Invisible Racism within a Warped Reality by Conor Burke

This Is America

burkec2024_ — 2023-11-29 13:38:08 UTC

In this song, Donald Glover discusses the inequalities extremely present in society and how it is hard to see them but they still happen just as much as years ago. People in America still cannot grasp the gravity of racism's presence in America. Racism still has a hold on America and it has definitely improved in recent years but it is evident that most people are blind to these hate crimes and downplay the racism because they do not understand the severity.

D.N.A.

burkec2024_ — 2023-11-29 13:40:37 UTC

Kendrick Lamar samples a quote from Fox News talking about how Hip hop and Rap have done more damage to African Americans than racism in many years to accentuate and highlight the fact that people are still blind to what is truly damaging black society.

America is Loving Me to Death

burkec2024_ — 2023-11-30 14:49:30 UTC

This poem discusses the harsh reality of racism, tension, and injustice so relevant in America's unfair system but still overlooked. It analyzes things such as the country's flag and instances of racial violence in America's history. Kleber-Diggs purposely writes "Yes or no, Michael, do you love this nation? Then hates me for saying I can’t, for not burying myself under her fables where we’re one," to show that he does not blindly follow this country because of its neglect of the awful realities of systematic oppression.

The Danger of a Single Story

burkec2024_ — 2023-11-30 15:02:21 UTC

Adichie speaks about how relying on one narrative oversimplifies complex realities and can perpetuate stereotypes. She talks about encouraging and embracing many different stories as to cultivate better worldviews as without these people can get stuck in their own messed up delusion.

Juxtaposing the black boy & the bullet

burkec2024_ — 2023-11-30 15:11:10 UTC

one is hard & the other tried to be
one is fast & the other was faster
one is loud & one is a song
with one note & endless rest

one's whole life is a flash
both spend their life
trying to find a warmth to call home
both spark quite the debate,
some folks want to protect them/some think we should just get rid
of the damn things all together.

This poem compares a Black boy and a bullet and shows how both lives can have many similarities. No one should ever be able to be compared to a bullet but because of discriminatory behaviors present throughout all of history, as it says, both spark a debate. The life of a black man is not the same as others, not because they are different but because of the societal constraints thrust upon them, how they look at birth can determine how their life turns out.

Amendment #8

burkec2024_ — 2023-11-30 15:14:54 UTC

The piece of art portrayed has blurry words such as cruel, 8th Amendment, excessive, and many more all connecting back to the brutality and overuse of force from police.

burkec2024_ — 2023-12-01 14:59:46 UTC

He doesn't see me. Am I about to strangle him? I do not know. He cannot possibly. I still do not know. See! Discipline is sacrifice. Yes, and blindness. (Ellison 475)

The narrator holds a funeral for Tod Clifton and all the Brotherhood wants to do is use it as an advertisement. All they ever cared about was using Tod Clifton and the narrator as assets to their plan. Brother Jack doesn't even listen to the narrator because he can't see the narrator's side in any world. Brother Jack is so blind to the narrator's point of view that he does not understand he is being racist and refuses to listen.

People, media, and the overall public are negligent of the frequency and presence of racism in our society.

burkec2024_ — 2023-12-04 01:40:34 UTC

Invisible Man exemplifies this perfectly with Norton's power abuse over the narrator and then escape without repercussions, Brother Jack's blatant use of the narrator, and even with Dr. Bledsoe and his brainwashed view of the world, Invisible Man exposes the stereotypes of black society and the inequalities present in it by showing different viewpoints from many different participating black members. Altogether, Invisible Man presents the idea that we are still very far from equality and that views will not change without fighting for what is just.

burkec2024_ — 2023-12-04 02:54:27 UTC

Fox News say these things not because they truly believe it but because it helps them gain viewership and gain attention therefore profiting their business. They only aid people in knowing less and less about this topic keeping them blind and in the dark about the not that hard-to-swallow pill.

burkec2024_ — 2023-12-04 03:13:07 UTC

'Dont you know me?' I said.
'Should I?' he said.
'You see me?' I said, watching him tensely.
'Why, of course-- Sir, do you know the way to Centre Street?' (Ellison 578)

This quote is the instance where the narrator and Norton meet again. Norton does not even recognize him. Norton played such an integral role in shaping the narrator's life and yet, Norton doesn't recognize the narrator, and while he may see him, he doesn't truly recognize his influence on the narrator.

burkec2024_ — 2023-12-04 03:24:43 UTC

The story of what happened to the narrator with Norton almost influenced his whole life but he made sure to escape it after he faced all types of discrimination.

burkec2024_ — 2023-12-04 03:35:10 UTC

He fell forward on his knees, like a man saying his prayers ... The cop was standing now and looking down at Clifton as though surprised, the gun in his hand. (Ellison 436)

Clifton's death was unjust and the manner of force was overly violent. The cop looking down at his gun surprised shows how these people do not honestly comprehend the power they hold. For black people, this system targets them even if they can vote they are subject to be treated a thousand times worse than the average white person.

burkec2024_ — 2023-12-04 03:49:53 UTC

Lives like Breonna Taylor, Daunte Wright, and Andre Hill were all murdered by police and their names need to be known. Bullets determined their lives.

burkec2024_ — 2023-12-04 03:57:10 UTC

General media and people can push the stereotypes of black people and influence these people's lives without them even realizing it.

Lips

burkec2024_ — 2023-12-04 05:08:38 UTC

The woman's lips are subject to conversation with her assumed white friends because of the difference in each other's lips. This whole passage is about a microaggression towards the narrator made to make them feel different. The reference to Big League Chew dehumanizes the narrator. This reinforces harmful stereotypes by objectifying the narrator's physical appearance.