Race & Identity

http://www.komonews.com/news/national/26830644.html

This article “Race sometimes a problem in eyewitness IDs” by the Associated Press (which I found on komonews.com), is extremely intense. The basic summary is that a woman had been raped,and identified a suspect in a line up. But it turned out the woman, Jennifer Thompson-Cannino, had fingered the wrong suspect. The man who had been convicted was Ronald Cotton, and had been sentenced to life in prison. Jennifer is white. Ronald is black. Ten years later, DNA evidence finally proved his innocence. But that’s not where the story ends. Studies have shown that similar situations have happened. People have pointed out the wrong suspect, just because they are of a different race, and they have a harder time distinguishing identities of people that are not their race. It’s like that saying that certainly sounds prejudiced and even racist about “they all look alike” — but in fact there may be some truth to that for some people. To address this, Thompson-Cannino and Cotton are writing a book. Together.

I think this is a great idea, as it will help people learn of the damage that can be done by such mistakes.  According to Barry Scheck, co-founder of The Innocence Project, “The majority race is not as good at identifying minorities as it is its own race. This is hard-wired in some way that we don’t completely understand. But the phenomenon should be presented to the jury” (AP). People’s prejudices and preconceived notions can be very dangerous in certain situations. Innocent people can be sent to jail. Suspects of much more serious crimes, like murder, can be sentenced to death, all based on false identification.

Awareness needs to be made of these prejudices, and this apparent lack of the ability to “discriminate” in a different sense of the word — to be able to clearly identify someone of a different race and move beyond the “they all look the same” perspective. I know that in my own life, at least in the beginning, I was fed prejudices by the media, by my parents, by my peers that could have influenced how I look at people of other races. This is just not right. Had I been assaulted, would I finger the correct person? Would I remember exactly who it was that attacked me, if I saw them in a line up? Would my remembering be hampered in any way if they are a different race? It is compelling to think about.

(Word Count Four Hundred Eleven)

Race & Stereotypes

The article I chose to blog about is “Race relations in the U.S. appear hopeful” by Hubert G. Locke. The main thread that ties the article together is Barack Obama. The article not only talks of the obvious, the issue people might have with a black president, it also speaks about how Obama continues to surprise people by not being a cookie-cutter politician. This includes his willingness to change his position on things as he gets new information, which some might say is inconsistent or wishy-washy, like how John Kerry, who ran in 2004, was perceived. Generally, people have supported Obama, and in a very large way. In rejecting traditional practices during his candidacy, he has brought hope to many people in the U.S.

Now, it is not becoming as much of an issue of race. And really, it shouldn’t matter that he’s black, or white, or any particular race. What really matters is what kind of person he is. Pundits will say what they want, and draw up all sorts of stereotypes, and for what? I think it’s because they have nothing much bad to say about him, all racism aside. Many believe he is going to be a great leader. People see that he doesn’t fit the type of person that is depicted in negative black stereotypes. And what’s more important, is that he doesn’t fit the (somewhat true) stereotype of many politicians!

The article brings up a national poll that seems to indicate that Obama’s success as the Democratic candidate hasn’t “closed the divide over race”. But it also shows that Americans, black and white, are ready for a black president. The lesson here I think is that while Obama’s success hasn’t immediately changed perceptions of race relations, at least change has begun by his acceptance by so many as the potential next president.

(Word Count: Three Hundred Seven)

Article link: http://seattlepi.nwsource.com/opinion/372116_hubert25.html

Culture & Identity

The article that I chose was “Timidity can hurt diversity” by Jerry Large. He writes about his experience at the Northwest Folklife Festival, and how the music is so diverse. Folklife, which occurs every year in the spring, features many different musicians, from all different parts of the world, and all different cultures. There are people who play almost every type of music, and there are also people who dance as well. This year, though, the overall theme of the festival was meant to focus on American Indians, or the First People, as I like to call them. The author goes on to write about the assimilation of the First People, from living in reservations to moving into cities, in the 1950s. But, at the same time, major segregation was going on for African Americans, causing somewhat of a cognitive dissonance.

 

The article later talks about interracial adoption, and the timidity that goes along with it. I think that there are still people who believe segregation should exist, and I think what is worse, is that there are people who don’t know what to think. They are timid, and try to stray away from the real issues of cultural diversity. In some ways, this may be an enlightened view, but in others, it can bring us back a few decades. It is fine to see people as people, but if we don’t acknowledge the differences that make us unique, like culture, we are no better than segregationists. 

Article Referenced:
http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/jerrylarge/2004444937_jdl29.html

(Word Count: Two Hundred Forty Seven) 

Intercultural Conflict.

Last fall, five whalers killed a grey whale off the Straight of Juan de Fuca. They were charged with illegal whaling, violating the Marine Mammal Protection Act. This would be a simple cut and dry case, but these men and women were members of the Makah tribe. Now, the Makah tribe is not exempt from this Act just yet. They have been waiting to be waived. Though, with this recent violation, things are not looking very good for making them exempt. 

 

This article bring up an interesting issue. One that has to do with the indigenous peoples of these United States. An issue that has to do with culture shock, within ones own country. If you step back, and take a look at the big picture, this tribe was here first. And they had been whaling long before “caucasian” people came to this land. Now, I won’t go into depth about the settlers vs. the natives. But, I believe that these people should be given the right to practice their culture. I can understand the fact that whales are endangered, and should be protected. Realizing this, I sought out to find why these animals are endangered, and who was it that made them that way.

 

And what did I find? No, not whaling practiced by natives. It was commercial whaling that had depleted and killed off the population. This fact is why I support tribal whaling. It was not them who reduced the population, it was “us”. The “caucasian”, the “white man”. To be more precise, the second people who inhabited this land. The native people of America deserve to practice their own culture, whether it be whaling, using Peyote in spiritual practices, or the like. They were here first, this is their country.

Article referenced: http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/localnews/2008026348_webmakah30m.html

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