Dr. Thomas named the cosmetics and beauty industry as being guilty of imposing a double consciousness on Americans because of the unrealistic standards that are portrayed.
In these two videos, we see how far the images we see are from reality. Both videos show the process of what happens between the time a model arrives at a photo shoot to the final image used in advertising. One video features a woman model, the other features a male model.
Showing posts with label double consciousness. Show all posts
Showing posts with label double consciousness. Show all posts
Wednesday, March 6, 2013
Tuesday, March 5, 2013
Segregation Is Happening Now
Here is a link to an article about a segregated bus line in Israel that got torched.
This is an article about de facto segregation in schools in America.
Some students at Oberlin have vandalized school property with racist slogans calling for segregation, such as writing "Whites Only" over a drinking fountain.
Fiji has a history of segregation which is briefly discussed in this essay asking what the purpose of celebrating Fiji's Independence Day... sound like anything else you've read this quarter?
This is an article about de facto segregation in schools in America.
Some students at Oberlin have vandalized school property with racist slogans calling for segregation, such as writing "Whites Only" over a drinking fountain.
Fiji has a history of segregation which is briefly discussed in this essay asking what the purpose of celebrating Fiji's Independence Day... sound like anything else you've read this quarter?
Defying Double Consciousness in Hip Hop
In this track, "Forest Whitiker", Brother Ali rejects popular standards of beauty. In doing so, he defies the double consciousness imposed by such unattainable standards. As he claims in this uplifting yet lighthearted track, "You might think I'm depressed as can be, but when I look in the mirror I see sexy ass me!".
Dessa, an MC from the Doomtree collective, inverts common metaphors in order to indicate that she has broken out of the negative role afforded to her through a gendered double consciousness. She invites the reader to "...forget the the bull in the china shop, there's a china doll in the bullpen", indicating that she is perceived as too delicate to succeed in the male-dominated field of rap music. Yet she is able to thrive, as she points out that "...now I've got glass floors", which is an inversion of the metaphor of the invisible glass ceiling that is supposed to keep women from succeeding in the workplace. Here is her track "Bullpen".
Dessa, an MC from the Doomtree collective, inverts common metaphors in order to indicate that she has broken out of the negative role afforded to her through a gendered double consciousness. She invites the reader to "...forget the the bull in the china shop, there's a china doll in the bullpen", indicating that she is perceived as too delicate to succeed in the male-dominated field of rap music. Yet she is able to thrive, as she points out that "...now I've got glass floors", which is an inversion of the metaphor of the invisible glass ceiling that is supposed to keep women from succeeding in the workplace. Here is her track "Bullpen".
Monday, March 4, 2013
Epicanthal Fold, Standards of Beauty
I would not recommend Wikipedia as an academic source, but this short article on the epicanthal fold may help to explain what I was talking about in class. The article also links to one on epicanthoplasty, the surgery some people get to "fix" the fold.
Here is the link for the video we watched in class that recreates the Clark experiment.
Here is the link for the video we watched in class that recreates the Clark experiment.
Brown, etc.
The first half of the twentieth century of the United States was marked by segregation. This was not just a matter of black and white. In 1927, in Gong Lum v. Rice, a case decided that the definition of being colored is left to states, such that it can include, for example, immigrants from Asia. In Mendez v. Westminster (1947), it was ruled a violation of due process (14th Amendment) to have segregated education such that minority populations were systematically denied opportunities. Plessy, however, did not apply because there was no law requiring segregation in California.
Other attempts were made to overturn Plessy. The role of civil disobedience is well known in this country. The strategy of the NAACP, however, was to work within the system. They filed legal briefs and made oral arguments before judges. They had two main strategies: equalization and anti-segregation. The goal of the first was to remove systemic inequalities such as salary disparities. The second goal was to overturn segregation laws.
World War II played a large role in changing attitudes about civil rights. There was a strong disgust against Nazi racism. Also, many northerners were stationed in the South and experienced a new level of segregation, which seemed unjust to Northerners who experienced more freedom and equality in the North. Also, black Southerners left the South and went to more open places, such as California and the North. Also, many black Americans served in the Army. The Cold War rhetoric used to demonize USSR made people feel hypocritical to see such injustices in a country claiming to be morally superior to other world powers.
An important part of the NAACP's rhetoric is to show that intangible factors such as reputation of the school are important for determining if a school is truly equal to another. How does this translate into a case about K-12 education?
In 1954, the plaintiff's claim in the case Brown v. BoE is that the schools for African American schools are unequal and thus violate the 14th Amendment. A key issue was the intention of the original amendment (285). Ultimately, it was decided that the intention is unclear. As such, the judicial branch is granted the power to treat the Constitution as a living, evolving document. The judge (Earl Warren) considered the role of public education in the current time rather than its role in the previous century (286). The current function of education was deemed to be necessary for basic civil duties and is the foundation of good citizenship. As such, everyone should have equal access to quality education. Warren also noted intangible factors relevant to K-12 education include being denied access to peers (287). Simply being treated differently is an intangible factor that effects how one perceives oneself. Separate, ultimately, was deemed to be unequal (287).
Brown was seen to overturn Plessy not based on legal reasons but based on the evidence about the reasonableness of segregation. New evidence was brought to light in Brown that was not considered and/or available in Plessy (290-1). This new evidence was the psychological damage of segregation.
There are many ways to interpret the law. In the Plessy majority decision, the structure and form of the law was the focus. In Harlan's dissent, he focused on intention of the law. In Brown, the consequences of the law were more important in the decision (287).
After Brown there was the task of integrating schools. The court called for "all deliberate speed". In 1957, the governor of Arkansas refused to integrate schools. Eisenhower sent federal troops to enforce the legal decision. We have progressed significantly since then. There is no longer any de jure segregation or legal segregation. There is, however de facto segregation, or segregation in practice. Affirmative action is the requirement to take race into account in order to make sure that our workplaces and schools are representative of our larger demographics.
One case relevant to this is Regents of Univ. of Calif. v. Bakke (1978). Bakke was a white student denied admission to UC medical school. He claimed that underrepresented minorities were granted preferential treatment, thereby unfairly denying him opportunities. The court was very divided on this issue. 5 justices said race can be taken into consideration as one factor to determine who is granted admission but there cannot be a quota to be filled. 4 justices claimed that admissions processes should be entirely color blind. Proposition 209 in CA imposed such a standard.
Other attempts were made to overturn Plessy. The role of civil disobedience is well known in this country. The strategy of the NAACP, however, was to work within the system. They filed legal briefs and made oral arguments before judges. They had two main strategies: equalization and anti-segregation. The goal of the first was to remove systemic inequalities such as salary disparities. The second goal was to overturn segregation laws.
World War II played a large role in changing attitudes about civil rights. There was a strong disgust against Nazi racism. Also, many northerners were stationed in the South and experienced a new level of segregation, which seemed unjust to Northerners who experienced more freedom and equality in the North. Also, black Southerners left the South and went to more open places, such as California and the North. Also, many black Americans served in the Army. The Cold War rhetoric used to demonize USSR made people feel hypocritical to see such injustices in a country claiming to be morally superior to other world powers.
An important part of the NAACP's rhetoric is to show that intangible factors such as reputation of the school are important for determining if a school is truly equal to another. How does this translate into a case about K-12 education?
In 1954, the plaintiff's claim in the case Brown v. BoE is that the schools for African American schools are unequal and thus violate the 14th Amendment. A key issue was the intention of the original amendment (285). Ultimately, it was decided that the intention is unclear. As such, the judicial branch is granted the power to treat the Constitution as a living, evolving document. The judge (Earl Warren) considered the role of public education in the current time rather than its role in the previous century (286). The current function of education was deemed to be necessary for basic civil duties and is the foundation of good citizenship. As such, everyone should have equal access to quality education. Warren also noted intangible factors relevant to K-12 education include being denied access to peers (287). Simply being treated differently is an intangible factor that effects how one perceives oneself. Separate, ultimately, was deemed to be unequal (287).
Brown was seen to overturn Plessy not based on legal reasons but based on the evidence about the reasonableness of segregation. New evidence was brought to light in Brown that was not considered and/or available in Plessy (290-1). This new evidence was the psychological damage of segregation.
There are many ways to interpret the law. In the Plessy majority decision, the structure and form of the law was the focus. In Harlan's dissent, he focused on intention of the law. In Brown, the consequences of the law were more important in the decision (287).
After Brown there was the task of integrating schools. The court called for "all deliberate speed". In 1957, the governor of Arkansas refused to integrate schools. Eisenhower sent federal troops to enforce the legal decision. We have progressed significantly since then. There is no longer any de jure segregation or legal segregation. There is, however de facto segregation, or segregation in practice. Affirmative action is the requirement to take race into account in order to make sure that our workplaces and schools are representative of our larger demographics.
One case relevant to this is Regents of Univ. of Calif. v. Bakke (1978). Bakke was a white student denied admission to UC medical school. He claimed that underrepresented minorities were granted preferential treatment, thereby unfairly denying him opportunities. The court was very divided on this issue. 5 justices said race can be taken into consideration as one factor to determine who is granted admission but there cannot be a quota to be filled. 4 justices claimed that admissions processes should be entirely color blind. Proposition 209 in CA imposed such a standard.
Wednesday, February 27, 2013
Washington, Du Bois and Plessy
In 1883, the Civil Rights Act was deemed unconstitutional on the grounds that the 14th Amendment only applies to actions by state agencies and not to actions of private individuals.
Booker T. Washington was a prominent African American in. His famous book, Up From Slavery, was a testament to hard work and becoming a useful citizen by starting at the bottom and working your way to the top. He glorified common labor and asked for economic rather than political opportunity. His Atlanta Exposition Address of 1895 was addressed to white Americans but also to black Americans; the latter group was encouraged to do as he had and to work hard at menial labor in order to gain prosperity, be useful and become intelligent. Washington argues that so long as blacks are central to the economic prosperity of the nation, they will become equal members of society in other ways.
Washington entreats white Americans to hire African Americans rather than immigrants. He promises that they will be patient, faithful and devoted (122). He promises white landowners a prosperous "New South" and that black people ask only for economic opportunity and not for social equality (124). Just as a hand has separate fingers, whites and blacks can remain socially separate even though they act as one appendage.
W.E.B. Bu Bois represents an alternative voice within the African American community of the time. His book, The Souls of Black Folk, was a call for spiritual opportunity in addition to economic opportunity. One must be able to develop intellectually. He uses the metaphor of a veil to describe what has been keeping black people from this opportunity (142). The veil is a perceived boundary between blacks and whites. This veil is what provides African Americans with a double consciousness (143). Not only does a black man see himself through his own eyes, but he always also sees himself through the point of view of dominant white culture: lower, different, other.
Plessy v. Ferguson is an important case because it allowed for institutional segregation at the state level. Plessy was 7/8ths European heritage and could pass as a white American. The case, from 1896, rules that it is constitutional for a state to require segregated transit. The majority opinion claims it does not conflict with the 13th Amendment because the 13th Amendment applies only to slavery, not segregation (43). With regard to the 14th Amendment, the court ruled that such laws were reasonable regulations used in order to preserve peace and good order and that states must have wide discretion to meet these ends. The majority opinion also claims that the plaintiff (Plessy) wrongly assumes that segregation implies inferiority (50).
Harlan's dissent, however, disagreed on many points. He claims that the 13th Amendment does apply to segregation, as it is a direct result of institutionalized slavery (59). He also claims that under the 14th Amendment, all citizens are exempt from racial segregation. He also claims that the intention of the law is to discriminate against black citizens. He also considers not just what is "reasonable" but constitutional. According to our Constitution, people of all colors are equal (57). He also denies that this law is for the public good (58). He also warns not to believe the promise of separate but equal, as it is a thing disguise for racism (59).
Booker T. Washington was a prominent African American in. His famous book, Up From Slavery, was a testament to hard work and becoming a useful citizen by starting at the bottom and working your way to the top. He glorified common labor and asked for economic rather than political opportunity. His Atlanta Exposition Address of 1895 was addressed to white Americans but also to black Americans; the latter group was encouraged to do as he had and to work hard at menial labor in order to gain prosperity, be useful and become intelligent. Washington argues that so long as blacks are central to the economic prosperity of the nation, they will become equal members of society in other ways.
Washington entreats white Americans to hire African Americans rather than immigrants. He promises that they will be patient, faithful and devoted (122). He promises white landowners a prosperous "New South" and that black people ask only for economic opportunity and not for social equality (124). Just as a hand has separate fingers, whites and blacks can remain socially separate even though they act as one appendage.
W.E.B. Bu Bois represents an alternative voice within the African American community of the time. His book, The Souls of Black Folk, was a call for spiritual opportunity in addition to economic opportunity. One must be able to develop intellectually. He uses the metaphor of a veil to describe what has been keeping black people from this opportunity (142). The veil is a perceived boundary between blacks and whites. This veil is what provides African Americans with a double consciousness (143). Not only does a black man see himself through his own eyes, but he always also sees himself through the point of view of dominant white culture: lower, different, other.
Plessy v. Ferguson is an important case because it allowed for institutional segregation at the state level. Plessy was 7/8ths European heritage and could pass as a white American. The case, from 1896, rules that it is constitutional for a state to require segregated transit. The majority opinion claims it does not conflict with the 13th Amendment because the 13th Amendment applies only to slavery, not segregation (43). With regard to the 14th Amendment, the court ruled that such laws were reasonable regulations used in order to preserve peace and good order and that states must have wide discretion to meet these ends. The majority opinion also claims that the plaintiff (Plessy) wrongly assumes that segregation implies inferiority (50).
Harlan's dissent, however, disagreed on many points. He claims that the 13th Amendment does apply to segregation, as it is a direct result of institutionalized slavery (59). He also claims that under the 14th Amendment, all citizens are exempt from racial segregation. He also claims that the intention of the law is to discriminate against black citizens. He also considers not just what is "reasonable" but constitutional. According to our Constitution, people of all colors are equal (57). He also denies that this law is for the public good (58). He also warns not to believe the promise of separate but equal, as it is a thing disguise for racism (59).
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