Post-reading week 13

If the motivation for incarcerating people isn't to stop crime , what is it?

The motivation for incarcerating people is to enslave them . The major of the people who are being incarcerated are African Americans and Latinos .  Back in day when slavery was banned, people could have African American prisoners work for them without any consequences . Once you are incarcerated , you lose a lot of privileges such as voting . So, instead of African Americans and Latinos being discriminated against and denied the right to vote , they are just unfairly judged and put  into prison so they can’t vote .  People who have been incarcerated find it harder to get jobs , and they are denied food stamps and public housing . I feel this is just another way to keep African Americans and Latino on the bottom of the hierarchy . For example , the increased police surveillance in urban neighborhoods . The main reason why African Americans and Latinos are caught or arrested for crimes is because there is a large amount of police surveillance in their neighborhood. In a predominantly white neighborhood , you might not find any police officers . There are also police officers in high schools , arresting students for having fights . The police officers usually be in predominantly African American and Latino school as well . So if students get into a fight over something small they might get arrested and it will go on their record , restricting them from being able to vote , get a job , etc .

The motivation for incarcerating people is also to make money off the prisoners .  Prisons receive 19 dollars for every prisoner they have . There are also private prison businesses that contract prison labor . Prisons have prisoner working on supplies such as desk and chair . They also have prisoner working as the phone operator to receive money from large companies who would rather pay the prisoners a low amount of money , then hire an employee who demands minimum wage . Private prison make money for how many prisoner they have , and how long they stay there . I feel the economy would be a lot better if the government would use the money they spend on prisons , on something more important. For example the state only pays 4 dollars per student compared to 19 dollars per prisoner. If the money went to schools it would be one less problem in this economy.

Word Count:422

Pre-reading week 12

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QIWlazCvwi0

Please find a youtube video of an artist that you believe is using hip-hop in a more conscious matter and post it on your blog. Explain your reasoning behind choosing this video.

The video that chose was ”Diary” by Wale. I chose this video because the artist is not talking about the things that are usual talked about in hip -hop music , such as sex, and money. He is talking about a girl that has been hurt in her life by other man , which causes her to think all men are the same. The artist talks about how he wants to get to know her , but she will not give him a chance because she learned all men are untrustworthy . The artist said, “Every problem you ever had with another man I gotta face”, which means he will always be considered a cheater because he is a man.  The artist explains how he wants to give her everything she needs, and how she deserves to be treated like a queen.  However, the girl is scared to be vulnerable again , because of her past heartbreak .

I also chose this video because the women are not being degraded in it. Instead of having a lot of females dancing half naked in the video, it is very respectful, and doesn’t objectify women as sex objects. I feel this song is meaningful because the artist is actually expressing the way he feels , which is what I think artist in hip hop , and in of other genres of music should do. This artist is talking about treating women with respect, other artists do not . Many other artists talk about how many girls they can get, or got. They also talk all thing women do for them, but never what they do for women. Also , in their music videos, women are presented as sex symbols. They are seen in videos with reviling clothes on, and dancing inappropriately.

Even though this video is different compared to other , it could be another way for the artist to get more fans. He could just be trying to direct his music toward a different audience. The artist just might be rapping what he thinks female want to hear, like being told they are beautiful , and that they deserve everything . Although this may be true, the video isn’t as problematic as the rest.

Word Count: 405

Post-reading: week 11

What was the most interesting thing you learned from the video? Did it make you change how you thought about hip-hop?

The most interest thing I’ve learned from this video is that hip hop is exaggeratedly accused of being too violent in this society. The video pointed out that America is very hyper masculine and hyper aggressive nation. We watch movies and play videogames with the same type of violence in it. We also see this same type of violence and masculinity in the sports culture and the military culture.  The video also talks about women being portrayed as sex object in this hip -hop culture. It pointed out that hip -hop was not the only thing that was objectifying women as sex object either. We see women in the hip-hop culture, but we also see them being objectified in magazines, advertisement, and on TV as well.  

Another thing I found interesting was how the society defines a man as being powerful, dominate, in control, and having the respect of your peers. A man has to be strong to be worthy of power, and if they are not , there are other ways to display  their power, such as financial power. Men have money do not have to be as physically power as men who do not have money. In order for the rappers in the hip- hop industry to gain respect or their street credibility they have to present themselves as “ hard ” even though they are not. They rap about what they think people want to listen to, and what they think would make them the most money. Many of the rappers do not even live the lifestyle they talk about in their music. Men who think this type of behavior make them a men is wrong, and it causes many problems. When men try to defend their manhood, they may end up getting into a conflict that leads to something more serious.

The video has changed the way I view about hip- hop, because I felt hip- hop was an expression of how artists felt. It turned out to be just entertainment. I also caused me to listen to the lyrics, and analyze what the artists are actually saying instead of just listening to the beat. Artists talk about how they have a lot of women, and they degrade women in their music. Even if music is just entertainment, artists should not have to degrade or objectify women as sex objects.

Word Count: 415

Pre-Reading Questions Week Eleven

Are their artists or songs that don't employ the more problematic aspects of hip-hop? What are they? Why are they different?

There are many songs and artists that do not employ the more problematic aspect of hip-hop . For example , the song “ Airplanes ” by B.O.B . In this song , the artist talks about following his dreams . He also talks about how hard work and determination pays off. Another example , “ Ambitious Girl” , by Wale. This song talks about the artists dream girl, and how she is independent and trying to make something of herself . He talks about how she would rather chase her dreams than chase after men , then at the end of the song he explains how he work the song to support working women. I feel B.O.B and Wale are good artists because they actual express themselves through their music. Other artists , such as Common , and Eminem are artist that express themselves. These artists try to tell a story through their music.

These artists are different because unlike the other hip- hop artists , they use their songs to poetically express themselves. Instead of rapping to get rich , and talking about what they think people want to here , they talk about what they feel in their music . Most of the hip- hop artists in this generation usual rap about money, sex, and being the best. Back in the 70’s - 80’s when hip - hop music originated , rapper talk mostly talked about meaningful thing .  Hip- hop music has an impact on a lot of people, so once the rappers started rapping about getting money and disrespecting women, it created a problem because the people, especially the younger generation, who looks up them began to want money and a lot women. They also began to disrespect women, by calling them out of their names and treated them like they’re worthless . I feel some of the hip - hop artists of this generation let the fame and the money get to their head, causing them to make music that they feel will make them the most money. By doing this, they make music that degrades women and creates problems within the society .  Activity like this is frowned upon , which cause people to think that all hip - hop songs , and artist are corrupt.

Word Count:403

Post-reading: week seven

How would you recommend to change DV services as to better serve some people who don't fall into the master narrative we discussed on Monday? How might you change some of the services? What would you add or take away?

Traditionally a victim of domestic violence is a female in a heterosexual relationship, and most of the time the female is being physically abused. There are many different types of domestic violence, such as physical, emotional, sexual, verbal, and financial. Domestic violence also happens within homosexual couples, and the victims who do not fall into the description of a domestic violence victim, often do not receive help. For example, if a gay victim was to go to a domestic violence shelter they would most likely not be accepted because they are male. 

If a lesbian was being physically abused by her partner and called the police, the police would not take her seriously. They would not think this is a case of domestic violence because the people in the relationship are both female. To better serve lesbians who are being physical abused in their relationship, I think the police should serve all domestic violence cases the same, either homosexual or heterosexual.

In order to keep all the victims safe, the shelters the victims go to will have an advanced security system, which shows everyone who enters into the building to everyone in their rooms. So if someone was try to get into the shelter to find his or her partner, the victim can alert the authorities and have them arrested. The victims will also have to give a description of their partner, in case someone else sees them.

To be able to accommodate all people of every race, services should be offer in every language. Domestic violence victim often need counseling to restore their lives, which includes finding a new house, or getting a job if they were relying on the partner for financial support.  The victim might also need to learn another language if the they dependent on their partner to translate for them. Services such as the police, would have to know English and Spanish to be able to communicate with all domestic violence victims. If there was a domestic violence incident, where the victim did not know English, and the officer did not know Spanish, the problem could not be resolved. The abuser might not be arrested either.

Word Count:401

Post-reading: week five

1. I am unsure if this is a form of colorblind racism, but I think it is, because it is discriminating against undocumented students.

3. I do not think this is a form of colorblind racism because people of color and women need the money to attend school.

4. I feel this is a form of colorblind racism because the participant refers to the parents at the urban school as “those parents”, and she believes that parents of color don’t care about what their children do.

5. I am unsure because religion doesn’t deal with race, but it is discriminating against Muslims.

6. I feel this is a form of colorblind racism because the counselor thinks all Latinos are house cleaners or work in a restaurant.

7. I do not think this is a form of colorblind racism.

8. I feel this is a form of colorblind racism because the cosmetics company is inferring that all African Americans have exotic hair.

9. I feel this is a form of colorblind racism because the party was meant to mock people of color.

11. I do not think this is a form of colorblind racism.

13. I feel this is a form of colorblind racism because it is inferring that all immigrants are Spanish speakers.

14. Yes, I feel this is a form of colorblind racism because the realtor is assuming that the African American woman wants to live in an urban neighborhood.

15. I think this is a form of colorblind racism because calling a white person a “cracker” isn’t equivalent to calling a black person a “nigger”.

16. I’m not sure if this is a form of color blind racism, but given the fact that she has a black boyfriend doesn’t excluded her from being a racist.

17. I feel this is a form of colorblind racism because Newt Gingrich is being stereotypical.

18. I feel that it is a form of CBR because the university isn’t honoring the American Indians it’s mocking them instead.  

19. I feel this is a form of CBR because the teacher is inferring that all Salvadorian don’t know how to speak English well.

20. I feel this is a form of CBR because the colleague is assuming that the Chinese worker knows how to speak a certain language.

21. I feel this is a form of colorblind racism because the couple refers to the black babies as “those babies”, and they are inferring that all black babies are in need of special help.

WORD COUNT: 419

Post-Reading Questions for Week 2

What might be the differences between racism and ethnocentrism?

Racism can be defined in many ways. Racism is the belief that all members of each race possess characteristics or abilities specific to that race, and a person’s social or moral trait can be determined by their inborn characteristics.  Racism may also be defined as the hatred or dislike of one race by another. Individuals who feel this way think that people of a different race are less than a human because of skin color, religious beliefs, etc.  If a person is racist, they believe that other people are inferior because of such reasons. For example, during the civil right movement, African Americans fought for equality because they were being discriminated against because of the race. This would be considered a form of racism because African Americans were disliked because of their physical appearances.

Ethnocentrism is the belief in the superiority of one's own ethnic group. It is one of the main reasons for division between members of different ethnicities, races, and religious group in the society. Even though ethnocentrism is the belief of superiority of one’s own ethnic group, it can also develop from racial or just the one-sided belief that their specific race, religious group, or ethnicity is superior to any other group of that kind. For example, a form of ethnocentrism would be if a person felt their religion is more important than another.

Racism and ethnocentrism are often confused because they are both based on cases where people are discriminated against based on their race or beliefs. For example, after 9/11 occurred, racism spiked towards Muslims based on the fact that it was Al-Qaeda, (a Muslim based organization) that collaborated to organize the terrorist attacks on the Twin Towers and the Pentagon.  Muslims throughout the United States began to fear for their lives because people assumed they were terrorists based on their race and how they looked.  This is not ethnocentrism—people like this do not believe that their religion is superior to the Muslim religion. People who are racist towards Muslims are so only because they believe that their religion is inferior and that they are automatically a terrorist because of who was against the 9/11 attacks.  Racism towards Muslims is still a problem even though 9/11 happened 11 years ago.   However, it would be ethnocentrism if a person who practices Catholicism was prejudiced against all Muslims because they believe that Catholicism is superior to the Muslim religion.  

WORD COUNT: 412