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The 1619 Project

This is post is going to be a bit more formal than the others as I wanted to discuss the 1619 Project, a change to our current educational system. Let me fist state the I am nearly 25, and I do not remember much about our nation’s dark history from grade school. It might just be because of how dark it actually is, but why was it not covered in high school then? Anyway, what the 1619 project focuses on is the actual birth of our nation. This New York Times project developed by Nikole Hannah-Jones and various writers, attempt to make slavery and African American contributions as the focal point in the United States history.

You could try to argue that slavery already gets enough attention, but if we still see constant discrimination and blatant racism… should we discuss it more? I believe it is important to learn our history, so that we are never doomed to repeat it. Actively ignoring how African Americans built this country is ignoring the generational hardships and discrimination they have faced. Changing to educational system to discuss further how this country was created is inspiring for people of color. Similar to the inspiration younger children felt when they saw Chadwick Boseman as The Black Panther. Finally, being able to see yourself as someone famous, powerful, or inspirational does a lot to motivate you to achieve more and I hope that one day we are able to reach those milestones together.

https://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2019/08/14/magazine/1619-america-slavery.html

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Clyde Ross and his Journey for Homeownership

Every American dreams of becoming a homeowner at some point in their life. It offers a sense of security and shelter and can lead to developing generational wealth. For some, it’s about saving up to make the initial down payment and manage the hefty mortgage payments each month. For others, it’s about fighting for equal rights, demanding opportunities, and earning a place to call home. That is the story of Clyde Ross, in Ta-Nehisi Coates’s article “The Case for Reparations.” This article follows the life of Clyde Ross, a Mississippi born man who experienced the lingering effects of slavery until he moved north to Chicago. Clyde Ross was in search of more opportunities and equal rights, which lead him to the “Windy City” in 1947.

Although he was treated with more respect in Chicago, it was not until 1961 did he and his wife experience discrimination. Clyde Ross had bought a house but was not really considered a homeowner just yet. In the mid-1900s many African Americans were forced to buy houses “on contract” due to banks not providing loans. These contracts were predatory agreements that forced people like Clyde Ross into “all the responsibilities of homeownership, with all the disadvantages of renting” (Coates). African Americans were forced, yet again, to fight for equal rights in the housing industry.

Sadly, we are still seeing the side effects of stories similar to that of Clyde Ross. Just this year ABC reported that a “Black California couple” were lowballed by $500,000 in their home appraisal. The couple believed that race was a factor, so they had a “white friend” act as the homeowner with another appraisal company. To everyone’s surprise, the house was valued nearly twice as much as the first appraisal. While it is extremely difficult to eradicate these situations from the world, we must continue to acknowledge that issues still exist. Ignoring the discrimination in one of the most influential ways of obtaining generational wealth, will set families of color back and expand the wealth gap further than we currently see.

https://abc7.com/black-homeowner-problems-sf-bay-area-housing-discrimination-minority-homeownership-anti-black-policy/10331076/

https://www.theatlantic.com/magazine/archive/2014/06/the-case-for-reparations/361631/

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Mr. Chin

I’ve officially lost all hope for the 1980s. On top of my previous two posts regarding historical events in our nation, the story of Vincent Chin just adds to the trauma that decade already carries. Week 10 of my course introduced a documentary that opened discussions in wake of the tragic mass shooting in Atlanta, and more importantly the rise in violence against anyone of Asian descent. It has been well over a year since the initial lockdown for the Coronavirus and our patience has been tested. But in recent times we have seen a cry for help from our Asian-American friends and families calling for the violence to end. Sadly, this racist behavior has been seen many times before.

In 1982, Vincent Chin was murder in the street, after a late-night altercation that occurred at a strip club. His murders hunted him down, spotting him outside of a McDonalds a few blocks down. Why would someone beat a person to death over an altercation? Well, you see at that time competition was growing between Motor City (Detroit) car manufacturers and the import market in countries like Japan. Producing cheaper and more reliable cars, Japan was winning the battle of the automotive industry. There was so much competition developing that American autoworkers grew some sort of hatred for anyone Asian. While I still struggle to understand why a hatred was even formed and supported, it is even more mind boggling that Vincent Chin was murdered.

While these two events are almost 40 years apart, we haven’t learned anything. In the 1980’s Detroit was failing, and autoworkers chose to use Asian-Americans as a scapegoat to all their issues. Similarly, in 2020, bigots have chosen to use Asian-Americans as scapegoats in regard to the global pandemic. Asia consists of more than just China or Japan, and the idea that everyone is from the same country ignores the vast diversity of Asian countries and each of their cultures.

https://video-alexanderstreet-com.libproxy.temple.edu/watch/who-killed-vincent-chin

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The Exonerated Five

It wasn’t until Netflix made a drama mini-series back in 2019 that this case became grew in awareness. Truthfully, I had never heard about it until then either. But WOW! I was rocked every episode when I first watched that mini-series. So, when it came time to discuss this historical and emotional case, I was intrigued as to what we would be covering. We were provided a Ken Burns documentary which went into great detail about nearly everything related to this enormous case in 1989. From, the five children and their background to how the NYPD literally got everything wrong about the terrifying night in Central Park.

Surprise, surprise, it’s the 1980s again! I am starting to detect a common theme for law enforcement in the 80s and 90s. For this particular case, the NYPD was tasked with finding suspect(s) in the beating and rape of a jogger in Central Park. When talking with witnesses, detectives made assumptions that it must have been a group of African American children/teenagers since they were spotted in the park at the same time the crime took place. Of course, they led with this suspicion, brought in five children, and interrogated them as if they were adults. Even with evidence proving that none of the children were at the crime scene, the DA and NYPD prosecuted FIVE CHILDREN with attempted murder, assault, rape, and robbery.

I sit here and type this still in awe that actual detectives got this wrong all the way from the beginning. The NYPD ruined five children and deprived them of their entire youth, because they “thought” this group was involved. Sadly, we still see similar issues happening every day. Racial profiling still exists in many forms today and although it has been forbidden by the DOJ, we still hear of incidents involving police officers. It is extremely difficult to change our subconscious biases, but one step we can take towards understanding is educating ourselves. Understanding different perspectives helps unify us as a nation, and as a world.

https://fod-infobase-com.libproxy.temple.edu/p_ViewVideo.aspx?xtid=58774

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Burn Down Philadelphia

Although I’ve heard of the Philadelphia bombings on multiple occasions, I was not aware of the magnitude this standoff caused. For anyone who is not aware, in 1985 Philadelphia law enforcement had a long standoff with a group that called themselves MOVE. However, this was not the first encounter they had as the two groups had been building tensions since the late 1970s. After city officials and law enforcement grew increasingly frustrated with MOVE, they decided to drop a bomb rigged with c4 explosives on a wooden structure established on the group’s roof. What happened next was almost predictable. A six-alarm fire spread across West Philadelphia burning and decimating 60 HOMES!

While this is event is extremely unreasonable, law enforcement has been known for their excessive force tactics in recent times. These tactics have been pushed into the spotlight and challenged in an effort to change the way police officers engaged anyone they come across. With police brutality more prevalent now than ever, it is time to demand change. Do not get confused; when the public shouts “defund the police”, they are asking for money to be reallocated for other social programs. Providing larger funds and support for other alternatives provides communities with more adequate services and the appropriate resources to succeed.

https://sites.temple.edu/tulvid/let-the-fire-burn/

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Dope Dreams

This movie was incredibly dope. Prior to taking this course, I’ve watched this film and really only thought of it as a good movie. The second time I watched it, I was given a prompt and was really focused on everything from the character depictions and their involvement in the plot to the environment and scenery showcased in the film. My perspective made a complete 180 the second time around.

I ignored the depth of the film and how the plot offered real life challenges that many students of color struggle with when applying to college. For the main protagonist Malcolm, he dreams of attending Harvard and when discussing his college essay with his counselor, he is told to write something more personal. The first time I viewed this film, I overlooked this crucial moment. This is the point of the film where Malcolm really begins to question who he is, and we get to see this at the very end. Malcolm struggles between two identities, one is how he views himself and the other is how society views him.

Is Malcolm just a geek who plays in a band with his two best friends or is he a menace to society who sells drugs to make money? Even though we don’t truly know anyone, we often judge them solely on their outer character. It wasn’t until my second viewing, that I realized what this movie was depicting. In this film, Malcolm’s journey to attend Harvard showcases how we must not “judge by the color of their skin, but by the content of their character.” – Martin Luther King Jr.

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Temple University Race & Diversity

Hi everyone! This is going to be a social space for me to blog about a course I am taking this semester focusing on Race & Diversity. I’ll be sharing some of my thoughts and reviews from some of the various media sources I’ve been given. Although this the semester is coming to an end, I never thought I would make it here. I hope you enjoy my blog!