Race

The Power of an Illusion

What arguments was the film making about the biological basis of race?

How was race defined in the early 1900’s?

How did segregation continue after WWII? What was the role of the Federal Housing

Administration?

What are the effects of this segregation? What are the economic impacts on people’s lives? What privileges did whites get for being able to live in

the suburbs?

Access to Education

In the past, the FHA policies had direct impacts on the opportunities for minorities.

Some are still able to manipulate the system.

http://www.nytimes.com/2007/02/16/us/16scottsdale.html?_r=1&oref=slogin

1:00 response - Overall response

63% Yes to compensation

13% Qualified Yes

13% No to compensation

3.5% Qualified No

65% Yes to compensation

10% Qualified Yes

16% No to compensation

3% Qualified No

2:00 response - Overall response

67% Yes to compensation

6% Qualified Yes

19% No to compensation

2.5% Qualified No

65% Yes to compensation

10% Qualified Yes

16% No to compensation

3% Qualified No

Inequality Persists

Rates of Poverty White (Non-Hispanic) 8.4% Asian

10.9% Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islander 12.2% Hispanic origin (any race) 22% Black

24.7% American Indian and Alaska Native 25.3%

Structural and Individual Racism

Structural Racism is racism that is built into the very institutions of society.

Individual Racism is the racist actions and attitudes of individuals.

Structural Racism

Structural Racism is often hidden in our institutions.

Policies and laws disproportionately impact minorities negatively.EducationLaw Enforcement

Structural Racism - Segregation after World War IIFederal Housing Administration (FHA)

“The FHA underwriters warned that the presence of even one or two non-white families could undermine real estate values in the new suburbs.”

Inner-city neighborhoods were destroyed and replaced with “Projects”

http://www.pbs.org/race/000_General/000_00-Home.htm

Who is more likely to benefit from “Affirmative Action” at Ivy League Schools?

Structural Racism - Legacies

Legacies constitute a significant proportion of students accepted to universities, especially Ivy league schools (10-15%) according to the Economist

http://economist.com/world/na/displayStory.cfm?story_id=3518560

“Harvard accepts 40% of applicants who are children of alumni but only 11% of applicants generally.”

http://www.cnn.com/2003/ALLPOLITICS/01/20/timep.affirm.action.tm/index.html http://online.wsj.com/public/resources/documents/golden3.htm

Affirmative Action in Michigan Universities Michigan Ballot Measure bans the use of

Race or Gender in college admissions.

Colleges Regroup After Voters Ban Race Preferences

http://www.nytimes.com/2007/01/26/education/26affirm.html

What was left in

10 points - Michigan resident

6 points - Underrepresented Michigan county

2 points - Underrepresented state

20 points - Socio-economic disadvantage

4 points - "Legacy" (parents, step-parents)

1 point - Other (grandparents, siblings, spouses)

20 points - Scholarship athlete

20 points - Provost's discretion

Individual Racism

When we think of racism, we tend to think of individual racism.

Racist comments Discrimination in hiring Stereotyping

Individual and Structural Racism are Linked TogetherThe actions of racist individuals will add

up to impact minorities in general. Health Care

Some cases of individual racism are so pervasive that it creates a hostile environment.