Friday, October 8, 2010
Blog #4 Unit 2 Material
After watching the numerous videos assigned for class it was evident how racism exists in our everyday lives. In the film "A Class Divided" the children's made friends with one another and soon changed their views and attitudes towards one another solely on their eye color. In only about twenty minutes these young children learned to prejudice others and discriminate because they thought they were better than the others. In our society today numerous families raise their children to discriminate and think a certain way towards other races because they think that their race is superior. Are these children able to have their own opinion at this point? If children at a young age are "brainwashed" to think a certain way then they may become racist towards others in the community, and it may take them their entires lives to actually give these minorities a chance and realize that all human beings are alike. Racism will always exist in our world and there are many factors that lead to this horrible act. Everybody should be given an equal change no matter what color, race, or gender they are. When you are part of the inferior race it is hard to find your true identity, this is displayed through the character Steve Harmon in the book Monster. He is labeled in the same group as James King, Osvaldo Cruz, and Bobo Evans because he is a black teen that lives in Harlem, NY even though he is a good kid. We picture Steve in his jail cell as we read his diaries and he struggles to think if he is indeed a "Monster" or if he is innocent. His attorney O'brien is always unsure and doubtful of a good outcome of the court trial because she knows it is going to be hard to convince the jury that he not the same as the others involved in the robbery and homicide. Do you think that Steve lied under oath to be proven innocent becuase he admitted to going into the conveinience store to buy gum? Stereotyping is a big issue in this book and makes it very hard for Steve to seem innocent infront of the jury because their views are already prejudged. Steve has to realize that he has a good heart and falls into a different category than these other "Monsters." I believe that he finds his true identity after he is proven innocent and not viewed as a criminal with the others.
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I agree with alot of the things you said. I also thought the Class Divided video was really powerful in showing how quickly and easily it is to have a group form prejudice towards others. I do agree as well that racism will always tend to play a role in our society because it is almost impossible to have our past erased.
ReplyDeleteIn my blog, I also wrote about children being raised in families that discriminate and how hatred is taught to them. I think that being raised this way does make the children look at minorities in a different way and that it takes a lot of powerful actions, such as the activity done in A Class Divided, to help change their views even a little bit.
I agree that these videos proved that racism is prevalent in today's society. The way that the teacher in "A Class Divided" teaches her lesson proves that kids can be manipulated and "brainwashed" into believing something that is not true at all. I agree with the fact that everyone should be given and equal chance no matter what race, color, or gender they are.
ReplyDeleteSteve Harmon is displayed as a "monster," and this is a horrible thing because he should not be labled in the same group as James King, Osvaldo Cruz, and Bobo Evans. I agree with you that at the end of the trial, after the verdict is reached that he is "not guilty," that he finds his true identity.
I also was wondering whether he was guilty or innocent. I think he did go in as the lookout but he tried to convince himself he was still innocent because it wasn't him shooting the gun. He might not have wrote the details in his diary because his lawyer advised him not to write anything the prosecution couldn't read.
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