https://padlet.com/melanie_dube1/gtiefkv65ic4 Made with a warm hug en-us 2017-12-05 18:54:00 UTC 2017-12-19 18:28:19 UTC hello@padlet.com https://padlet-assets.s3.amazonaws.com/icons/Lightdecrease.png melanie_dube1 https://padlet.com/melanie_dube1/gtiefkv65ic4/wish/213831064 This essay touches on many subjects from The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn, but focuses on the importance that race played in the novel. The idea that Huck was, in some sense, "saved from death" by the fact that Jim was a runaway slave is notable and causes one to wonder how the novel would have been different had Jim ceased to exist (or been white). The point that Jim would eventually be dismissed by Huck in a sense was very powerful. The idea the Huck and Jim's relationship will inevitably end, mainly based off the premise that Jim is a minority shows the significance of Jim's race in the story and says a lot about what the society of the time would have been like. The author also notes how "there will be no 'adventures' without Jim". This makes a powerful statement about both Huck's dependence on Jim as; a father figure; the face of diversity; and a subconscious guide, as well as Twain's necessity of Jim to create the story line and message. ]]> 2017-12-06 17:56:47 UTC https://padlet.com/melanie_dube1/gtiefkv65ic4/wish/213831064 melanie_dube1 https://padlet.com/melanie_dube1/gtiefkv65ic4/wish/213859044 This project provides an interesting look at many different types of peoples viewpoints on a controversial issue. In "This Amazing, Troubling Book" the author discusses Mark Twain's novel being banned for the use of the n-word too frequently and the negative impact that it would have on impressionable readers. This source directly addresses this issue, and even further connects it directly to people's experiences in present day. It is interesting also to see how people of different ages and ethnicities interpret issues of pop-culture. It is assuring to see a large news corporation not only adressing an issue which impacts many people, but taking the time to conduct research and interview different people and get their input. Watching these videos forced me think more about how hearing the word in popular music encourages its use, especially among those who don't understand the whole story or the different connotations that it has in different cultures or to different people. ]]> 2017-12-06 18:48:49 UTC https://padlet.com/melanie_dube1/gtiefkv65ic4/wish/213859044 melanie_dube1 https://padlet.com/melanie_dube1/gtiefkv65ic4/wish/214567313 This powerfully worded article sheds some light on a horrible issue that has plagued our country, specifically since the attacks of 9/11. I chose this article without knowing what a strong impact it would have on me. As I read the hateful words of some people who considered themselves to be fellow Americans makes me not only embarrassed to hold the same title (American), but angry. Angry for the hateful and even deadly things that these "white supremacists" say and do, and for the lack of administration telling these harassers that their actions are unacceptable. This article contained some mind-boggling facts which strengthened the authors point and left an impact on me as a reader. The fact that some people can make such broad and inaccurate assumptions about a whole group/race, most of whom are innocent people who are simply victims of unwarranted violence. If nothing else, this article showed me what kinds of changes need to be made in our country, of which I sincerely hope will be taken into consideration in the years to come. ]]> 2017-12-08 16:55:23 UTC https://padlet.com/melanie_dube1/gtiefkv65ic4/wish/214567313 melanie_dube1 https://padlet.com/melanie_dube1/gtiefkv65ic4/wish/215556495 Written by freelance writer and political activist Kenneth Snodgrass, this article does not only focus on what its title depicts, but expands much further into "Black vs. White" racism in America. The author opens with an anecdote of sorts, which grabs the readers attention. The use of facts and statistics gives the article a sense of credibility and makes it more impactful. A powerful point of then article was the use of African-Americans as a scapegoat, not only in specific instances, but throughout history. The author continues to write of the most extreme of impacts that racism has on individuals and community. "Racism can't be legislated away..." Snodgrass says. This line in particular left the strongest impact on me because it shows the desperation of people who have been impacted the racism at its worst. The fact that these victims, who are citizens just like anyone else, feel that the only way to save themselves is through legislation is horrible to think about. This proves the ability of racism to steal someones voice and make them feel like they have no control over their own lives.  ]]> 2017-12-12 18:30:31 UTC https://padlet.com/melanie_dube1/gtiefkv65ic4/wish/215556495 melanie_dube1 https://padlet.com/melanie_dube1/gtiefkv65ic4/wish/215573574 Racial profiling is defined as using someones race/ethnicity as a reason for suspecting a person of committing a certain offense. This article covers the two main arguments regarding racial profiling, and provides good information for why most people do not believe it is a valid way to determine a criminal. Racial profiling in the past meant using someones appearance to determine whether on not they could be considered a suspect. Today, it has evolved to the extent of innocent people being in question, solely based on their race. Learning about the progression of this practice is interesting and says a lot about America, specifically criminal justice and law enforcement. This directly connects to Snodgrass's article, because what he is describing is racial profiling. The news tells us of shootings, in which the perpetrators are Muslim Americans, who are extremists. With racial profiling, it would be easy to put all Muslim Americans in this box and assume that their beliefs and motives are the same. However, this shows us that the biggest takeaway from this reading is to know the difference between ignorant and unjust racial profiling, and what is a fact. ]]> 2017-12-12 19:04:22 UTC https://padlet.com/melanie_dube1/gtiefkv65ic4/wish/215573574 melanie_dube1 https://padlet.com/melanie_dube1/gtiefkv65ic4/wish/215657372 While the concept of racism is the leading topic in this Ted Talk, one of the big reasons why I enjoyed it's underlying positive message. When talking about the effects of race on our society, many people's first thoughts would be what we see in the news: acts of unprovoked violence, as well as spoken or written words of hate. Angélica Dass, the creator of Humanae (a photography project) seeks to celebrate everybody's individual differences instead of attacking them. She uses a mixture of simple photos and technology to show diversity. The project was created to prove that labels like "black", "white", "yellow" and more are not accurate representations of a persons skin, because each and every person is unique in that way. To me, this is long overdue, as our society has become so accustomed to referring to people as a certain color, as if we are all from a basic box of crayons. Not only does Dass's project have a powerful and much needed message, her drive and passion prove that anyone, no matter what background, or even "color", can accomplish their goals and create positive change. I personally am inspired by the idea of this project and respect the story that Dass shared which got her to where she is. Some big questions are: why is it that the majority of media coverage on racism is negative events, as opposed to projects like Humanae? Do other efforts to unite people in this way exist? And finally: What can we do to be the change?]]> 2017-12-13 01:59:45 UTC https://padlet.com/melanie_dube1/gtiefkv65ic4/wish/215657372 melanie_dube1 https://padlet.com/melanie_dube1/gtiefkv65ic4/wish/215915567 Filled with questions and  statements of what it means to be "asian", Alex Dang exemplifies a passion for is work in his reading of his slam poem that is infectious. Throughout our studies of race (including The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn) we have primarily focused on "Black vs. White" racism, the kind that is depicted in the article "Yes I Am Black, And No, I Am Not A Criminal". However, Dang proves that racism goes much deeper than this. His ability to mix bits of humor with powerful statements creates an entertaining experience for the viewer while, while also conveying his message effectively. While Asians may not be the main targets of the hate violence that floods the media, there are still so many stereotypes and boundarys that these people still have to break down in order to be considered equal. He speaks of how Asians in our society often are forced to take the "secondary role" and never the lead, solely based on their race. Dang's slam poem overall brings light to some darker areas in the broad scheme of racism, and helped me to realize what one should do to be more inclusive of minorities.]]> 2017-12-13 18:05:16 UTC https://padlet.com/melanie_dube1/gtiefkv65ic4/wish/215915567 melanie_dube1 https://padlet.com/melanie_dube1/gtiefkv65ic4/wish/215942763 This article proves the presence of racism in New England, which may be a concept that is difficult for some to grasp. A region filled with some of the highest Caucasian populations per state in the nation, the majority might believe that racism has become less prominent. However, the authors descriptions of some of her experiences in this article proves that this is in fact false. At one point Beaupre wonders if moving to the South, a place where Black and White communities are more commonly separated, would offer her and her family a safer living environment. The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn perfectly showed what life was like for slaves in the early 1800's, and this current article suggests that, in a sense, not much has changed. While legally everyones rights are the same, culturally African-Americans are still not seen as equal in comparison to Whites. But, the author still implies that life would be more enjoyable from a racial standpoint if she lived in the South. This says a lot about the North in comparison, and does prove that racism is still an issue. In specifically this way, society has not moved forward, nor backward, but stayed relatively constant in treatment towards minorities. ]]> 2017-12-13 19:01:29 UTC https://padlet.com/melanie_dube1/gtiefkv65ic4/wish/215942763 melanie_dube1 https://padlet.com/melanie_dube1/gtiefkv65ic4/wish/215943072 The Presidential election of 2016 was undoubtedly one that caused divide throughout the nation, but how much of that separation can be attributed to race? According to this article, there seemed to be "voting blocs" in this election. Two that were specifically highlighted were the "whites without college degrees" bloc, who shifted decisively towards one candidate, and non-white overwhelming support for the other candidate. This connects in a sense to the article about college, showing the effects of the divisions of two groups of opposing views in a real world setting. The two major candidates of the election seemed to be polar opposites, catering their campaign trails to meet the expectations and win the votes of certain demographics. This attests to the amount of subliminal racism that occurs, even on something as professional as the presidential election. Many of the extreme acts of violence that have occurred in the last year can be drawn back to racism, and unfortunately seem to be coming more and more common. Questions arise, especially after this election, if the country has gone too far to become more inclusive to all, or does the future of America look brighter and more equal? ]]> 2017-12-13 19:02:04 UTC https://padlet.com/melanie_dube1/gtiefkv65ic4/wish/215943072 melanie_dube1 https://padlet.com/melanie_dube1/gtiefkv65ic4/wish/216597586 According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the overwhelming majority of the population of the United States is considered white. Because of this, it would be expected that colleges in the US would have a white majority. However, this article suggests that the minorities at these schools are commonly grouped all together, even when they have very different backgrounds. One of the main points tells the ratio of American minority students to international students at America's colleges and universities (specifically in Boston and surrounding). The concern is why these schools are looking abroad for diversity instead of looking around for all the African-American students who are being denied, possibly due to their race. It was interesting to hear some of the statistics that were gathered for this article, and while statistics cannot provide all the answers, it helps provide a more practical view on a topic. The issues written about here a small example of something that is clearly a persisting problem in our country. By being inclusive to all, and not using practices like racial profiling or stereotyping before getting to know who someone actually is. College students represent some of the future leaders of our nation, and showing them both American and international diversity could show them they can be the ones who can change the rest of society for the better. ]]> 2017-12-15 18:56:56 UTC https://padlet.com/melanie_dube1/gtiefkv65ic4/wish/216597586