Saturday, December 8, 2018

Why Redskins is a bad word




McWhorter in this regard raises this question: “… what is so terrible about being referred to as red when Native Americans have reddish skin tone?” Perhaps it is that “Redskin” has for several centuries has been used as an insult that applies to more than the skin color of an individual. McWhorter makes one more point that should not be taken for granted: “… words not only have core meanings, but resonances of the kind that may not make into the dictionary but are deeply felt.” This is what we mean by the nuance of a word. McWhorter points out that these things are subtle. He once had to inform a foreign student that in a class discussion it was inappropriate to refer to another person as Jew rather than a Jewish person. The use of derogatory names like “Redskin” or even names that could potentially be taken as derogatory should really be avoided at all costs. The way in which these words reinforce negative stereotypes hurts people all across society. In a world that is more multicultural than ever we “ALL” have to work toward understanding each other better and recognizing the potential offense we may cause to others by using words without careful thought. Through patience, understanding and communication we can eliminate these forms of negative stereotypes and avoid using slurs.

Commnity College

All some people want is a chance 

The value of Americas community colleges is that they give chances to those that would otherwise never get a chance. Liz Addison writes “The philosophy of the community college, and I have been to two of them, is one that unconditionally allows its students to begin. Just begin. Implicit in this belief is the understanding that anything and everything is possible.” The barriers to entering a four-year university seem to get higher and higher so those that need a hand up can turn to community colleges. Community colleges also work with universities to help ease entrance for students, for example transfer agreements. This chance is what its all about. Not everyone desires to go to college or university but opportunity needs to be there. Community colleges offer a network of affordable future, of accessible hope, and an option to dream.

Tuesday, November 27, 2018

Loving 1967



On July 11, 1958 a couple of hours after midnight, Richard Loving a white man and Mildred Loving an African American woman were awakened to the presence of three officers in their bedroom. One of the three officers demanded from Richard to identify the woman next to him. Mildred, full of fear, told the officers that she was his wife, while Richard pointed to the marriage license on the wall. The couple was then charged and later found guilty in violation of the state's anti-miscegenation statute. In the late 50s police officers could walk into your house when you’re sleeping and see who you’re sleeping with??? The court also reasoned that marriage has traditionally been subject to state regulation without federal intervention, and consequently, the regulation of marriage should be left to exclusive state control by the Tenth Amendment. This was fortunately overturned by the Supreme Court after the case was revisited by Bernard Cohen and Phil Hirschkop finding that the states were actually violating the 14th amendment.