Gay Men of Color

An interesting topic came up in my gender class that has bearing on our discussions. The situation of gay men of color is described as a "matrix of domination." Depending on the individual, some of them relate as a person of color, while others as a homosexual, and still others as both. The article, entitled "They Don't Want to Cruise Your Type: Gay Men of Color and the Racial Politics of Exclusion," discusses how in their communities these men are subject to racism, sexual discrimination, and homophobia. They experience racism in both hetero and homosexual society. They experience a unique form of discrimination as many people don't believe that a man of color would be homosexual, and are treated awkwardly even at gay bars. On top of all of this, they experience the same type of homophobia that all gay men experience when they are accepted as being homosexual. I thought this was interesting because it truly illustrates a complete "matrix of domination," or the idea that you cannot merely look at one single act or picture, but must view the complete experience of a person to see just how much they are oppressed. Think about that the next time we talk about individual racist actions and oppressions, there's always more to it.

Racial Profiling

After seeing racial profiling as one of the possible topics for the research project I began to wonder how frequently the police do it today. I’ve heard the commonly joked about saying that “Driving While Black” is sometimes enough to get someone of color pulled over, but to what extent is this statement true in modern society?

Anyways I found this article:

http://www.aclu.org/racial-justice/maryland-court-orders-state-police-turn-over-racial-profiling-records

that shows how a Maryland court just ordered the Maryland State Police (MSP) to release their records on interior investigations into racial profiling. Apparently, there have been 100 official complaints alleging racial profiling by the MSP since 2003. Data proves that non-whites are pulled over in traffic stops much more often and are frequently asked to exit the vehicle so that the officers can conduct an unwarranted search. Out of these 100 complaints that have been investigated, there have been no disciplinary actions taken against any of the department’s officers.

It is a very interesting article that proves racial profiling still exists and how there is not much being done to put an end to it. Does anyone have someone that they know (friend, family member, etc.) that has been a victim of racial profiling?

White Privilege Checklist

The following are examples of ways white individuals have privilege because they are white. Please read the list and place a check next to the privileges that apply to you or that you have encounterd

1. I can arrange to be in the company of people of my race most of the time

2. I can be sure that my children will be given curricular materials that testify to the existence of their race

3. Whether I use checks, credit cards or cash, I can count on my skin colour not to work against the appearance of financial responsibility

4. I can worry about racism without being seen as self interested or self seeking

5.I am never asked to speak for all of the people of my racial group

6. I can be pretty sure that if I ask to talk with the "person in charge" I will be facing a person of my race

7. If a traffic cop pulls me over or if the IRS audits my tax return, I can be sure I haven't been singles out because of my race

8. I can choose blemish cover or bandages in "flesh" colour and have them more or less match my skin

9. I can walk into a classroom and know I will not be the only member of my race

10. I can enroll in a class at college and be sure that the majority of my professors will be my race

11. I can do well in a challenging situation without being called a credit to my race

12. I can easily buy posters, picture books, dolls, toys and children's magazines featuring people of my race

13. I can take a job or enroll in a college with an affirmative action policy without having my co-workers or peers assume I got it because of my race (sort of what I was trying to get at in class today)

How many of these did you check?

Are all of these examples based on race alone?

How does class (socio-economic status) play into this checklist?

What about appearance? Or the way you talk?

Should the white population feel guilty for white privilege?

do we have racial souls?

in the introduction(sorry this takes us back) of Hackett in the discussion of Du Bois' proposed definition of race it says that he maintained that a study of history will show that although based on the physical the identity of a racial group infinitely transcends biological difference. that race in this sense referes to a subtle cultural bond that is more spiritual, psychic, than physical.(page xiv)

so this got me wondering, do we have racial souls? was he turning to the spiritual because there are biological/scientific trustworthy explanations for the differences we see? is this approach significant today, or of benefit today? if we say we have racial souls, doesnt that go along with the description of race as characterized by moral qualities, (i think spiritual and moral go together), and isnt that problematic?
what do people think?

Ivy League nude posture photos: Phantoms of American Eugenics

Although it is more of a historical note, it is often forgotten how far the eugenics dogma had penetrated American academia. Up until the 1970's several studies were conducted at participating Ivy league schools which sought to explain social structure in racial terms. Most famous of these studies, was a project run by William Herbert Sheldon in which freshmen students were photographed naked and measured. This study lasted up into the mid 1970's when it was subsequently terminated. The following schools participated in the project: Harvard Universit, Mount Holyoke College, Princeton University, Radcliffe College, Smith College, Swarthmore College, Vassar College, Wellesley College, and Yale University. Below is a link to The New York Time's article on the exposure of the study, but please feel free to post any other articles or links to the actual study.

http://www.nytimes.com/1995/01/15/magazine/the-great-ivy-league-nude-posture-photo-scandal.html?pagewanted=1

The Gerber Generation

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-3MYNBF0tBw&feature=related
When a Gerber commercial appeared while I was watching hulu, I was very excited to see the wide variety of races. The commercial says to meet the Gerber generation, and displays many different images of children strung together in order to create a unified moving image like a flipbook. I was impressed by the commercial and was glad to see that Gerber was making a conscious effort to use all different types of races. I thought it was cool that the children got older as the video progressed; however, I was a little startled when the commercial broke the pattern at the end. The pleasant tune and swapping images come to an abrupt halt when a white baby giggles. The baby’s face resembles the famous baby that is imposed on all Gerber products, the classic Gerber baby. Even though the commercial portrays diversity, the message remains befuddled by the overarching stereotype that is embedded into Gerber’s marketing. Consistency for marketing is good for companies, but is it beneficial for society if these marketing symbols depict one race over another? Is the new Gerber generation overshadowed by Gerber's old ways?

implict/explicit messages

I thought this starbucks commercial was really interesting. There is a really something interesting about what races/ethnicities should and shouldn't mix. I am not sure why they would chose to make an ad like this-- maybe because its the kind of ridiculous that makes you laugh but shouldnt because its not PC at all.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L3kpyJI2JBo


I'm interested in hearing what other people think about this.