Racism, religion, and family structures

Race in America

Ask five people how they would define racism, religion, and family, and then summarize the definitions. Identify the similarities and differences in the definitions.

When it comes to racism, there were a few different answers. Most of centered on unreasonable or undue attention to the color of someone's skin but there were some caveats in there about being "racial" versus "racist." When it comes to religion, the answers were pretty much the same…they all centered on whether someone thinks there's a god and the belief structure that surrounds it. Family was also quite different. Some people only mentioned people related by blood/marriage but some people included close friends and trusted people as being part of their "family."

Provide your own definitions of each and how they relate to each other.

Racism is any thought or behavior that is irrational and unethical and that is based on race. Religion is the general idea that someone has about "where we call come from" and what happens when we die (not to mention live). Finally, the technical definition of family if someone related by blood or marriage but family could be anyone that is trusted, loved and respected. These relate to each other in that the definitions can vary a lot from person to person and for varying reasons.

2. Generate a table with a list of the different patterns of interaction between minority and majority groups. The table should have three columns:

a. One column for the models

b. One column providing three facts about each model

c. One column providing two different examples for each model

Model

Facts

Examples

Social Protest

1) Heightened anger and mood

2) Chance of violence

3) People assemble in groups

1) Trayvon Martin protests

2) Call for firing of Imus ("nappy headed hos")

3) AIG bailouts circa 2008

Regular Crowd

1) Usually calm

2) People assemble based on who they know

3) Not a lot of tension in most cases

1) Any concert

2) Any fair/festival

3) Art Fair

Social Media

1) Lot of "keyboard warriors (people who threaten or talk trash)

2) Less inhibition to act in a racist/sexist manner

3) Many people act under psuedonyms or anonymously

1) Facebook enabled chat-boards on major websites (e.g. ESPN)

2) Facebook itself

3) Twitter

Person to Person

1) People usually talk to who they know

2) Connect on common interests or purpose

3) Usually jovial and friendly

1) Friends talking

2) Strangers striking up a conversation

3) Customer service situation

Classroom Setting

1) Almost always civil

2) Confrontation is actively avoided

3) Tension creates awkwardness

1) Elementary school

2) Online College

3) Brick/Mortar College