Fear = No Joke

3. What are some key differences between systemic racism and structural racism? Please explain and give examples. (Ch. 2, Race and Racism)
   
   4. In Zinn Ch.2 "Drawing the Color Line,"  what evidence does the author present of resistance/uprisings against slavery? (Zinn, pp. 23-38)

1. Think of an issue related to racial inequality and use one of the frameworks discussed in this chapter to explain it. Justify your selection of this framework over others. (Ch. 2, Race and Racism)

Institutional racism also known as systematic racism is evident throughout the criminal justice system i.e. 37% of the people convicted for drug offenses in the U.S were Black despite making up only 13% of the total U.S. population (Rights Watch 2008) . Structural racism is cultural and based on public policy as opposed to law (systematic racism). White privilege gives non Melanted people access to benefits that are excluded to Melanated people i.e. when I go on roadtrips with my Godbrother (Jewish non Melanted) he is aware that we are less likely to get pulled over if he drives.

Howard Zinn concisely linked the major factors that established slavery in the U.S and the fuel which kept it kinetic for nearly 3 Centuries. In 1609 AD The “New English” colonists (illegal immigrants) who settled in Virginia/ Jamestown had been afflicted with the fear of having to resort to cannibalism or starving to death. That fear propelled the colonists to contact the English government with the sole purpose of requesting planting supplies for agricultural endeavors and a  “free labor force” aka slaves. Since the Muslim Arabs ,Portuguese and Spanish had demonstrated how lucrative the trading of African Slaves can be the English followed suit. The power of violence was also a major factor in facilitating the longevity of U.S chattel slavery so ruthless millitias who carried out mass hangings were an effective tool in keep slavery alive and well. Finally the last factor Zinn mentioned was legal and social punishment that came with Black and White conspiring to rebel against colony ( Bacon's Rebellion).

Tanya Maria Golash Boza mentions that Assimilation focuses on group factors such as; being the only melanted person in a job setting or adjusting to a private school with a Melanin deprived student  body and staff. I have had to navigate through vast amounts of environments which lack cultural diversity. In order to reduce racial tension or the ignorance and fear that racism breeds I admit to treading on the line of being the racquet ball club side of myself and an Oakland version of Bryant Gumble. Now is that a bad thing ? The writer's from The Fresh Prince of Bel Air might lean toward the latter.

Tanya Maria Golash Boza begins chapter 2 of Racisms Racial Ideologies by providing a few examples of racial inequality such as; qualified Black applicants who do not receive a job interview upon applying or the lack of job offers extended to Black potential employees upon job interviews. Boza aldo shares the magnitude of how the media (TV, Internet, Movies, Music etc) shapes racial prejudices which permeates the unconscious and sub consciousness of the general public. This is crucial since the U.S is still a very segregated country and unfortunately many White (Non Melanated) have limited if any interactions with Black (Melanated) people therefore the media presents them with swayed and often bias images of Black people. I used this framework to revisit how I'm constantly reminded that I'm not really Black/Melanated because I dont fit into a mold produced by viacom or clear channel/i heart radio.

Golash-Boza, Tanya Maria. Race and Racism a critical approach New York : Oxford University Press 2015.



Zinn, Howard, and Anthony Arnove. A People's History of the United States. Thirty-fifth anniversary edition. New York, NY: HarperPerennial, 2015.