Has the Issue of Race Has the Issue of Race Impacted Our Sense of Impacted Our Sense of

Democracy?Democracy?

Is a representative Is a representative government the answer to government the answer to social injustice?social injustice?

Fundamental of Democracy – Fundamental of Democracy – Majority Rules/Minority RightsMajority Rules/Minority Rights

Will the majority every truly protect the Will the majority every truly protect the rights of the minority?rights of the minority?

What happens when the minority is seen as property and the power structure protects your right to life, liberty, and

property?

We know through painful experience that freedom We know through painful experience that freedom is never voluntarily given by the oppressor; it is never voluntarily given by the oppressor; it

must be demanded by the oppressed. Frankly I must be demanded by the oppressed. Frankly I have never yet engaged in a direct action have never yet engaged in a direct action

movement that was "well timed," according to movement that was "well timed," according to the timetable of those who have not suffered the timetable of those who have not suffered

unduly from the disease of segregation. For years unduly from the disease of segregation. For years now I have heard the word "Wait!" It rings in the now I have heard the word "Wait!" It rings in the

ear of every Negro with a piercing familiarity. ear of every Negro with a piercing familiarity. This "wait" has almost always meant "never." It This "wait" has almost always meant "never." It has been a tranquilizing Thalidomide, relieving has been a tranquilizing Thalidomide, relieving the emotional stress for a moment, only to give the emotional stress for a moment, only to give

birth to an ill-formed infant of frustration. We birth to an ill-formed infant of frustration. We must come to see with the distinguished jurist of must come to see with the distinguished jurist of yesterday that "justice too long delayed is justice yesterday that "justice too long delayed is justice denied." We have waited for more than 340 years denied." We have waited for more than 340 years

for our constitutional and God-given rights. for our constitutional and God-given rights. Letter from Birmingham Jail 1963Letter from Birmingham Jail 1963

Is our Society Still Impacted by Is our Society Still Impacted by Race Today?Race Today?

• What is racism?What is racism?

• How is it different from prejudice and How is it different from prejudice and discriminationdiscrimination

• If Jim Crow was overturned 35+ If Jim Crow was overturned 35+ years ago – why is the issue of race years ago – why is the issue of race still a question today?still a question today?

What is Oppression?What is Oppression?

• PrejudicePrejudice = thoughts, ideas, = thoughts, ideas, preconceived notions about someone or preconceived notions about someone or a particular groupa particular group– Ex. I think guys with red hair and Ex. I think guys with red hair and

glasses are all geeks. glasses are all geeks. • DiscriminationDiscrimination = acting on such = acting on such

prejudiceprejudice– Ex. I’m not going to hire that guy with Ex. I’m not going to hire that guy with

red hair and glasses because he red hair and glasses because he probably is a geek.probably is a geek.

What is Racism Then???What is Racism Then???

Racism is Racism is INSTITUTIONALINSTITUTIONALThe systematic subjugation of disempowered group by a group with The systematic subjugation of disempowered group by a group with

societal power based on racesocietal power based on raceEasy version: Social Oppression = prejudice + power (social, political, Easy version: Social Oppression = prejudice + power (social, political,

economic)economic)

ExamplesExamples1.1. 2001 – only 5 school board members in 2001 – only 5 school board members in

Minnesota who were African AmericanMinnesota who were African American2.2. 2005 – only 5 members of the U.S. Senate are 2005 – only 5 members of the U.S. Senate are

People of Color (95% white)People of Color (95% white)3.3. 88.3% of all business owners identified 88.3% of all business owners identified

themselves as white themselves as white

Source: United States Census Bureau – Aug. 2004.Source: United States Census Bureau – Aug. 2004.

Race and Median IncomeRace and Median Income

$ in 2002 $ in 2003Source: United States Census Bureau – Aug. 2004.

Poverty Rate by Race and Poverty Rate by Race and YearYear

% in 2002 % in 2003

Source: United States Census Bureau – Aug. 2004.

Jonathon Kozol – Jonathon Kozol – Savage Savage InequalitiesInequalities

James Carter, Principal of the New York school James Carter, Principal of the New York school systems:systems:““I can’t set up a computer lab. I have no room. I can’t set up a computer lab. I have no room. I had to put a class into the library. I have no I had to put a class into the library. I have no librarian…. It’s unfair to measure us against the librarian…. It’s unfair to measure us against the suburbs. They have 17 to 20 children in a class. suburbs. They have 17 to 20 children in a class. Average class size in this school is 30. The Average class size in this school is 30. The school is 29 percent black, 70 percent Hispanic. school is 29 percent black, 70 percent Hispanic. Few of these kids get Head Start. There is no Few of these kids get Head Start. There is no space in the district. Of the 200 kindergarten space in the district. Of the 200 kindergarten children, 50 maybe get some kind of children, 50 maybe get some kind of preschool.” preschool.”

Segregation – Then and Segregation – Then and Now…Now…

• De Jure Segregation – separation by De Jure Segregation – separation by lawlaw– Jim CrowJim Crow– Law of the land until the Civil Rights EraLaw of the land until the Civil Rights Era

• De Facto Segregation – separation by De Facto Segregation – separation by realityreality– Still see separation in neighborhoods – Still see separation in neighborhoods –

thus schools, etc…thus schools, etc…

According to Howard Zinn…According to Howard Zinn…

Representative government does not Representative government does not solve the problem of race. It does not solve the problem of race. It does not solve the problem of class. The solve the problem of class. The principle of representation is flawed…”principle of representation is flawed…”

1.What is meant by this statement?

2.Do you agree or disagree?

Just vs. Unjust LawsJust vs. Unjust Laws

• Should “unjust” laws be obeyed or Should “unjust” laws be obeyed or should they be challenged?should they be challenged?

• How do we determine if a law is just How do we determine if a law is just or unjust?or unjust?

• Again the question – in a democracy Again the question – in a democracy should we protect the law or should we protect the law or justice???justice???

Martin Luther King Jr.Martin Luther King Jr.

How do we know what laws to follow How do we know what laws to follow and what laws to disobey???and what laws to disobey???

1.1. ““Any law that degrades human Any law that degrades human personality is unjust”personality is unjust”

2.2. ““An unjust law is a code that a An unjust law is a code that a numerical or power majority group numerical or power majority group compels a minority group to obey compels a minority group to obey but does not make binding on but does not make binding on itself.”itself.”

Martin Luther King and PlatoMartin Luther King and Plato

Would Plato agree or disagree with King’s Would Plato agree or disagree with King’s ideas towards civil disobedience?ideas towards civil disobedience?

“One who breaks an unjust law must do so openly, lovingly, and with a willingness to accept

the penalty. I submit that an individual who breaks a law that conscience tells him is unjust and who willingly accepts the penalty of imprisonment in

order to arouse the conscience of the community over its injustice, is in reality expressing the

highest respect for law.”

““We hold elections, vote for presidents We hold elections, vote for presidents and representatives in Congress, and and representatives in Congress, and think that is democracy. Yet for black think that is democracy. Yet for black people in this country, none of these people in this country, none of these institutions – not the Constitution, not institutions – not the Constitution, not the three branches of government, not the three branches of government, not voting for representatives – has been the voting for representatives – has been the source of whatever progress has been source of whatever progress has been made toward racial equality” – Zinn, made toward racial equality” – Zinn, page 232.page 232.

What has brought progress What has brought progress then???then???

Civil Disobedience