Abstract This paper examines Rebecca Walker's book, "Black, White, and Jewish: Autobiography of a Shifting Self", and its message of a fragmented sense of self. The paper looks at how Walker blames her inability to form a stable and permanent sense of self on her parents' liberal parenting style and multi-racial heritage and then discusses Walker's self-analysis regarding her feelings of alienation. The paper concludes with comments on both the strengths and the weaknesses of the book.
From the Paper "Rebecca Walker's memoir Black, White, and Jewish, is subtitled ?Autobiography of a Shifting Self.? Walker argues that because of the multi-racial and multi-ethnic identity, conferred by her parents and societal perceptions of race, she can never have a stable sense of identity or self. To demonstrate this, Walker uses not only the emotional devices of memoir, but also logical, sociological arguments in regards to her racial identity and ethical arguments about her parent's liberal parenting styles to establish her credibility as an author. Walker argues that her multiracial heritage, constant shifting of homes, and the liberal parenting style she received caused her current shifting and fragmented sense of self."
Abstract This paper offers a review of the though provoking novel "Montana 1948" by Larry Watson. The writer shows how racism, as seen in the novel, can result in tragedy. The book is the retrospective tale of a childhood event told by the protagonist David Hayden forty years later. The story evolves around the alleged professionally unacceptable behavior of a physician towards his Indian patients.
From the Paper "Among David's primary recollections concerning the events of 1948 is the realization that Marie Little Soldier's bedroom was ?a small room off the kitchen,? despite the fact that there was a "third bedroom" vacant on the second floor ? the floor where the white people slept. "Who decided that room should not be Marie"s?? Despite the Hayden's tolerant and benevolent appearance, and their adequate treatment of Marie, they obviously are subtly influenced by the prejudice based on the belief in the superiority of a particular race. Wesley ?was not a hate filled bigot ? he probably thought he was free of prejudice.? Wes was able to "treat Indians with generosity, kindness, and respect" nevertheless he believed Indians? were ignorant, lazy, superstitious and irresponsible."
This paper discusses the history of the American Indian boarding schools and their influence in developing "pan-Indianism", which connected individuals from different tribes.
Abstract This paper explains that the "Friends of the American Indians" believed that education was the only answer to the "Indian problem" to assimilate Native Americans into Euro-American society. The author points out that, whereas, the mission schools were traditionally located on the reservations, the "retraining" process meant that the government-influenced boarding schools were located off of the reservations, usually many miles away from families, so that many children were not able to see their families for years at a time. The paper relates that, although the tribal traditionalists strongly were opposed to families sending their children to distant schools to learn the "white man's" ways, grinding poverty and the overwhelming hopelessness of reservation life caused many Indian parents to consider the possibility of sending their children to find a more prosperous life.
From the Paper "Many times the child was not told ahead of time that they would be leaving home to attend the boarding school. This resulted in a child resisting or fleeing home and hiding in the woods or with sympathetic relatives. The child might also runaway upon reaching the boarding school. One student's account is recorded at the Clark Historical Library (1999). He remembered that on the day that he left, his mother pack his lunch, simply handed it to him, and sent him off to a day school he was attending. When he arrived at the school, he was then told that he was to leave immediately. He and several other children were told to get into a truck prepared with a wire cage. The cage was to keep them from fleeing, and they were then driven to the nearest railroad station."
Abstract This paper debates whether interracial relationships and, ultimately, marriages, erode cultural traditions and whether they cause a breakdown in racial solidarity. It looks at how interracial dating and marrying continues to increase as more and more individuals of once homogeneous communities are turning to an integrated way of life and accepting the idea that it is inside what counts. It also explores the reasons why family and friends tend to oppose interracial dating and discusses whether an interracial home life is harmful to a child.
From the Paper "Keeping black men and white women apart was the main purpose of Jim Crow. Gunnar Myrdal's landmark 1944 study found that Southern whites generally grasped that keeping blacks down also retarded their own economic progress, but whites felt that was the price they had to pay to make black men less attractive to white women. To the extent that white racism persists, it should limit the proportion of black-man/white-woman couples. Since these inequalities in interracial marriage are so
contrary to conventional expectations, what causes them? The mass media has preferred to ignore husband - wife disproportions entirely."
Abstract This paper offers a book review of Santiago's memoir in which she recounts her childhood experiences and assimilation process after arriving in the United States.
From the Paper "The very title of the book suggests that the author no longer considered herself Puerto Rican and had severed her ties with a place she would once call home. The fact that author uses past tense in the title makes it clear that Santiago could no longer associate herself and her identity to her homeland. She makes us wonder, "so what happened when she was a Puerto Rican" and thus we read the book to find out why she is not a Puerto Rican anymore and what led to this change of identity."
Abstract This paper examines how, since the tragedy of September 11, 2001, employment claims of discrimination on the basis of national origin have risen substantially. It looks at how, with the increase in discrimination based on national origin, it seems appropriate to talk about what national-origin discrimination is and what workplace protections exist under Title VII to combat this type of discrimination. It focuses on these topics, looks at the development of Title VII, and identifies the impact it has had in the workplace. Additionally, it looks at who is and is not protected under Title VII and reviews policies and procedures that employers can implement to limit their exposure to such claims.
From the Paper "National origin discrimination has been broadly defined as "including, but not limited to, the denial of equal employment opportunity because of [an applicant or employee"s] or his or her ancestor's place of origin; or because an applicant has the physical, cultural, or linguistic characteristics of a national origin group? (EEOC). It is illegal for employers to segregate, limit, and or classify an employee based on the individual's national origin, which may rob them of benefits, opportunities, or privileges in their employment (Bennett 401). Oddly enough, according to the EEOC, it is suggested that national origin discrimination is often based solely on physical characteristics, such as facial features, which is not an appropriate basis for determining national origin. The EEOC also protects against discrimination on the basis of association or marriage with individuals of a particular national origin group; attendance, membership or participation in schools, churches, temples, synagogues or mosques; or any people with a surname affiliated with an ethnicity."
Abstract This paper claims that there are many factors that define diversity and its role in determining individual behavior. The paper contends that in today's society and workplace, diversity plays an important role in strengthening an organization and that employers can benefit by becoming and being diverse. The paper examines organizations that hire individuals from various age groups, explaining that they can profit from a pool of knowledge that more that one age group may possess. The paper assesses that if employers can see beyond the age, gender, religion and other various diversity behaviors of its employees and hire and promote its employees based on merit, skills, abilities and performance alone, some of the issues employers now face can be diminished to a certain degree.
From the Paper "Diversity is good for organizations and its employees. There are many forms of diversity and demographic characteristics. Ethnicity, gender, age, religion, personality traits, and differences in values and attitude are only a few of these characteristics. Diversity can be defined as the state of being distinct or different. Demographic characteristics are the differences in, but not limited to, age, ethnicity, or gender. Hudson Inclusion Solutions, a professional staffing firm conducted a survey of 1,800 employees and found the following statistics concerning diversity within workplaces. Of the 64 % of individuals who worked at company that promoted diversity, 18 % stated they know someone who had been discriminated against because of rage. 1 in 5 stated they knew someone who had been mistreated because of his or her gender."
This paper discusses the history of Chinese and Japanese emigrants in the formation of the American identity as related in Ronald Takaki's "A Different Mirror: A History of Multicultural America".
Abstract This paper relates that the success of both Chinese and Japanese emigrants symbolizes their efforts in constructing an industrialized and agricultural America. The author points out that, because of hardship and discrimination, both groups formed their own communities and labor unions in order to strive for labor rights for their contributions, which gradually developed strong alliances with their own cultural values and thus helped to create a multicultural America that resists notions of assimilation. The paper concludes that, if the history of these ethnic groups were eliminated, there would be blank pages in the history of America because this people built the wealth of America.
From the Paper "In the 1800s, America was sought as a "New World" of opportunities and a better life for emigrants who were "pushed" out of their country by economic depression and "pulled" by hopes and dreams of fortune. Many Chinese migrants came to America to seek sanctuary from intense revolts and harsh economic conditions in China caused by the British Opium War (Takaki 192). The Japanese emigrated to America for similar reasons as the Chinese. 1868 was the year of the Japanese Meiji Reform and the government financed national defense by heavy taxing in order to establish a strong centralized society."
Abstract Very few films attempt to tackle tough issues that we as human beings face. This paper shows that the movie, "Crash" is a thought-provoking look at racial stereotypes in America. Written and directed by Paul Haggis, "Crash" is set in Los Angeles, a city in which strangers never come into contact unless they crash into one another - literally. The paper shows that the makers of the film had the guts to face racism in a way that is tasteful and yet entertaining. Racism and its depiction through film are discussed first. A plot overview is outlined, followed by the conclusion which ties the two together.
From the Paper "This night, Jack crosses the line when he sexually assaults a woman whose car he pulled over, in full view of Thomas and her terrified husband. Terrence Howard plays black TV director Cameron Thayer, whose wife, Christine (Thandie Newton), endures this humiliation. The incident, combined with his treatment at work, pushes Cameron over the edge. The movie then climaxes with a turn of events that makes Los Angeles look like Redding itself with a bunch of coincidences that would never happen in a big city. All of these people's lives come to one big intersection for the grand finale, which leaves the viewer with subject material for plenty of discussions about racism and how it affects American life."
Tags: Ryan, Phillippe, Matt, Dillon, Thandie, Newton
Abstract This paper explains the rapid growth of obesity statistics among U.S. minority children and adolescents. The author points out the serious consequences including related diseases. The paper relates ethnic attitudes and suggests interventions.
From the Paper "In the ...st century, obesity has become an epidemic and obesity in non-white non-European ancestry in the United States is a major problem. It is estimated that more than ...million Americans are obese with three million morbidly obese and childhood obesity is on the rise especially among minorities. The Third National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey reveals that ethnic minority children in the United States are at particular risk for development of cardiovascular disease due to their disproportionate levels of obesity. Obesity is the most frequent ..."
How Native Americans can teach the maintenance of community in a splintered society about not excluding other groups and how they can teach about true diversity and what it means to have a group sense of pride.
1,130 words (approx. 4.5 pages), 1 source, 2000, $ 39.95
From the Paper "Native Americans can teach all of us. They can teach about the maintenance of community in a splintered society and about not excluding other groups. At the same time, they can teach about true diversity and what it means to have a group sense of pride. They can teach about the flexibility it takes to survive this brave new world. A lot of horrible things have happened to Native Americans. If similar things had happened to other groups, those groups may not have been able to persevere. Other groups probably wouldn"t be willing to teach. But the Indians are. Is society ready to listen""
Abstract This paper covers the issues of covert and overt racism, in particular with African- American vs. Caucasian studies in the United States. Several real life examples are offered and analyzed in terms of the advantages and disadvantages each side faces in normal society. Institutional racism is also discussed in relation to class and social status.
This essay seeks to shed light on the difficulties of women in a different country by focusing on the specialized obstacles and hurdles faced by the women of India.
2,656 words (approx. 10.6 pages), 9 sources, 2001, $ 79.95
From the Paper "Culture in India has a peculiar association with the religious traditions of India. The dominant and archaic "faith", Hinduism, acts upon the national culture, which in turn influences the various religions, including Hinduism itself. The Bactrian Greeks, the Moghuls, and the English have all come and gone, but none have been able to fundamentally alter the relationship and influence Hinduism has on Indian culture. The values and beliefs of ancient Hindus have existed in the subcontinent since the beginning of prehistory and have tempered all religions that have been borne in or transported to India. We find almost perfect equality of women in Buddhist philosophy....Why is there such hypocrisy within these religions? Why do they advocate one thing and exercise another? "
A look at the Mayan myths, symbols, and rituals that offer a definition for the nature of the known and unknown world, the origin of humanity, and the purpose of human life on earth.
2,780 words (approx. 11.1 pages), 6 sources, 1999, $ 82.95
From the Paper "The world of myth, symbolism, and ritual is a world of metaphor that explains the human story. It is a story of the relationship between the known aspects of the natural world and the unknown dimensions of that same natural world. The known aspects of the natural world are the ones that humans have immediate contact with. These known aspects encompass the sense-related and material realities of the surrounding environment. Included in this known world is the landscape, the vegetation, the animals, and the human inhabitants of the region. The unknown aspects of the natural world are the ones that lie within the scope of the human senses but do not originate in the immediate and material world. ...."
A look at Mesoamerican art's realistic system of human proportions, which can be used to reveal the cultures that existed side-by-side, as well as those that followed after.
2,400 words (approx. 9.6 pages), 5 sources, 1998, $ 73.95
From the Paper "Most civilizations of ancient Mesoamerica were located either in the highlands or lowlands, although the Maya inhabited both. The earliest civilization, that of the Olmecs, rose along the rivers of the tropical Gulf Coast. Most Maya development also took place in the lowlands, under tropical conditions ranging from rainforest to scrub jungle in Yucatan, Chiapas, Guatemala, and Belize. The ancient cities of Tula and Teotihuacan, as well as Tenochtitlan, Motecuhzomals city, were located at high altitudes, and the center of highland life was the Valley of Mexico. Modern Mexico City is built on top of the Aztec capital, and so the Valley of Mexico still dominates Mesoamerica as it did in antiquity. "
