Sunday, May 24, 2020

Racism vs. Prejudice Whats the Difference

Nearly 40 percent of white Americans believe that the U.S. has made the changes necessary to give black people equal rights with whites, according to a  Pew Research Center study. However, just eight percent of black Americans believe that this is the case. This suggests that its important to discuss the difference between prejudice and racism, since some do not recognize that the two are distinct  and that racism still very much exists. Key Takeaways: The Difference Between Prejudice and Racism Prejudice refers to a preconceived idea about a particular group, while racism involves an unequal distribution of power on the basis of race.Sociologists have found that racism has led to a wide range of detrimental outcomes for people of color, including unequal access to jobs and housing, as well as an increased risk of being a victim of police brutality.According to the sociological perspective, members of privileged groups can experience prejudice, but their experience will be different than the experience of someone who experiences systemic racism. Understanding Prejudice The  Oxford English dictionary  defines prejudice as a â€Å"preconceived opinion that is not based on reason or actual experience,† and this resonates with how sociologists understand the term. Quite simply, it is a pre-judgment that one makes of another that is not rooted in their own experience. For example, from  a sociological standpoint, the dumb blonde  stereotype, and the jokes that reproduce it,  can be considered a form of prejudice. While we typically think of prejudice as a negative view towards another group, prejudices can be negative or positive (i.e. when people hold positive stereotypes about members of other groups). Some prejudices are racial in nature, and have racist outcomes, but not all forms of prejudice do, and this is why its important to understand the difference between prejudice and racism. An Example Jack explained that as a blond  person of German descent, he had experienced pain in his life due to this form of prejudice aimed at blond  people. But are the negative consequences of prejudice the same for Jack as those who are called the n-word or other racial slurs? Not quite, and sociology can help us understand why. While calling someone a dumb blonde  might result in feelings of frustration, irritation, discomfort, or even anger for the person targeted by the insult, its rare that there would be further negative implications. There is no research to suggest that hair color affects one’s access to rights and resources in society, like  college admission, ability to buy a home in a particular neighborhood, access to employment, or likelihood that one will be stopped by the police. This form of prejudice, most often manifested in bad jokes, may have some negative impact on the butt of the joke, but it is unlikely to have the same kinds of negative impacts that racism does. ThoughtCo.   Understanding Racism Race scholars  Howard Winant and Michael Omi  define racism  as a way of representing or describing race that â€Å"creates or reproduces structures of domination based on essentialist categories of race.† In other words, racism results in an unequal distribution of power on the basis of race. Because of this, using the n-word does not simply signal prejudice. Rather, it reflects and reproduces an unjust hierarchy of racial categories that negatively impacts the life chances of people of color. Using a racial slur such as the n-word, a term popularized by white Americans during the era of African enslavement, encapsulates a wide swath of disturbing racial prejudices. The wide-sweeping and deeply detrimental implications of this term, and the prejudices it reflects and reproduces  makes it vastly different from suggesting that blondes are dumb. The n-word was used historically,  and is still used  today, to perpetuate systemic inequalities based on race. This makes the use of this term racist, and not simply prejudiced, as defined by sociologists. The Consequences of Systemic Racism Racist behaviors and beliefs—even when they are subconscious or semi-conscious—fuel structural inequalities of race  that plague society. The  racial prejudices  encapsulated in the n-word are manifested in the  disproportionate policing, arrest, and incarceration of black men and boys  (and increasingly black women); in racial discrimination in hiring practices; in the lack of media and police attention devoted to crimes against black people  as compared with those committed against white women and girls; and, in the  lack of economic investment in predominantly black neighborhoods and cities 403, among many other problems that result from  systemic racism. While many forms of prejudice are  troubling, not all forms of prejudice are equally consequential. Those that beget structural inequalities, like prejudices based on  gender, sexuality, race, nationality, and religion, for example, are very different in nature from others.

Wednesday, May 13, 2020

Elena Is A Dense Film - 1697 Words

Elena is a dense film; Zviaginstev uses it to highlight the ways in which lives and relationships are broken apart, both interpersonally and intrapersonally. The film is permeated by divisions: division between the family of Elena and the family of Vladimir, divisions between members of Elena’s family specifically, as well as societal and spiritual divides. These separations allow the viewer to understand the depth of disintegration the director is trying to communicate. Using both characters and cinematography, Zviaginstev uses Elena to comment on the way that modernity and post-Sovietism in Russia contribute to a continued loss of social and spiritual connections. By analyzing the various ways that the director explores and comments on these themes, Elena can be viewed and understood both in and out of its context. Outside the setting of Russia, this film can also be understood as a more general commentary on social and spiritual voids. Perhaps the best place to start is wit h the setting. The viewer is met with two primary planes of interaction. First, there is Elena’s home with Vladimir and their side of the city - conversely, there is Sergei’s home, and the area of Russia in which it resides. From the beginning one can see a split between these two homes. Zviaginstev incorporates numerous shots of Elena’s home, taking care to use dark tones and slow shots, displaying how lavish and yet totally empty it is. They live in a beautiful mansion-like house, but there is noShow MoreRelatedThe Shining Path Or El Sendero Luminoso1700 Words   |  7 Pagesthe political wing, Shining Path followed the guided principles of Marxism-Leninism, Maoism, and an ideology known as â€Å"Gonzalo Thought.† Gonzalo Thought became one of the theoretical foundations for Communism. â€Å"A web of exhortations and formulas so dense that its adherents are reduced to desperate initializing whenever they attempt the simplest report.† (GP, Lima 1 990, 74). Typical Shining Path operations were selective assassinations, lightning takeovers of isolated rural enclaves, and mass executionsRead MoreMy Phone Thesis16066 Words   |  65 Pagesgradually shown as well as the Marketing strategies. II. Company Profile Solid Group Inc. Solid Group Incorporated has been in the retail industry for more than 50 years. Starting out as the exclusive distributor of Sony, Chairman Emeritus Mrs. Elena Lim has expanded the company into an empire, solely on the dream of making a difference in the Filipinos’ lives. Now the second generation has taken over. Under the leadership of Mr. David S. Lim, eldest son of Mrs. Lim and president of theRead MoreManaging Information Technology (7th Edition)239873 Words   |  960 Pagesbecome an important computer output medium. The output device is a computer output microfilm (COM) recorder that accepts the data from the memory and prepares the microfilm output at very high speeds, either as a roll of microfilm or as a sheet of film called a microfiche that contains many pages on each sheet. Voice response units are gaining increasing acceptance as providers of limited, tightly programmed computer output. To summarize, the particular input and output devices attached to a

Wednesday, May 6, 2020

Digital Fortress Chapter 27 Free Essays

On the Crypto floor, the shadows were growing long and faint. Overhead, the automatic lighting gradually increased to compensate. Susan was still at her terminal silently awaiting news from her tracer. We will write a custom essay sample on Digital Fortress Chapter 27 or any similar topic only for you Order Now It was taking longer than expected. Her mind had been wandering-missing David and willing Greg Hale to go home. Although Hale hadn’t budged, thankfully he’d been silent, engrossed in whatever he was doing at his terminal. Susan couldn’t care less what Hale was doing, as long as he didn’t access the Run-Monitor. He obviously hadn’t-sixteen hours would have brought an audible yelp of disbelief. Susan was sipping her third cup of tea when it finally happened-her terminal beeped once. Her pulse quickened. A flashing envelope icon appeared on her monitor announcing the arrival of E-mail. Susan shot a quick glance toward Hale. He was absorbed in his work. She held her breath and double-clicked the envelope. â€Å"North Dakota,† she whispered to herself. â€Å"Let’s see who you are.† When the E-mail opened, it was a single line. Susan read it. And then she read it again. DINNER AT ALFREDO’S? 8 PM? Across the room, Hale muffled a chuckle. Susan checked the message header. FROM: [email protected] Susan felt a surge of anger but fought it off. She deleted the message. â€Å"Very mature, Greg.† â€Å"They make a great carpaccio.† Hale smiled. â€Å"What do you say? Afterward we could-â€Å" â€Å"Forget it.† â€Å"Snob.† Hale sighed and turned back to his terminal. That was strike eighty-nine with Susan Fletcher. The brilliant female cryptographer was a constant frustration to him. Hale had often fantasized about having sex with her-pinning her against TRANSLTR’s curved hull and taking her right there against the warm black tile. But Susan would have nothing to do with him. In Hale’s mind, what made things worse was that she was in love with some university teacher who slaved for hours on end for peanuts. It would be a pity for Susan to dilute her superior gene pool procreating with some geek-particularly when she could have Greg. We’d have perfect children, he thought. â€Å"What are you working on?† Hale asked, trying a different approach. Susan said nothing. â€Å"Some team player you are. Sure I can’t have a peek?† Hale stood and started moving around the circle of terminals toward her. Susan sensed that Hale’s curiosity had the potential to cause some serious problems today. She made a snap decision. â€Å"It’s a diagnostic,† she offered, falling back on the commander’s lie. Hale stopped in his tracks. â€Å"Diagnostic?† He sounded doubtful. â€Å"You’re spending Saturday running a diagnostic instead of playing with the prof?† â€Å"His name is David.† â€Å"Whatever.† Susan glared at him. â€Å"Haven’t you got anything better to do?† â€Å"Are you trying to get rid of me?† Hale pouted. â€Å"Actually, yes.† â€Å"Gee, Sue, I’m hurt.† Susan Fletcher’s eyes narrowed. She hated being called Sue. She had nothing against the nickname, but Hale was the only one who’d ever used it. â€Å"Why don’t I help you?† Hale offered. He was suddenly circling toward her again. â€Å"I’m great with diagnostics. Besides, I’m dying to see what diagnostic could make the mighty Susan Fletcher come to work on a Saturday.† Susan felt a surge of adrenaline. She glanced down at the tracer on her screen. She knew she couldn’t let Hale see it-he’d have too many questions. â€Å"I’ve got it covered, Greg,† she said. But Hale kept coming. As he circled toward her terminal, Susan knew she had to act fast. Hale was only a few yards away when she made her move. She stood to meet his towering frame, blocking his way. His cologne was overpowering. She looked him straight in the eye. â€Å"I said no.† Hale cocked his head, apparently intrigued by her odd display of secrecy. He playfully stepped closer. Greg Hale was not ready for what happened next. With unwavering cool, Susan pressed a single index finger against his rock-hard chest, stopping his forward motion. Hale halted and stepped back in shock. Apparently Susan Fletcher was serious; she had never touched him before, ever. It wasn’t quite what Hale had had in mind for their first contact, but it was a start. He gave her a long puzzled look and slowly returned to his terminal. As he sat back down, one thing became perfectly clear: The lovely Susan Fletcher was working on something important, and it sure as hell wasn’t any diagnostic. How to cite Digital Fortress Chapter 27, Essay examples

Sunday, May 3, 2020

Cuban Missile Crisis Essay Example For Students

Cuban Missile Crisis Essay The Cuban Missile Crisis was a time when tensions were running high in all parts of the world. Many nations were frightened that nuclear war would put everyone in misery. While America was holding their breath as the possibility of nuclear world war grew greater and greater as the Soviet Union continued to supply Cuba with thermonuclear weapons (http://www.britannica.com/eb/article?eu=28554tocid=0). In 1960, as conflicts arose between Cuba and the United States. During this time Soviet Union leader Nikita Khrushchev secretly began to supply Cuba with missiles that could hit much of the eastern United States within a few minutes if launched from Cuba (Leckie 957). This missiles could easily destroy all of the USs national defense in under 17 Minutes. Khrushchev built 42 secret missile sites (Littell 492), and in 1962 the United States learned that the Soviet Union had begun missile shipments to Cuba by the U-2 spy planes that flew over the island. The photos showed two types of missil es: medium-range ballistic missiles (MRBM) able to travel about 1100 nautical miles (about 2000 km, or 1300 mi) and intermediate-range ballistic missiles (IRBM) able to reach targets at a distance of about 2200 nautical miles (about 4100 km, or 2500 mi) (http://www.britannica.com/eb/article?eu=28554tocid=0). Fear swept over the country and the American citizens supported their president in planning action. (Bender 330). President John F Kennedy warned the soviets the gravest issues would arise if they were to place nuclear weapons in Cuba. People all over the world feared this standoff would led to World War III and a nuclear disaster (Littell 493). After carefully considering the alternatives of an immediate U.S. invasion of Cuba (or air strikes of the missile sites), a blockade of the island, President John F. Kennedy decided to place a naval quarantine, or blockade, on Cuba to prevent further Soviet shipments of missiles. President John F Kennedy also stated that missile strike launched from Cuba would be considered as an act of war by the Soviet Union. He also made it clear that an attack on the US would result in a direct retaliation on the Soviet Union. During this time, soviet ships bound for Cuba altered this way and began their way back to the Soviet Union. On October 28, 1962 Khrushchev capitulated, informing Kennedy that work on the missile sites would be halted and that the missiles already in Cuba would be returned to the Soviet Union. In return, Kennedy committed the United States never to invade Cuba. Ke nnedy also secretly promised to withdraw the nuclear-armed missiles that the United States had stationed in Turkey in previous years. In the following weeks both superpowers began fulfilling their promises, and the crisis was over by late November. Cubas communist leader, Fidel Castro, was outraged by the Soviets retreat in the face of U.S. power but was powerless to act. The thaw led to the signing of the Limited Nuclear Test Ban Treaty in 1963 by Britain, the United States, and the USSR (Leckie 957). The treaty outlawed nuclear test explosions in the atmosphere or underwater, but allowed them underground. This also was the closest our world has ever gotten to a devastating nuclear war. For Americans, the Cuban Missile Crisis was one of uncertainty and fear, many of which thought that their lives were threatened. Most Americans supported their president in not being intimidated by the Soviets shipping nuclear missiles and standing up and defending the American people. Kennedys actions altered the history of the world by saving us from nuclear warfare.