ethnicnotionsTylerWatkins

In viewing of Ethnic Notions it depicts the ideas of the early 1900's the early slavery days. Throughout this video the main idea is how Africans Americans were portrayed in the past when they were slaves. They were used as a way of comedy which caused many different ideas of slavery. It had people debating whether or not slavery was good for these people. With these characters such as Sambo, and Jim Crow many white Americans saw the bright side of slavery that was depicted, having blacks happy, singing, dancing, and completely at piece at the idea of serving their white masters. With characters like Sambo showing childish ways not wanting to work, and just singing and dancing many Caucasians saw this as humor which then made them believe that this was all slaves, and creating a stereotype of slaves as just enjoying working for their masters since without direction they would be unable to survive if slavery was abolished. Throughout this video there were many characters that made white people believe that this was how all slaves were even if they were never around this culture. The most specific example is of the black nanny. Since she was an overweight, loyal, and independent character she was seen as not being a threat to many white audiences. Since she was so happy and loyal to her white master and his family it was often seen as a positive re-enforcement of slavery. At the time of emancipation these old ideas were adapted as the way f new politics. Many white people felt that these characters were brutes or beasts and therefore not able to survive as free Americans. They were seen as causing chaos and problems as emancipation became an idea, many whites felt they were better of as slaves and that it not only benefited themselves but the slaves as well.
This video gave me a new look into how many whites used to interpret blacks/slaves. They were seen just as a way of comedy that could not be taken serious. With Sambo, Zipcoon, the black nanny, and Jim Crow it is easy to see why many people felt that African Americans were unable to survive without direction and “protection” of their masters. These people only saw happy slaves which many slave owners wanted on their plantations but realized that this would not be beneficial to their operation. Once Thomas Dickson came out with his work in the early 1900’s showing slaves as wild brutes this instilled fear of emancipation to the white culture. It seemed as though they were intimidated by the idea of a new way of life which made many support the idea of slavery and segregation.

Loewenwatkinstyler

In Loewens writing of red eyes it talks about the negative image that is incorporated with Native Americans. This writing talks about how in the standard textbook that may be viewed by many young students from elementary to high school there is generally a false conception of native Americans. Loewen even says "one does not start from point zero, but from minus ten." This quote means that many children are seeing the negative view of Native Americans, seeing them as one dement ional primitives. This piece also shows that since many children have this view as native Americans as being involved in savage war fare this creates a little bit of ethnocentric feeling seeing as the textbooks have the Europeans as having to fight the Indians for land. Loewen views this as unfair due to the fact that many people skip out on the fact that Native Americans were very settled and had their own society built and developed before foreigners landed on the wrong continent. This writing also continues to show the fact that Americans only see certain parts of history that glorify are beliefs. Many of these textbooks don’t show this pre distinguished view of Native Americans and their society only the war fare with Americans who came to their land.
My personal reflection on this writing is that I can see the bias opinions that are often linked to textbooks. I remember going back to my early childhood days the idea of Native Americans being seen as more of brutal warriors who were willing to fight. This was re-enforced through text and other examples.

takakichpt3watkins

In Takaki chapter three this writing discusses the 1618 William Shakespeare play of the tempest. This looks into the Tempest that was performed in London. The character of Caliban was seen as a character that was related to an African. This article discusses the beginning of Africans in England which may date back to 1554 when they were used as translators for English traders. Also this writing shows that in the early seventeenth century not only Africans but foreigners were seen as slaves. This includes German and Irish men that were seen as outcast. Many of these people did not begin as slaves but as servants who were in debt to wealthy English men for their travels into England. These people were originally just people who came with no families and were very poor. More into this chapter it shows how the English had very negative look on the Africans and their culture. They were seen as the devils children. The color black was seen as deeply strained with dirt, foul, dark, and even deadly. Caliban in the Tempest may have been African. Since he was seen as a monster, and dark. Besides Caliban historian Edward Topsell referred to Africans as beasts/apes. With their thin flat noses, and thick lips they are often seen as apes according to Topsell. In this chapter takaki explains the many forms of early century slavery but mainly how the English found the African race to be devilish members due to the fact that their skin is burned like their souls.
My opinion on the writing is that it shows many stereotypes. These come from early English ideas based on appearance, and skin tones. Originally many Africans were not seen as slaves but needed servants to repay there debt to wealthy owners. This writing shows many different aspects of how the English felt about this African culture. Takaki views reflect the many different aspects that even reflected to today’s ideas, beliefs, and even stereotypes. This reflection I see how many of the English believed in these ideas because the African race was so different and new to them. With not knowing about their ideas and beliefs it was easy for them to be seen as the devils due to the English’s culture, which was very religious at this time.

racepart1tylerwatkins

Humans are different, from their height, shape, and even skin color. But how different are we from each other after all. Just because two individuals may look completely different from an African American male to a Caucasian female, may have the same if not very similar genes. By watching this informative video in class it proved that genes are not skin deep. This movie was proving how race is not biologically real. Dating back to hundreds of years ago when these scientists looked back into Eugenics, or the idea of racial purification. There was continuous investigation into what made each race different, and/or better than another one.
With Eugenics many people felt that the white male was a superior race. This idea was thought to be in this race’s genes. Due to the fact that many black, Indian, and other minorities were suffering from frequent death, and sickness. While the white race was flourishing, with growth, and strength of its race. The first thing many thought was it had to be in the genes. This was a fabricated thought. With lack of money and advancements in health the black race was handicapped which made the white race seem superior, this was Hoffman’s main idea.
The first time that the races actually had signs of major interaction was through the wind tribe. These people were referred to as the wind tribe because of their interracial interaction and reproduction. Many in the white culture weren’t fond of this tribe due to the fact that they could pass as white, while having black and Indian blood in them. Many of the Caucasian race felt that while these interracial relations may happen it will alter the purity of the white race, which was seen as superior.
For me however this video was very interesting. It talked about the many aspects that go into race and their genes. This video truly examined the many aspects of what race is made of. There are many different facts that kept me interested into this piece. The most alarming fact was that humans are some of the most similar in genotypes. With the average penguin being twice as different in genes as other and fruit fly species being ten times different in genes. This fact was very fascinating. The fact that we as humans feel we look so different while compared to other species we are relatively similar. That is why I felt this video was a good piece to see and realize that genes make no correlation with race.

columbus

In the reading "Columbus, the Indians, and Human Progress" Zin shares his ideas on how he views Columbus. Too many Americans Columbus is a hero who found our great land. However Zin feels that Columbus and his men used these people for their generosity, and caused years of slavery and death for their search of gold. Zin writes "Because of Columbus's exaggerated report and a promise, his second expedition was given seventeen ships and more than twelve hundred men. The aim was clear: slaves and gold." This is a tentative thesis statement on how the rest of the chapter will follow.
Zin's argument states that Columbus and his men used the generosity of the "arawak people" to help him find gold, one of the main purposes of his trip. Columbus and his men began imprisoning and torturing these people. Columbus wrote in his journal “Let us in the name of the Holy Trinity go on sending all the slaves that can be sold." He had no care for these people neither did his men. “Total control led to total cruelty. The Spaniards thought of nothing of knifing Indians by tens and twenties and cutting slices off them to test the sharpness of their blades." Zin supports that these Indians were just seen as objects not people to the Spaniards during this time.
One question I had was this the first major genocide in the world, and how many people were actually killed.
The next I had was if more Indians survived would the complete nature of American society be different, and how so.

Also was the lives of a whole developed society worth the price of starting a whole new society in the same area.

Zin's first chapter actually surprised me as a reader. I have discussed this topic before about how Columbus treated the Indian people when he first landed in the America's. With the Amount of detail, from Columbus writing logs, as well as examples of what Spaniards had done to these people shocked me. The description of what happened to this people just kept me interested. Yes it was hundreds years ago, and it was easy for Columbus and his men to take advantage and kill that many people. Even though Columbus is seen as the "Admiral of the open sea" and the man who found the Americas, this came at price to a whole society and developed culture that existed before he came to this land. Thes are things that were sacraficed for a nice compensation for wealthy noble spaniards.