReplyDeleteAccording to Wachtel, the term racist is not accurate. Using the term racist causes people to fear being accused of being racist because of their vieww. He says there is no real definition of the word racist and no one knows who made up the term. Overall, the word is too powerful and emotional to be used. It can easily offend someone and has consequnces.
ReplyDeleteIt seems to me that, in Wachtel's article, that the definition of "institutional racism" is a system that is intrinsically in favor of the majority race. From what I can gather from "Talking about racism" institutional racism can be found in the education system most easily. Since inner city schools (populated mostly by minorities) are drastically underfunded, students receive an inadequate education. Since the inner city children receive an inadequate education, they score poorly on tests like the SATs. With low test scores and poor overall school performance, colleges are less likely to accept applicants from the inner city. Without a degree, most inner city graduates are confined to low income professions and their children attend the same inadequate schools that won't lead to college.
ReplyDeleteJoel said....
ReplyDeleteIn the article, racism is said to be stretched out. The word racism is a strong word and Watchel states, "it should not be a word whose power habituates." An example used is if there is miscommunication between a white and black person. There is either a disagreement, not understanding one another, not knowing the facts, or simply stating someone is wrong that can lead to the other person being racist. Institutional racism is more of exlcuding a lower group of people. An example of this is a club that only white males can join. It is an attitude and practice that the white people show towards the African-American.
joseph
ReplyDeleteAccording to Wachtel, the problem with the term Racist is that it is tossed around to casually. Furthermore, the connotations of the term racist are far more wicked than most white americans consider themselves to be. The author suggests that if almost any white person had an opportunity to save a black person from a flaming building, or well they would. Thus, white americans can sleep easy at night because they are assuredly not a big bad racist. Also, the term racist does not address the problem in its entirety. For most people it doesnt equate the idea of indifference for instance.
Wachtel states, that the word or term racist has became a word we toss around to much in our lifes. The author says we have become to use to saying it that we dont even know how bad of a word it can be. We in todays society dont even relaize the power of the word and how muh fear it can casue when we say it.And that when we use the word racist we use to cause more hurt or pain to whom ever we are saying it to. HE says we need to stop becasue we as americans have forgotten what and how bad the wrod realy is.
ReplyDeleteThe term racist is being used casually today. He talks about how America has desensitized the word; and people do not realize the power of the word racist, and what it does to people. There really is no definition for the word racist. There's no set standard for what is racist and what is not racist. People decide if something is racist, and not all people judge it the same.
ReplyDeleteAccording to Wachtel the word racist doesnt really have a meaning because it is defined in so many ways. People use the word racist casually that at this rate its overused and dont realize anymore how strong the word racist is. Instiutional racism is when whites assume they are better then blacks, its their attitude towards minorities. Whites exclude them from social institutions and put them lower then they would put themslves.
ReplyDeleteIn Wachtel's article, the term racist is wrong to use because we associate it more with a minority group when in fact it applies to all races. Paradoxal guilt according to Wachtel is making racism seem like a minimal issue when it is actually a big one. People respond to the matter of racism as if it no big deal to be one.Institutional racism is more applied toward minorities such as blacks and hispanics and its easy to see an example of this in the workplace. Otherness is a better term to use rather than a race because it sounds more lighthearted and sensitive toward others feelings.
ReplyDeleteAccording to Wachtel , in "Talking About Racism," what is wrong with using the term "racist"?
ReplyDeleteThe term racist is suppose to be a strong and powerful word. Racist should not be used in or everyday vocabulary the meaning of has been modified. Another problem with racist is that it stops communication with blacks and whites. Whites are afraid of being called racist and black are quick to use the word racist ending conversation between the two groups.