Roots of Racism Response

The most important line that should be taken from this article is, "So, that's the bad news: we're all racists. But there's good news, too: we're all racists." This is the most important line in this article because it defines our society as it is today. Everyone is quick to stereotype or racial profile someone just by their appearance. A person that claims the opposite is should be accused of lying, because it is this closed mindedness towards the idea of racism that keeps it as a negative thing, instead of making progress towards it being a good thing. If people are more open minded and realize that their appearance does strike the minds of others as positive or negative then there will be room for change. You look at a man wearing baggy clothes with his pants half way to his ankles and you're going to think gang banger, or hoodlum, whether he is white or black. Now if that man has a positive impact on you somehow there will be a shift of the stereotype in your mind. Now I'm not proclaiming that everyone needs to fight for change or fight for their look to become positive but it should be so that people need to work together to make an impact on society whether that impact is negative or positive. Everyone stereotypes in some way or another it is the way of the world it is how we relate with those who are around us, this doesn't have to be a bad thing, it is what we make of it.

Journal Entry #8

When I was in my high school algebra class. I had a friend in that class who was hispanic, him and I would talk while class was going on and would seldom pay attention to what was going on in class. The teacher would always tell my friend to quit instagating the conversations when in fact it went both ways between us. Finally the teacher sent my hispanic friend to the office for disturbing the class and I immediatley got up thinking that I was supposed to go to the office as well. The teacher asked why I was leaving his class and I stated that I was talking just as much if not more than my friend. He told me to sit back down so he could get on with the class discussion. I didn't say another word I just left the room and walked down to the office with my friend. This was ridiculous how I blatently admitted to being the cause of the classroom disturbance but the teacher thought that I should stay in class for whatever reason as opposed to allowing my friend to remain in the class.

Journal Entry #7

The man in my life that I admire most would probably have to be my father. He has worked for everything that he's obtained in his life. He always knows the answer to any problem that I may be having with whatever the situation might be. Whether the problem is school, work, or just social problems he always has a way of putting things in perspective for me. Like most father and son we do not always get along or see eye to eye on things, but when it comes down to it I always know that he'll be there to help me through the rough patch that I find myself in. He has always been pretty supportive of all the activities that I've been involved with, and I will always appreciate that. He always made an effort to be at every one of my sporting events whether it was football, wrestling or basketball he always tried to be there. I guess the biggest thing for me was that I could always tell how disappointed he was if he missed one game. If he missed a game he always asked about the details; although at the time I found it annoying I greatly appreciate it now. No matter what I would do to disappoint my parents he was always the one who came forward and put it into perspective saying some clever remark like now you've learned. That is why my father is the male that I most admire in my life.