Johnson-Chapter 3

In chapter three of Privilege, Power, And Difference, Allan Johnson concludes that capitalism has played a significant role in the trouble surrounding privilege. He argues that this is especially true of privilege based on race and gender.

Johnson begins the chapter by stating that white racisms hasn’t been around for all that long. In fact, this white racism didn’t come about until the development of capitalism as an economic system. Johnson then goes on to define exactly what capitalism is and how it works. The basic goal of capitalism, Johnson states, is to turn money into more money (42). He then explains how capitalism divides the wealth so unequally among the population, leaving the majority of people bordering poverty. We, the readers, are then informed on just how racism and capitalism are tied together. Johnson starts with the example of cheap slave labor on cotton and tobacco plantations. He then discusses the use of cheap Chinese labor on Western railroads. Johnson argues that whites developed the idea of whiteness to justify their actions and treatment of those they labeled non-white. Affirmative action and the outsourcing of jobs associated with capitalism also leads white workers to view those who are non-white as competitors. Johnson then goes on to explain the complexity of capitalism and privilege. How certain people can be in a privileged category, yet not feel privileged at all because of their membership in an oppressed category as well. He argues that the categories of race, class, gender, and sexual orientation cannot be separated, but are all connected in someway. Each category of privilege is related to another is some form.

What consequences does Johnson’s conclusion have on our world today? I believe there are many consequences associated with Johnson’s conclusion. Capitalism is the cause of many of our nation’s problems. The gap between the upper and middle class continues to grow. In fact, the middle class is actually beginning to disappear. We are also losing many jobs due to outsourcing. The racist feelings some people have are also causing numerous crimes in our country. Some of these feelings have definitely formed due to our country’s capitalist economy.

I was actually a bit surprised while reading this chapter. I had never really made a connection between capitalism and privilege previously. I had known about the huge profit plantation owners made with slaves on cotton plantations, but I wasn’t aware of the ways in which privilege is tied to capitalism yet today through affirmative action and the outsourcing of jobs. The chapter helped me to see some of the possible sources of racism in our society today.

Johnson-Chapter 2

In chapter two of Privilege, Power, And Difference, Allan Johnson concludes that privilege is being socially constructed in our society based on specific groups one belongs to. Johnson argues that these privileged groups are based on race, gender, age, sexual orientation, and disability status.

Johnson begins chapter two by stating that difference is not the problem, but rather the socially constructed privilege and oppression that coincide with it. He supports this with facts of the Native Americans and children. These groups were not afraid of difference until they learned to be afraid. In fact, they were actually curious and drawn towards difference. Johnson then goes on to discuss just how to identify differences within society with the “diversity wheel” located on page 15. The six most important categories are age, race, ethnicity, gender, physical ability, and sexual orientation. These groups have been socially constructed and affect how we are perceived and treated in society. These perceptions and treatments are based on the group the person is associated with rather that the person himself. Johnson argues that these categories are used to “include, exclude, reward or punish, credit or discredit, elevate or oppress, value or devalue, leave alone or harass” (16). Johnson then states just how difference is socially constructed. Before being socially defined, these groups mean nothing. He then moves on to different types of privileges and gives examples of privilege in everyday life. Next, Johnson presents paradoxes associated with privilege. He argues that just because an individual isn’t happy or doesn’t feel privileged, doesn’t mean that the person isn’t privileged. Johnson addresses oppression at the end of the chapter. He states that for every socially privileged category there are also other categories that are being oppressed.

Are there other factors affecting some of the everyday life examples of privilege that Johnson presents? I believe there are, especially with the example of women paying more for a new or used car. Does Johnson believe that the only reason for this is because of female oppression? How about other characteristics of men and women that are very much different such as the knowledge they posses on cars and their ability or willingness to negotiate? I believe these to be much more important factors determining this everyday occurrence. Usually men posses more knowledge of cars and therefore know how much a particular car is worth whereas a woman may not. Also, men are far more likely to negotiate the price than women are. Perhaps these are more important factors that help explain this trend.

Overall, I feel as if the chapter is an accurate account of what is occurring in our society today. I agree with the fact that certain groups are privileged while other groups are oppressed. I found the everyday life examples to be especially helpful. I do, however, believe that factors other than privilege affect some of these occurrences.

Takaki-Chapter 2

Ronald Takaki concludes in chapter two of A Different Mirror that the English belief of Indians being savages was based on race, and led to the racialization problem that we have in America yet today. Although the Irish were viewed as savages as well, the Indians were viewed as a different kind of people whereas the Irish were viewed as only a different degree of people. Takaki states that this racialized savagery “set a course for the making of a national identity in America for centuries to come.” (44)

Takaki begins the chapter by stating how the Irish were viewed as being savages in the eyes of the English. The English believed the Irish lived outside of civilization. He states how they were viewed as being lazy, barbarous beasts. The Irish were not permitted to wear English clothing, purchase land, or serve in office. The English were very brutal towards the Irish, burning their crops and villages during war. However, the English did believe that the Irish could improve and become civilized through nurture. The difference between the two, Takaki states, was cultural. Takaki then moves on to the Native Americans. They were a much different story than the Irish. The Indian savagery was based on race rather that culture. Indians were viewed as evil and savage based on the color of their skin. Although many tribes were kind to the colonists, they were treated horribly. Takaki gives the readers many examples of the terrible ways in which the Indians were treated. Accounts such as 120 Indians being killed by poisonous wine during a peace talk by the white men. The English believed the Indians were wasting the land they were on and therefore thought that they could push them off. The colonist justified their actions by demonizing the Native Americans. The English finally came to the conclusion that they were a different kind of people and incapable of changing.

Although Takaki’s facts are correct, I believe he is leaving one part of the story out. Indians were not viewed by all Englishmen as savages. In fact, many admired the Indians and looked to them for knowledge. This is especially true of medical knowledge. I learned in History 205 that the Native Americans possessed a wealth of knowledge concerning plants and their medical applications. The English were amazed by this and were eager to learn from the natives.

Overall, I see Takaki’s argument as being very valid. He comes to the conclusion of this savagery being racialized very logically and with numerous examples and facts. I also agree with his statement on how this cultural construction set the course for the making or our country’s national identity.

Framework Essay (Stigma)

In the final section on stigma in the “Framework Essay” from The Meaning of Difference, Rosenblum and Travis conclude that people are being stigmatized based on categories they belong to such as their race, sex, sexual orientation, and social class category. These stigmatized groups are often viewed as being the cause of our society’s problems.

Rosenblum and Travis begin their argument by stating that this stigmatism is supported by the assumption that the outside appearance of a person is an indication of their internal merit. The authors argue that we, as a society, view physically attractive people as being good people and give those in acceptable categories more opportunities than those who are not members of these categories. They go on to state that stigma involves two key characteristics, objectification and devaluation. Objectification occurs when all members of a particular group are thought of being alike and viewed as nothing more than objects. Oftentimes, members of the stigmatized groups objectify themselves. We are given the example of a woman looking in a mirror and imaging how other people view her. She is viewing herself as nothing more than an object. The authors also address how a female possessing male attributes is much more acceptable than a male possessing female attributes. The section then goes on to describe several stereotypes about people in stigmatized groups and states that some groups such as teenagers are blamed for the problems our society is facing.

As previously stated, Rosenblum and Travis point out five stereotypes of people in stigmatized groups. They state lack of values, likely seen as a problem, lack of self control, too much or too little intelligence, and childlike and savagely. I have a bit of a problem with how the authors handled these stereotypes. Although I agree that they are unjustly given, I believe the authors would have been more effective if they gave potential reasons as to why such stereotypes were given and then logically dismissed them. Instead, they just kind of set them out there without going into any explanation with the exception of the Asian American students.

Overall, I felt as if the reading was a very accurate account of what is happening in our society today. Without a doubt, people are being stigmatized based on categories they belong to. It was easy for me to see how stigma involves objectification. Our society very clearly does objectify women, not that this is new to me, but this reading brought that to my attention once again. The stereotypes also confirmed what I have previously noticed of our society. Certain groups in our society are definitely viewed in the stereotypical ways the authors presented.

Zinn

In the chapter "Columbus, the Indians, and Human Progress," Zinn concludes that historians all too often deemphasize the negative aspects of history. Zinn states that many times historians skim over and downplay the bloodshed and enslavement only to promote and overemphasize the moments that we, as readers, are more proud and accepting of. This, Zinn argues, is distorting our history for unnecessary ideological reasons. Zinn goes on to state that history must be looked at from the perspective of the conquered as well.

Zinn argues his position using the relationship between Columbus and the Arawak Indians as his example. The Arawaks were very friendly to Columbus and his sailors when they arrived to this new land. These natives willingly traded everything they owned to the Columbus and his crew. However, Columbus and his men immediately took advantage of the Arawaks. They enslaved many of the natives, forcing them to search for gold that was not there, as well as sending many as slaves back to Spain. The natives were given a quota and punished if they didn’t meet it. The situation quickly turned into mass murder of the native peoples. However, many historians do not include this in their books of Columbus and the discovery of America. Zinn uses Samuel Morison as an example in this chapter. Although Morison does acknowledge the bloodshed and murders briefly, he quickly moves on to more heroic aspects of Columbus. Zinn goes on to state how our history is often told from the conquerors’ and government’s point of view and how it must be looked at from a different perspective.

Zinn’s argument can most readily be applied by historians through their writing. Other authors can do as Zinn has argued and tell history through the perspective of those who were conquered. By doing this, the authors will be able to present a clearer picture of what actually happened rather than the all too often distorted one that we are so accustomed to seeing. However, the story must not only be told through the eyes of the conquered or we will loose the perspective of the conquerors. History must be presented equally from both viewpoints in order to gain an accurate sense of what occurred.

As I read this chapter, I mostly agreed with what Zinn had to say. I was aware of how the Native Americans were treated by the white men who arrived after taking Early American History last semester. However, Zinn seems to imply that all historians deemphasize the not so glorious aspects of our history and that is not the case. In Early American History, we were exposed to numerous different perspectives, many of which happened to emphasize the bloodshed and murders of our nation’s early days.

Introuduction

Hello, my name is Cody Miller and I am from Lima, Ohio. I am a freshman majoring in pre-dentistry. I play basketball and enjoy hunting and fishing. The main reason I am taking this course is to fulfill the diversity requirement. However, I am interested in and would like to learn more about different ethnic groups, especially Native Americans.