https://padlet.com/maxwell_weaver/akxxb5kh0ojh Made with ♥ en-us 2017-12-06 14:43:51 UTC 2017-12-19 21:26:54 UTC hello@padlet.com maxwell_weaver https://padlet.com/maxwell_weaver/akxxb5kh0ojh/wish/213725466 Some African-Americans feel it was their fault that the word is used as much as it is, due to its exposure in Hip-Hop and pop culture. This is similar to "Ta-Nehisi Coates just explained why white people shouldn’t use the n-word in the perfect way." The reason I believe people other than Blacks use the word when it's being used in music is they think the song is being catered towards them so they have the right to restate every word. While it may be true that the music is being made for audiences, like Coates said, you don't have the right to say it unless you are black or have been given the right to use the term.
Some African-Americans feel hurt when they use the word, yet they can't pin point why it hurts them so much. "I hear the word and it hurts me." one man said. "How do you feel when you hear it?"..."It depends on how it is being used and who says it." two men discussed. Many African-Americans feel it should only be used by blacks, and whites should never use the term unless it is being used to give knowledge on a period of time. I think the major point from the presentation was that everyone has their own opinion on how the word should be used, but there was the same common idea from everyone that the word really isn't okay in most situations.

https://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dre/features/the-n-word]]> 2017-12-06 14:54:05 UTC https://padlet.com/maxwell_weaver/akxxb5kh0ojh/wish/213725466 maxwell_weaver https://padlet.com/maxwell_weaver/akxxb5kh0ojh/wish/213732663 This starts off by an audience member question wondering when and if it is okay to use the n-word, while singing a song. He goes through examples, of how context is being given. He mentions how when he is with his father and family in Maryland, everyone calls his father William, Billy. He explains how if some random person were to come up to him and cal him Billy. It would just be odd and not be perceived as well since it's not someone close to his father saying it. So he explains how it should not be repeated by white people in songs as it isn't directed for them or about them. It's similar to how Huck does not call Jim the n-word during The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn. Huck never says the word to him, as he feels he is not in the position or situation to ever call Jim that. Ta-Nehisi Coates is reflecting the same idea I believe. Unless you are black, other races should not be using the term in the 21st century as many people are not in the position to use that term, just like Huck.

https://www.salon.com/2017/11/13/ta-nehisi-coates-just-explained-why-white-people-shouldnt-use-the-n-word-in-the-perfect-way/]]> 2017-12-06 15:07:06 UTC https://padlet.com/maxwell_weaver/akxxb5kh0ojh/wish/213732663 maxwell_weaver https://padlet.com/maxwell_weaver/akxxb5kh0ojh/wish/213749198 It starts off with someone asking him what kind of asian he is. This prompts him to go through all the different ways Asians are discriminated against in America. He focuses on the stereotypes, "I've played many a Far East stereotype: Awkward math genius, cold and calculated Kung-Fu expert, assistant to "Dr. Jones, you crazy!" You want me to drive? How so? I can give you Tokyo Drift, Jeremy Lin". These are all stereotypes he feels are thrown at Asians 24/7. he is tired of having to deal with ignorant people that do not realize all Asians aren't Chinese. He feels that he is nothing besides his skin color and that due to how other people treated him, he felt that skin color of his. Was no good, yet he reminds everyone he still feels. The way he describes the treatment of Asians in the western world  now, still sounds very familiar to the treatment of them during the Gilded Age which we have just learned in history. The term "zipperhead" which was coined in the early 1900s. It was due to the way Asians heads looked after being run over, or shot in the head, is still a term that is thrown around in the 21st century. Racist attitudes towards Blacks are touched on much more in news and politics. But during this poem I feel he is trying to shed a light on the fact that African-Americans are not the only ones dealing with the issue of discrimination and racism.]]> 2017-12-06 15:36:35 UTC https://padlet.com/maxwell_weaver/akxxb5kh0ojh/wish/213749198 maxwell_weaver https://padlet.com/maxwell_weaver/akxxb5kh0ojh/wish/215430710 "(Trump) really took the sheep off the wolf, or he removed the curtain, and it's like this really is America. It's 2017 and we still have people coming out with torches and with hate in their heart for the color of somebody's skin or someone else's religion," Rapsody explained to CNN's Deena Zaru. This is her making a refrence to the Charlottesville protests in early August, of 2017. These protests were planned by a group of white nationalists/ neo-nazi's/ anti-semitics. But many of the supremacists that arrived just showed up because they heard that other people with the same beliefs were gathering to march through Charlottesville. This is very similar to the mob that marched to Sherburn's home in The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn. Many local townsmen form a mob as they want to lynch Sherburn for shooting and killing a drunk man. Sherburn goes on a rant how none of the would do this during the daytime (where they could be seen, and easily recognized) or individually. This connects to the Charlottesville protests as I don't think a white supremacist would march by himself or act the way the mob does, as most protesters were being fed off the same mob mentality described in Huckleberry Finn. Many wouldn't dare share their beliefs this way. It is simply due to the fact that the acceptance of subtle racism pushed by the current Trump Administration is allowing the idea that it is socially acceptable to portray hate speech in public situations. Without the idea that this is acceptable, and President Trump's repeated racist remarks and discriminatory legislation I believe these protest would never of occured.

http://www.cnn.com/2017/09/22/politics/rapsody-politics-lailas-wisdom-donald-trump/index.html]]> 2017-12-12 14:43:57 UTC https://padlet.com/maxwell_weaver/akxxb5kh0ojh/wish/215430710 maxwell_weaver https://padlet.com/maxwell_weaver/akxxb5kh0ojh/wish/215646566 In this poem, the bond between African Americans in the nation is described as one of brothers and sisters. This bond was born out of a need for one another because the past of these peoples were forsaken in slavery and discrimination. Additionally, African Americans hold this care for each other because in the past, they were not shown care by those they share this country with. This "pledge" gives insight to how the generations of hate have cemented a unity within the black community in the U.S. This sort of relationship can be observed in The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn in the bond between Huck and Jim, as Jim acts as a father figure for Finn because he too knows hardship and believes they NEED each other to survive their adventure.

https://www.poemhunter.com/poem/the-black-family-pledge/

]]> 2017-12-13 00:01:14 UTC https://padlet.com/maxwell_weaver/akxxb5kh0ojh/wish/215646566 maxwell_weaver https://padlet.com/maxwell_weaver/akxxb5kh0ojh/wish/215646679 Whitopia is described as a place of solitude, privacy, security, and kindness - which gives off a very alluring aura. After reviewing the story of a black man's adventure through 3 mostly white towns in America, these communities are more understandable and stand out bolder in the nation for me. These places are not necessarily racist, nor do racists necessarily reside in these communities, but it can be understood that these towns produce racism. By isolating people from people, understandings of one another become less apparent, leading to divisions in thought and living. Ultimately, it's important for us, as Americans, to come together and walk away from old customs and instead of hiding from each other's differences, but to live as one and embrace one another as humans.

https://www.ted.com/talks/rich_benjamin_my_road_trip_through_the_whitest_towns_in_america

]]> 2017-12-13 00:02:39 UTC https://padlet.com/maxwell_weaver/akxxb5kh0ojh/wish/215646679 maxwell_weaver https://padlet.com/maxwell_weaver/akxxb5kh0ojh/wish/215652718 The video outlines the idea that about the majority of Americans believe racism is an issue in this country. The poll found that 2 out of 10 blacks and Hispanics felt unfairly treated by the police over the past 30 days. Police racism and discrimination has roots going all the way back to the 1800s. In the 1800s to mid 1900s it was a major problem, especially in the South where it was most common. This could be due to white southern upbringings due to during the 1900s, many of the officers were just a generation or two removed from when their family members fought to keep slavery in their nation. Well that is the mid 1900s. It is now 2017 so why is it still a problem? It be very much due to stereotypes of how people of color may be "bad" people or criminals. It is something America must get past. I believe a big issue is that the average age for a senator is 61 years old, with many well over the age of 60. Which means many grew up in the heart of segregation and the civil rights movement, which could of shaped racist views. This means many of the people responsible for running our nation and creating legislation, could be doing so with racist or discriminatory attitudes.

http://www.cnn.com/2015/11/27/opinions/hill-race-in-america/index.html]]> 2017-12-13 01:05:22 UTC https://padlet.com/maxwell_weaver/akxxb5kh0ojh/wish/215652718 https://padlet.com/maxwell_weaver/akxxb5kh0ojh/wish/216825140 Morrison dives in on the topic of the removal of the book, The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn from American schools. Many schools are removing the book due to its very heavy use of the derogatory slur, the n-word. Morrison throughout the essay goes into the depths of the book and the words use within it. She felt very confused and uncomfortable her first and second times reading the novel. Yet she feels banning the book is not the answer. She is seeing how the current American culture is just try and eliminate the word from being used and never see or speak of it again. So she feels that banning the book is just putting a "band-aid" over the issue. She believes that if the book is read through classrooms and taught and explained what life was like during the time period, that it can be a very informative lesson. And this can be evident. As I read this book, in the beginning i was very uncomfortable of the n-word usage, due to its stigma in America and the pain I know the word can cause. But as I carried on through the book, all the class discussion, and conversations about the book's usage of the word. I began to realize that it was a very common thing during the time period and the book highlighted how unjust, and unsavory the n-word really is. So Morrison's theory on how the book can be crucial to the better understanding of black life during the 1800s in America, I believe is correct and true.]]> 2017-12-18 00:47:54 UTC https://padlet.com/maxwell_weaver/akxxb5kh0ojh/wish/216825140 https://padlet.com/maxwell_weaver/akxxb5kh0ojh/wish/216827524 In current day America, our President, Mr. Donald J. Trump, and other politicians are promising more jobs and financial equality within the nation. Yet for non-white races, these promises are falling very flat. Boston is regarded as one of the more racist cities in America dating back to the early 1900s. It is now 2017, and economically, Boston it seems is still struggling to lose that persona. In the report by NewsWeek.com, found that non-immigrant African-Americans in the Boston area had a median net worth of $8. That means, people of color in the Boston area tend to owe about the same amount of money that the own. This can be due to the fact that non-white races are being discriminated against still to this day in the workplace and can not get jobs as well as whites. This can be seen through the statistic of how the number of black officials and managers in Boston have only risen by 0.1 percent in nearly a quarter-century. That is very little growth and points out that there does seem so be some discrimination at play. This shows how these issues have been around since pre-civil rights era, and will continue to need to be addressed by government officials to fix the economic stress on people of color in Boston.

http://www.newsweek.com/boston-african-americans-poverty-wealth-inequality-744108]]> 2017-12-18 01:26:03 UTC https://padlet.com/maxwell_weaver/akxxb5kh0ojh/wish/216827524 https://padlet.com/maxwell_weaver/akxxb5kh0ojh/wish/216829258 "We have a representative in Congress, who they say was here a long time ago, they call her Pocahontas." President Trump states, while at a White house press meeting to honor Native American code talkers. Except all went wrong when Trump made the remark referring Sen. Elizabeth Warren to Pocahontas, the historic Native American who worked with colonials in Jamestown, VA. It has been 410 years since colonists first interacted with Native Americans. Ever since then natives have been slaughtered, forced off their land, and thrown to the way side of modern day America. This reference may not seem to be a "huge" issue, yet it just signifies that racism is present in America, and not just that but even in the oval office. He made a racist comment that many Native Americans hear often, and is used to limit and belittle someone down to one Native American who was made into a Disney film. This proves that their is still racism and prejudice in this nation towards people of color, which ties into our deeply rooted past of racism towards Native Americans.

http://thehill.com/blogs/blog-briefing-room/362017-native-american-group-trump-pocahontas-line-smacks-of-racism]]> 2017-12-18 01:50:30 UTC https://padlet.com/maxwell_weaver/akxxb5kh0ojh/wish/216829258