CRASH into Race

Simplifying race to a black-white issue definitely creates confusion over race issues in America. Clearly, from Crash and that other movie we saw, there can be inter and intra racism. There was certainly racism seen when Ludacris' character would talk cruelly about other black people. He claimed that he had no respect for black people who robbed from other black people. Luda constantly criticized his friend who later died for liking country music or bringing along his patron saint of travelers. Most people assume that racism is only between races. They are very wrong. Crash proves that race is a much larger problem than that because it is everywhere and in everyone. When Sandra Bullock sensed that Luda and his friend were bad people, she worried that people would see her as racist. Honestly, I cannot see how others would think that. If Luda and his friend had been white, dressed that way, with that demeanor, I would have been worried. In that case, I really do not believe that it was race, but looks and general atmosphere. If Luda and friend had been nicely dressed, then, I think it would have been a completely different story. Sometimes clothes and appearances in general really help typlify a person. Anyway, I loved Crash and it was sad to finish the movie. I really like the directing style. It is so cool how everyone is connected. I believe that this movie portrays the six degrees of separation very well. Okay, so this is my last blog. How sad :( It was a fun class! Thanks Sal!

Is Race Real?

Before our sociology classes this past week, I never questioned the idea of race. To me race is so built in to American society that I incorrectly presumed the idea of race was shared by all societies. It is confounding to me that in South Africa, people apply for races. But it does make more sense. What really makes a person black or white if they are both, like Barack Obama?How come we call Obama the first black president when he is equally black and white? Our society defidently looks at race first when judging a person. Whether it is locking our doors in a poor mostly black neighborhood in Chicago or refusing to be friends with a black person, implicit and explicit race is everywhere. I wish that everyone acted like Livia. Seeing an Asian man and saying he resembled Obama. Most people do not think that way. Just the other day, at work, we were playing Wii and the two players on the screen were black and white. To keep track of the game, the other kids would say "Oh, the black guy's winning". I never would have thought of that as racism before, but after this class, I have opened my eyes. Racism really is everywhere, which is an extremely sad fact. The doll experiment was another moment when I was just blown away by the racism present in little kids against themselves. It really sucks that racism is so ingrained in our world that even little kids who are black view themselves as bad and mean.

Blue Collar Stereotypes

I do not think that the white collar people are making fun of the blue-collar people. Yes, they visit dive bars and claim to be romanticizing the blue-collar lifestyle; however, I don't think they meant to be rude about it. Rather, it just expresses their discontent with their own lives. Bruce Springsteen still sings about blue collar life, when he is obviously not blue collar anymore. Sometimes being blue collar can be an image, other times it can be a hard-earned title. I completely agree that class stereotypes are more openly prevalent in mainstream society. I think the problem is that people buy into their stereotypes. Women call themselves trailer trash, but it may hurt them when other people call them trailer trash. Guess what, don't reinforce your own stereotype! That just encourages people to think that calling someone trailer trash is okay. It is not okay. I also think sexism is quite common in every day life. It was especially widespread during the fight for the Democratic Presidential nomination. Even Katie Couric, a renowned reporter, spoke up after Hillary Clinton conceded. Couric claimed that Clinton was wronged and objectified during her campaign run. To me, class and gender stereotypes are the most ocmmon and prevalent in society.