Assignment: Racism
I. You have just been hired as a panelist for a news program. You have been chosen as the counterpoint to another panelist named "Mr. A" He feels he is very open-minded and thinks the key to building a multiracial society is to stop talking about race, stop race-based policies like Affirmative Action that draw more attention to race (and take jobs/slots away from others), and stop having race-based organizations like black fraternities and clubs. Although he professes to be colorblind and not care about race, curiously, he emphasizes having black friends, while having an all-white extended family without any signs of interracial dating or marriage.
When it is your turn to speak, provide counterpoints for at least three of Mr. A's positions that:
i. Identify the misinformation on which each is based, and
ii. Offer alternative interpretations for the positions he advocates.
II. Identify at least three ways the media perpetuates stereotypes, and identify an example/specific stereotype for each (at least one such example should focus on a non-black minority group.) In addition, discuss the ways in which such stereotypes can be counteracted. What does social science evidence say about methods that work in countering racism (in media and beyond)?
III. As Latino- and Asian-Americans are the two fastest-growing minority groups, once their totals are added with African-Americans, non-Hispanic whites are expected to become an increasingly smaller proportion of the U.S. Some predict this shift will make us a more multi-racially balanced democracy. Yet, others expect that a segment of this growth spurt will "become white" as other ethnic groups have in the past; thus maintaining white dominance in the U.S. Which prediction do you think is more likely to happen? Support your position with at least three points of evidence from the course. Thereafter, discuss the evidence that the "other side" would use to counteract you, and explain why, despite this evidence, you stand by your prediction.
Format your assignment according to the following formatting requirements:
i) The answer should be typed, using Times New Roman font (size 12), double spaced, with one-inch margins on all sides.
ii) The response also includes a cover page containing the title of the assignment, the student's name, the course title, and the date. The cover page is not included in the required page length.
iii) Also include a reference page. The Citations and references must follow APA format. The reference page is not included in the required page length.