Final Paper Proposal: The Continuing Struggle to Respect Black Lives
For my final paper, I want to examine and highlight the continuing struggle to respect black lives in America. I want to know (and try to explain) why even after hundreds of years and several decades after the civil rights movement, black Americans are still on the losing end of the battle in terms of their fight for justice and equality. The recent killing (murder) of George Floyd rattled the nation and has inspired what a lot of people are calling an American uprising. I want to dig deeper and talk about the root of the problem in our society. I want to find out (give an explanation) why given the fact that we know that:
1) Killing of black people is wrong and has been an on-going problem (crime) and
2) White supremacy (ideology and systems) promotes and perpetuates systemic racism and injustice for black Americans
-- that a lot of people in this country still think (and believe) otherwise and/or tend to look the other way. And why we have we resorted to where we are now and if there will be permanent changes/ hope for America to change its ways.
*For materials and resources, I will use the Deculturalization article (explain the U.S. history and its role in racism and discrimination) and Tatum's article (present/ current view on racism; what the problem is) and then connect it to what is happening now (the result of it which is seen by how society, government, systems operate against black Americans). I'll also take some ideas (and arguments) from the following:
1. I Am Not Your Negro (Film)
2. In Sickness and In Wealth (Film)
Hello Jim! I think that your paper on the continued struggle for black lives in America will pique the interest of all readers. I, too, wonder how centuries later, there are still so many injustices for people of color. There is a plethora of resources available but how are all of us using these resources to better understand WHY? Your materials and resources are certainly beneficial in delving deeply into this rooted problem. Best of luck!
ReplyDeleteI greatly appreciate you using this platform as a way to continuously highlight the the issues that black people in America face. Like all social issues, this is definitely one that can't be solved in any amount of writing but hopefully you will be able to dissect some key parts.
ReplyDeleteHi Jim....I think your paper will be interesting! I still can't get over why after all these years, the black culture is still disrespected. It is not fair. The film, I Am Not Your Negro still gets me teary-eyed.
ReplyDeleteJim, this sounds really good. As you start writing, if it feels too large of a topic for such a short paper, think about how you might narrow your focus (e.g. instead of writing about the struggle to respect Black life writ large, focus just on policing, or prisons, housing, or healthcare, etc. A lot goes into making a life, making a life matter. You could choose one particular force).
ReplyDeleteI think this is such a good topic Jim! Knowing the facts and physically seeing the evidence, how can someone deny that racism still exists?! I think last week in class we talked about how racism has changed forms over generations but the ideologies and systemic expressions are still alive and well. I can't wait to read your explorations!
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