University:
The University Of Western Ontario
Course:
Biology 2290F | Scientific Method in Biology
Academic year:

2022
Views:

292

Pages:

3
Author:

Kyuwon J.

Week 11 reading response During week 11 reading I have learned about how trauma in the US for African Americans are continued in a cycle of abuse, inequity and injustice that stems from anti-blackness and slavery but constructing in different ways throughout history and now presently. Like, the 1994 Crime bill (something I had not heard of before) which led to the surge of mass incarceration, black association with drug abuse and issues within the black community and the double standards, over representation of black people in prison, police brutality, brainwashing of black people and the continued systemic racism and oppression. Mass incarceration is a way to regulate, punish, and marginalize black lives and bodies in a different and modern way but comparable to the quality of life that come with slavery and after slavery like the riots, lynching, criminal accusations, having no rights, the list goes on “The New Jim Crow”. Colorblindness is a way where typically, white people, attempt to come off as “not racist”, because they think “seeing no colour” means the same as we are all the same deep down… This is inherently ignoring the literal issues at hand that are caused by racism and the quality of life when you have dark skin. I have been told countlessly by family members (I am adopted by white parents, I am racially black and came from a black family) that they do not “see skin colour” and are “not racist” because they have coloured family members(me), meanwhile completely disregarding my experiences with racism or their own micro aggression expressed towards me. Conscious Hip-Hop written by black people really focuses on more on vocalizing the political and social issues through music using poetry/rap flow, before and around when the movement of BLM began. Music in general was one way where black people were “allowed” and could freely express themselves, black issues and their thoughts, in a different form than strictly writing… They could use the power of their voices and talent. It is interesting to me that rap music is frowned upon the way it is in society, when in reality, all of the gun and gang violence, talking about jail, drugs is a reflection of what the issues are within the black community because of systemic racism, oppression and the repercussions of intergenerational trauma. Reference Alexander, M. (2010). The new Jim Crow: Mass incarceration in the age of colorblindness. The New Press. Bonilla-Silva, E. (2018). Racism without racists: Color-blind racism and the persistence of racial inequality in America (5th ed.). Rowman & Littlefield. The Roots, Truck North, & Saigon. (2006). Criminal [Song]. On Game Theory. Def Jam Recordings. Dead Prez. (2000). Behind enemy lines [Song]. On Let's Get Free. Loud Records. Hill, L. (2014). Black rage (sketch) [Song]. Self-released. Lamar, K. (2017). DNA. [Song]. On DAMN. Top Dawg Entertainment. Childish Gambino. (2018). This is America [Song]. RCA Records.