Reflective Essay

The most important core concept learned during class was bracketing. Bracketing is the ability to hold off all preconceived notions off to the side to allow new information to enter your brain without prejudice. Then once that information has entered (example: after a lesson) allow your old preconceived notions to synthesis and combine with the newly acquired information. I used this tactic of learning many times in the course including when the class discussed the specific issue of race and racism. As we discussed race I was forced to hold back my preconceived notions that race and racism and because of this I was allowed to learn more from the lecture. My own personal experience bracketing during class has greatly benefited me and one such example is how I used this concept during the lecture on race and racism.

Racewas literally a “black” and “white” issue for me. I used to believe race was a biological fact created by ones genes and was something to set people apart. I held off this preconceived notion, using the learning method of bracketing, to the side the professor was able to enlighten me a more on the subject. I was informed throughout lectures dedicated to race that race was an unfounded human social construction. This statement could be proven with the human genome project. This project set out to determine if the differences in the human gene attributed to color could be illustrated somewhere in peoples genes. They found through this project there was no significant difference (or at least one which could set the races apart) between the genetic sequence of a “black” person and the genetic sequence of a “white” person. In short this project debunked the idea of race in a biological sense. However, we must all acknowledge race is real in a social setting.

Meanwhile my preconceived notion of racism was that it is an unsound concept developed out of peoples fear for one another and a desire to control one another. As I held these notions of to the side the lectures, in most part, the lectures reaffirmed that belief. We had many readings and discussions dedicated to how racism was unsound because biologically race doesn’t exist. The logic behind this is that if racism depends on race to exist it cannot be sound because race is not a biological fact.

After each lesson I allowed synthesis to occur and was able to see my previous ideas meld with the new information and I was amazed at the result. Discussions which occurred during class became easily acceptable as I held off my preconceived notions allowing my mind to enter a state in which information was free to enter. Meanwhile synthesis of previous ideas with new ideas allowed for critical thinking which is a golden state of mind in University studies. In conclusion bracketing was a core concept which helped me in re-evaluating and replacing my understanding of the specific issue of race and racism.

 

Resources:

Course Notes

Issues in Social Justice (Frank Tridico)

Social Justice Issues in Local and Global Contexts (Charles Quist-Adade)

Illustration – Coolest Concept # 5

Last class we had our first set of group presentations. 2 groups presented on very different subjects. The most interesting subject to me was homosexuality. The group lectured us how Christians view gay people. They see homosexuality as a sin. They told us there exists two types of gay church groups. There is the Ex gay christian group. This group uses biblical passages to change peoples nature and repent for their sins. In essence they want to make gay people ex-gays. Meanwhile there is the gay affirming group. This group uses selected biblical passages to say gay people are just as loved by Jesus as others because god loves all of its creations. Of these two groups I believe the gay affirming group is better because I don’t think people should be trying to change others because of their nature.

Oral Participation # 4

I participated in the group discussion by raising my hand after the first group presentation and stating what I like about the presentation. I said they did a good job with the visuals and the chart in the presentation.

Illustration – Coolest Concept # 4

I believe the coolest concept discussed last class is that race is a biological myth but is real in society. We see these examples in the media constantly when news reporters report on “black” people and “white” people. A specific example I see is the George Zimmerman case where colour is used to describe the involved persons.

Oral Participation # 3

You asked the class, “did the film deny the fact race is real?” I answered that the video stated race is a biological myth. Another student expanded on this and said race is real as a social construct but in biology does not exist.

 

Videos Entry # 13

Stanford Prison Experiment

Dialectic Reading

What Question did the video raise?	How did the video answer this question?	How does the answer match our own ideas and experiences
The video asked the question if the moralities of good people can be deteriorated so they act like the Nazi’s did?	The video answered this question with a resounding YES. In the video normal students, like myself, were told by a man in a white lab coat to act as prison guards and prisoners. What happened was the prison guards moralities were bent so much that the prison guards began to starve prisoners, demoralise them through ridicule, and other horrid acts other than hitting them.	What happened in the video shocked me. Students like me did terrible things just because they were given the power to do so.

Videos Entry # 12

Chimamanda Adichie: The Danger of a Single Story

Dialectic Reading

What Question did the video raise?	How did the video answer this question?	How does the answer match our own ideas and experiences
Video raised the question is relying on a single story to decide on an issue a dangerous thing to do or is one story all you need?	The video answered this question with a resounding NO. A single story is dangerous because it allows a bias to flow into your thinking. With multiple perspectives you are allowed to examine information and develop a more educated opinion on vast topics	The answer completely matches my own ideas. As a student I am always being told by my instructors to gather multiple resources when researching a topic so I can have an informed opinion and not come across as ignorant or stupid. In my own experiences I see people using a single story in the media classifying certain colours as more susceptible to crime.

Videos Entry # 11

Race: The power of an Illusion

Affective Reading

What is the video about?

The video is about the myth of race. It purports that there is no race because there is no set of genes that is exclusive to one race. The video delves into the past and discusses how “race” scientists used “bad” evidence to imply that blacks were more primitive. Race scientists examined every body part of the black human body to somehow explain blacks were more primitive and therefore less civilized. To explain the above average performance of blacks in athletics race scientists also tried to attribute that to their race.

How do I feel about the video?

I felt angry about the race scientists trying to paint blacks as different or more primitive due to their race. However, I am pleased there is a video out debunking the concept of race

What do I think about the video?

I think the video is correct in its thesis that race is just a biological myth.

What do I believe about the video?

I believe this video had very low production values. In addition I believe the video is correct in stating that people’s athletic ability is not based on what race they are

What do I know about the video?

I know the video is a good rebuttal to those who believe race determines things such as athletic ability and other abilities.

Instructors Articles # 10

The Phantom of the Race: The Myth of Race and the Reality of Racism

Charles Quist-Adade

Affective Reading

What is the reading about?

the reading is about race and racism. It basically states race is a phony social construct but racism is a harsh dangerous reality. They are intertwined because they cannot live without the other. There was a racial hierchy created by white scientists based on bias and prejudice which had disastrous consequences for non white people. Race is phony because our differences are only skin deep and under the skin all humans are very much alike. Racism however, is real as we can see in everyday society by the lack of minorities in top positions of offices.

What do I feel about the reading

Interesting. Reading took the position that race is not real because of the vast similarities between humans of different skin colours and I would have to agree.

What do I think about the reading

I think it will be very difficult to remove racism from our society but the way to do that is to first acknowledge that race does not exist.

What do I believe about the reading

I believe the article has an emotional tie to the author.

What do I know about the reading

I know this information is correct and legit. I also know that this article is chapter 12 of our Tridico textbook. I know racism is not about to go away as long as people who are still alive from a time that racism was acceptable cease to exist. Maybe once all those people are gone racism can start to fade away as a misguided concept into the pages of history.

Instructors Articles Entry # 9

Who will Liberate Liberia?

Charles Quist-Adade

Affective Reading

What is the reading about?

The reading is about how George Bush`s administration doles out huge amounts of money to sponsor a war in Iraq looking for potentially existing weapons of mass destruction for the greater good of the World. The article highlights the hypocrisy of such a statement by quoting that one tenth the same amount of money could feed half the World`s starving children, forget the starving children in America. Surely feeding the children of the World does the world more good than waging war and killing countless numbers of them. In addition the article highlights the fact many other Countries have confirmed nuclear weapons but those Countries are invisible to America because they do not have oil. Christian morality is thrown out the window when profit is involved.

What do I feel about the reading

I feel it is a very unjust world when our priority is on waging war rather than feeding children. And the people in charge who make the decision for war instead of feeding children are terrible people.

What do I think about the reading I just finished

I think it makes a very good point that should become knowledge to the average American. Also I think some counterpoints need to be discusses such as if war is necessary to keep an economy afloat.

What do I believe about the reading

I believe the people in charge of deciding whether or not to wage war or feed starving children have a crazed view of morality which can only stem from irrational beliefs such as god.

What do I know about the reading

I know these things are terrible and are a fact of life about society. I can only hope that future generations can see a day when war is a thing of the past.