Prejudice

Part 2 Slides-pgs 57-78

Stereotypes and Sport Team Names

• Are college and professional teams who use mascots patterned after American Indians “honoring” American Indians?

– Webster’s dictionary defines term Redskin: “American Indian usually taken to be offensive”

– Should the Washington pro NFL team change their name as many other college teams and professional teams have done recently?

Color Blind Racism• A term Coined by modern race scholar Eduardo Bonilla Silva

• Refers to the use of race neutral principles to defend the racially unequal status quo– Assuming we live in a color blind society perpetuates inequality– In public debates on social issues, race is rarely spoken of explicitly-

Instead people use social class , citizenship, or criminal labels to substitute for race• People will use race neutral terms while supporting policies that are

potentially racist or treat groups unequally– “I’m not racist, it’s just that black people commit more crime so it’s ok to make streets

safer by racially profiling”– It’s not that I’m Islamophobic, I just think Arab Americans should be frisked before

getting on a plane”– “No, I have a lot of Mexican friends. I just think they should be a citizen to get their

education here”. » O’Reilly Video

W.E.B Du Bois: The Veil

• The Mood of the Oppressed– Many members of subordinate groups report

feeling at some point that society may be treating them differently, which can lead to feelings of contempt towards all whites

– Much traditional research never measured non white attitudes on racial issues

Research on Racial Outlooks

• Latinos, African Americans, and Asian Americans all have reservations about state of race relations in U.S compared to whites– Is racial tension a problem?– Is there equal opportunity?– Does the CJS favor the rich?– Is there lots of discrimination against your community?

• All three groups have a positive outlook towards future– Why?

• If you feel you are treated unequally by people, if you have been a victim of racial profiling, if you have suffered from forms of discrimination, can this cause self hate? Low self esteem? Negative self-fulfilling prophecies?– Relates to internalized homophobia and high rates of

attempted suicide of gay teens– Many scholars are interested in the affect of prejudice

and discrimination on one’s identity, self esteem, and quality of life?• Racial Profiling video

• Do many African Americans, Asian Americans, and Latinos hold prejudicial and stereotypical views towards other racial and ethnic minorities?

Intergroup Hostility

• National surveys reveal relatively high levels of prejudice among racial and ethnic minorities

• Some groups feel they get along better with certain groups than others– Charts on pg 64

– What foster’s intergroup hostility?

– Conflict theory and class consciousness• How does intergroup hostility work against fighting equality?

Karl Marx and Class Consciousness • Class and racial stratification exist because individuals and groups in power

dominate and exploit others– Do individuals in dominant groups have any interest in changing the system?

• Conflict and inequality are inherent in a capitalist system because the powerful will use coercion to maintain the status quo, and most people buy into the system

– This is made possible because workers in the lower classes remain exploited and oppressed blinded by a false consciousness

– What did Marx believe would happen in order to change the system and inequality under capitalism?=Class Consciousness

– I.e.: Wealth Inequality• http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IX-V_a8H6y8

Economic Inequality in the U.S.

• Why do Americans tolerate such massive concentrations of income and wealth? Why do Americans tolerate continued racial inequality?

– Are the richest Americans the hardest working?

– Do white families with vastly more wealth than the average minority family work harder?

How does all this relate to racial inequality

• Conflict theory can be used to understand racial inequality and specifically intergroup hostility

– Intergroup hostility results from competition among groups in capitalist society

– From a Marxist perspective, many individuals in the middle and lower class are blinded by a false consciousness, believing that the system is not at fault, rather they just need to work harder to obtain the American dream• So there is often no critical analysis of problems with the system itself• Who does this continue to benefit=Those in society with power and

privilege who have no vested interest in changing the status quo

Reducing Prejudice

• The Education System

– Research studies show that well structured programs can reduce prejudice? • But what are the difficulties?

– Studies show that with increased formal education, racial tolerance increases and prejudice decreases. • Why

• The Media

– What role can the media play in reducing prejudice

– Underrepresentation• 40% of youths in America are people of color, but minorities

are highly underrepresented in media, especially in non stereotypical roles– Why? Who are in the key decision making positions in the media

business?

– Stereotypes in table 2.2-Page 68

• Is prejudice reduced when people interact with others outside of their race?

• The contact hypothesis– Intergroup contact with people of equal status in a

harmonious environment will reduce prejudice and stereotypical beliefs

• Does this situation occur?– In school– In work– In sports

• What can we do as individuals?

– Choose you battles

– Stay vigilant

– Spread awareness

– Dig deeper and be aware of color blind racism

– Remember that the positive changes that have occurred in the past have all been built off the backs of small coalitions and grassroots movements