https://padlet.com/katherine_austin/viixw0yfgai8 Huckleberry Finn follow up; analysis of American views on race en-us 2017-12-06 17:54:23 UTC 2017-12-20 18:40:20 UTC hello@padlet.com katherine_austin https://padlet.com/katherine_austin/viixw0yfgai8/wish/213830998 America was once a great nation where immigrants came to get a second chance at life. While it is still that place, it has now evolved into a country that refuses second or sometimes even first chances to its native people. This once great country is splitting into a "republic of dreams and a republic of fears" creating a divide which grows bigger by the day. It is horrible to think that someone born into a bad community or family is stuck there for the rest of what will be a hopeless life. This talk had a lesson to take away; do not forget that while this is a place of dreams on the billboards, we must work hard as a people to maintain that status in real life. ]]> 2017-12-06 17:56:39 UTC https://padlet.com/katherine_austin/viixw0yfgai8/wish/213830998 katherine_austin https://padlet.com/katherine_austin/viixw0yfgai8/wish/213831731 The relationship that exists between Huck and Jim is perfect evidence that black people are human too, which is something contested during the time of this book. The author of this article makes this clear by examining every part of the connection. She also indirectly talks about why this book should still be allowed to be read in schools. I completely agree with what she is saying. In the case of the n-word, it must be talked about so it does not happen again. She herself acknowledges that, at a certain age, children are already beginning to call each other names, so it is completely appropriately to at least bring up an example of something, in real life, that went too far. Maybe if the issue is discussed in school, the debate in adult life (which can be seen in all of these articles, videos, podcasts, everything), will be understood more and hopefully some of the tension will be alleviated.

]]> 2017-12-06 17:58:09 UTC https://padlet.com/katherine_austin/viixw0yfgai8/wish/213831731 katherine_austin https://padlet.com/katherine_austin/viixw0yfgai8/wish/213838600 There are many points within the race debate encompassing everything from treatment of different races and racial slurs. In the Adventures of Huckleberry Finn the n-word is frequently used because of the time period, however people still use it today. A common idea is that it is only okay for a black person to use this particular word, because of the connotation of ignorance that comes along with it. Furthermore, this word can only be acceptably used in certain places and around a certain type of people, so one might say it is not worth the trouble of using it at all. In order to make this not a problem anymore, the simplest course of action would be to abandon it altogether. It symbolizes something incredibly negative so how on earth can it be "appropriated" into something even remotely positive. ]]> 2017-12-06 18:11:00 UTC https://padlet.com/katherine_austin/viixw0yfgai8/wish/213838600 katherine_austin https://padlet.com/katherine_austin/viixw0yfgai8/wish/213849264 All words have context and all words are within certain relationships. Therefore it makes sense that black people should be able to use this word because there is a relationship that exists there that does not exist with white people. These are basic societal rules if you think about it. No one would call their teacher "sweetheart" because that is not the relationship that exists between these two people. At the same time a case can be made that it is not appropriate to tell someone they can not use this word if you are not part of this relationship. If you apply this to a normal (aka uncontroversial) situation; a person would never tell one of two people dating, "hey, you can't call your partner baby. That's rude to them." A bystander is not part of the relationship so it is not appropriate for them to A) start calling the person baby, or B) tell one of the people people they can not call their partner baby. It is simple common sense. ]]> 2017-12-06 18:30:53 UTC https://padlet.com/katherine_austin/viixw0yfgai8/wish/213849264 katherine_austin https://padlet.com/katherine_austin/viixw0yfgai8/wish/213859058 It is very rare that a person will go through their life without facing some sort of major obstacle, however some groups of people face discrimination (something everyone can agree is a major obstacle) almost daily. This is a problem and it still exists. While many groups are discriminated against, it depends on the location, culture, and situation among. However, as an overall, certain groups stand out. For example, 33% of African Americans have been discriminated against when they went to see a doctor. This is something that, in our day and age, should not be happening. Everyone has the same right to medical care, so why shouldn't everyone be treated with the same respect when they receive this care. Throughout these videos, talks, and articles, it can be very clearly seen that black people are their own group and as such they are different but equal similarly to how someone would view people of another country; they may have different cultural practices, but that is not a bad thing. ]]> 2017-12-06 18:48:50 UTC https://padlet.com/katherine_austin/viixw0yfgai8/wish/213859058 katherine_austin https://padlet.com/katherine_austin/viixw0yfgai8/wish/215555712 This state we live in is a calm, relatively safe (in comparison with other states), and very monochromatic. As a result, "Mainers" sometimes have problems understanding why it is necessary for them to confront this societal problem; they never have to deal with it so why is it an issue here? A persons beliefs or views of them selves can remain constant until they are actual forced to prove them and remain true. This is why people- no matter what state they call home- need to be clear on the issue and cemented in what they believe. You might not think you are racist.... until you have to deal the issue first hand, which is why it is better to know what you unquestioningly think before hand. Furthermore, even though people of Maine are fortunate enough to not have to deal with this issue every day, for the problem to go away, everyone must be educated. Not just people who deal with this everyday. ]]> 2017-12-12 18:29:10 UTC https://padlet.com/katherine_austin/viixw0yfgai8/wish/215555712 katherine_austin https://padlet.com/katherine_austin/viixw0yfgai8/wish/215564718 In this article I believe the most impactful line is actually a quote they use, "racism is mans gravest threat to man, the maximum of hatred for a minimum of reason,". In complete honesty, in this debate of reason after reason why racism is "bad", this quote perfectly sums up the argument. If you were even to just think about it, people hate other people because of a pigmentation difference. Imagine if someone instantly hated someone else because they were wearing a yellow shirt. That makes absolutely no sense so how can racism? However, throughout history there has been oppression of mass groups of people across the globe; Slavery is a famous example in our country as well as numerous others, the Holocaust in Germany, and Apartheid in Africa. ]]> 2017-12-12 18:46:30 UTC https://padlet.com/katherine_austin/viixw0yfgai8/wish/215564718 katherine_austin https://padlet.com/katherine_austin/viixw0yfgai8/wish/215575293 In this ted talk, Luvvie Ajayi talks about how it is important to get comfortable with being uncomfortable. She does talk about race briefly, but she mostly speaks about how things that make a person uncomfortable are sometimes imperative, and this idea can be applied to many, many aspects of the racism debate. Recently my mom asked me how best to bridge the topic of race in an acceptable why as she was trying to do a project with the library. I think the conversation needs to happen and unfortunately, someone is going to be offended almost any way this discussion is phrased. However simply ignoring the issue is not an option. So, I believe the discussion needs to start, and we, as a society, need to figure out the rules along the way. ]]> 2017-12-12 19:07:57 UTC https://padlet.com/katherine_austin/viixw0yfgai8/wish/215575293 katherine_austin https://padlet.com/katherine_austin/viixw0yfgai8/wish/215920633 By this time, researchers have looked into racism and what it physically does to a person. This recent study has found that racism is literally impactful on someones health. Stress is something that is known to increase health problems, and someone who is experiencing discrimination deals with a certain amount of daily indignities (which any reasonable person can see leads to stress) that others do not have to deal with. This in turn can lead to problems such as coronary heart disease. Furthermore, minority groups face a certain amount of discrimination in the health care system which has been briefly discussed above. Studies have shown that minority groups receive a worse degree of care than majority groups; even comparing two college educated people (one white one african america) will show this startling truth. The solution to this problem is very simply and eloquently phrased in this podcast. Any person can be discriminatory towards another (even subconsciously) so everyone just needs to remember: "it could be me".  ]]> 2017-12-13 18:15:39 UTC https://padlet.com/katherine_austin/viixw0yfgai8/wish/215920633 katherine_austin https://padlet.com/katherine_austin/viixw0yfgai8/wish/215929043 Art is a wonderful expression of emotion or ideas and can often spark a conversation. Looking back through history however, most paintings depict white people. Whenever black people are shown they are usually enslaved, or impoverished. Furthermore, I am in an art history class so I personally understand how deep the analysis's of any one painting can go, however this speaker points out (in the image below) a person can find more about the dog or the lace on the woman's dress than they can about the little black boy in the background. In the world of art, race is not even an issue prevalently discussed, something I can attest to with my own personal experience. As a solution, this speaker is pushing for the beginning of a new talking point in art history, and possibly the amendment of some artworks to depict racial minorities properly. However, if anyone listens to this talk, they will notice that the last thing he wants is these eradication of these "unfair" depictions. ]]> 2017-12-13 18:31:59 UTC https://padlet.com/katherine_austin/viixw0yfgai8/wish/215929043