Race is a very relevant issue in today’s society even if people tend to avoid direct conversation about the topic. Appiah seeks to start such conversation with an essay on race, in which he argues that race is defined socially and not biologically. David B. Wilkins, summarizing Appiah's essay, wrote ...there simply is no credible scientific evidence to support the idea that the current racial designations in the United States capture any meaningful physical, intellectual, or moral differences among human beings who fall into these categories. As a result, Appiah concludes, there are no “races” in the United States or elsewhere as that term has come to be understood; there are only social groups that have been constructed for purposes that cannot be defended on the scientific grounds on which the modern ideational meaning of race must inevitably rest. (Color Conscious p.8).
Of the prompts below, please respond to your choice of 1 or 2 below.
- Do you believe America's tolerance and acceptance of interracial dating may affect the world's view towards interracial dating and race in general?
- Do you feel America favors nations that are ethnically more like us over others? Do you feel this is a problem?
- As immigration has become a hot topic in the political debates, do you feel that nation’s perspective on race and cosmopolitanism (i.e., set aside our differences and start conversation) has shaped views on immigration?
- Do you feel people would feel more at ease if the immigrants were of the same color as themselves?
- Is the concept of “America as a Melting pot” outdated? Why or why not?
- What do you think it means to people of color to have a black U.S. president?
- After viewing some of the quotes and answering some of the questions, how might these ideas of conversation, identity, and honor change the way you think about race?
(1) I do not necessarily think that America's tolerance and acceptance of interracial dating will affect the world's view to this. Other countries may try to follow what we do, but seeing as each country has a different culture and different views on race, we cannot change that. If people, from other countries, who oppose interracial dating come to America, they will have to adjust and either accept it or learn to hold their tongue on the subject seeing as they would be the outsiders. Race however, lately, we have not been setting the best example to other countries on acceptance. Since America is so influential, we may be setting all the wrong examples for other countries, so we need to fix that so that there can be more tolerance, not just tolerance, but acceptance.
ReplyDeleteI agree with you on this. I think we should worry about what we are doing in our country before we worry about others. America is a world power and we should be better role models not just on race but also on other controversial issues. I think interracial dating should not be a big priority. We should focus on race as a broad issue of simply accepting each other and being open to diversity.
ReplyDeleteI would agree that we are not setting a good example, but I would like to question the idea that we can't change other countries. Firstly, I would like to point out that us as an example to other countries is in fact how we change other countries. Secondly, films such as James Cameron's Avatar have universally understood situations - and thus can reach a global as much as local audience. These can make a difference in other countries, as well as our own.
DeleteIn regards to the prompt about whether or not the U.S. favors countries that are more ethnically like us, we have to have a better definition of favor. On the one hand the U.S. donates millions of dollars in aid to poor countries in Africa and Asia. But their are examples in our history where we placed a greater priority to Europe. For example in the 1990s we were actively involved in the genocide that was taking place in Yugoslavia, but we then did nothing during the Rwandan genocide. We were able to completely rebuild Europe after WWII and yet there is still massive poverty around the world. More than that there is massive poverty in our country. Perhaps we should ask before we help others shouldn't we help those in our own country.
ReplyDeleteThe last line of your response poses a good question, But is it not also our duty to help fellow man when we can especially when they don't even have access to clean drinking water witch Americans take for granted, also we can go to a hospital receive treatment for any illness even if we cant pay. Also the last sentence contradicts the idea of cosmopolitanism, which was the topic of Appiah's most recent book.
DeleteDo we not owe it to make sure our own citizens are well fed and taken care of. There are people in our country who don't have access to water, food, and shelter. Before we try to save the world we should try to do better at home.
DeleteMy question is why is it one or the other? Do we not have the resources to help both at home and abroad?
DeleteWhile it is true that there Americans without access to clean drinking water, food, and shelter, we still have a responsibility to others as much as our own society members because we are a member of the human society.
Delete"Is the concept of "America as a melting pot" outdated?
ReplyDeleteI would say that America is still a melting pot and is even more so today. There are more people with different ethnic, racial, and religious backgrounds. Like a melting pot there is a lot of heat and this will cause it to boil at times,which does happen in our society especially with the current examples of racial inequality in policing,and the religious freedom bills, but once we help reduce the heat by bettering our laws and better training for the enforcers of our laws we will be to bring the pot to a nice simmer that will helps us become a better stronger society.
Nick, might it be necessary at times to "boil?" Sometimes, I feel like the only way to make a change is to get heated and talk about what needs to be talked about.
DeleteI agree, I think America is still a melting pot. With all the world events that occur on a daily basis, people are constantly coming to America seeking a fresh start. The US as a melting pot is evident because foreign policy is ever changing. In retrospect, America was founded by immigrants, so we should welcome people. I also see the economic difficulties that come along with letting poor people in who need shelter, money, food, and freedom.
DeleteI believe that our country, as a whole, values diversity and so, on the surface, the United States is a "melting pot." Personally, I do not believe that this concept is outdated, however, our perspectives as individuals need to change to reflect this value. There is still discrimination based on race even though Appiah contends that race is our social construct. This is seen in the news on a daily basis. In order to correct this issue, we have to be willing to recognize our mistakes, our privileges, and our social and economic backgrounds. In this way, we can be united and celebrate this country for its rich and diverse cultures.
ReplyDeleteDo you feel people would feel more at ease if the immigrants were of the same color as themselves? Without a doubt. When ever there is talk of illegal immigrants, no one ever thinks of Canada or western Europe, the national conscious pictures people of color. And I think this is very telling. Why are people more worried about about an illegal immigrant from Mexico than one from Canada? And I don't want response like "well there are more illegals from Mexico than from Canada". No. We're past that. You've got an illegal Canadian and an illegal Mexican and most people worry more about the Mexican.
ReplyDeleteI would challenge to you to consider the fact that immigrants such as the Irish and the Germans were white, like the Americans, but also hated. So surely this xenophobia isn't just about color.
DeleteWhile that's true, that doesn't matter nearly as much today. People aren't still discriminating against the Irish and Germans like that. So back then, you're right,no. But today the situation is different and this xenophobia is very much about color.
DeleteSo what changed between now and then? People haven't suddenly become racist.
DeleteIn regards to immigration, our world is predisposed to be opposed to immigration of any sort. However, we have to realize that immigration is not a new thing. Examples of immigration in History include: The immigration of the Hebrews to Israel, The immigrations of the Huns to Northern Italy, even the immigration of people from all over Europe to the Americas. We know now that these immigrations can make such huge differences in the societies, which has lead to global fear of immigration. As Appiah pointed out, race is primarily based on cultural differences. Thus I would say yes, it has shaped our views of immigration.
DeleteIn today's world, I think that the concept of the melting pot is outdated. When one puts ingredients into a melting pot, the individual ingredients get morphed into one conglomerate. The ingredients loose their identity. If we take other Cultures and assimilate them into one giant culture cake, do we not lose our individual culture identity? In my eyes the melting pot is saying, you must become part of the whole and loose your identity. Maybe a marble cake will be a better analogy, we are apart of a whole, but still distinguishable from the rest of the cake.
ReplyDeleteErick, you make a great point. It never crossed my mind that when you come to a new place you usually adapt to their way of life and leave your previous practices behind. I still think that America is a melting pot because immigrants are constantly coming to America. I don't think that I am going to necessarily adapt their practices but rather they adapt my practices. I have a counter argument for you. When you came to college, didn't you meet new people? Did you pick up some their practices or habits? If so then going to college could be seen on a small scale as being a melting pot. Either way its not a good or bad thing, just something to think about.
DeleteI feel that the melting pot idea is still very applicable. We are different from other many other countries in that we are still so young as a nation. Our culture and national identity has not had nearly as much time to develope as many other nations have. That is where the melting pot idea comes in. All these people that came to America, whether it was with the first settlers or on a steamship in the late 1800's, brought a very strong cultural history with them. While these people wanted to hold on to their customs they still had to adapt to a rapidly changing world around them. While some aspects of their culture may be strengthened by this adversity, other parts will be put asunder and lost to them. Much like a melting pot, some flavors are enhanced while others are covered up.
ReplyDeleteWow, I have never thought about it that way. Though we usually have this idea that America has been around for a long time, it really hasn't compared to other cultures. We are still developing and I think we still have room to offer acceptance to others.
ReplyDeleteI really like this, America is young and still growing and changing at a very fast rate. America is without a doubt a melting pot and i believe this is a great thing. I think the fact that we are becoming such a diverse country while still maintaining our position as an Alpha country shows other country's that diversity and integration is not detrimental to society and can actually be beneficial to the growth and prosperity of a country.
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