There is No Such Thing as Good Hair

Kachina Pindell
"She got that good hair"....What is good hair? This is a question that I have often asked myself.  I have heard friends, hair dressers, and classmates say this all throughout my life. It seems like a phrase I can't get away from. Unfortunately, this is a phrase I often hear amongst black women. For black women, good hair is hair that one can comb through easily. "Good hair" is straight, long and can be managed without any strenuous activity. It is also something many black women believe they dont possess. This mentality is something that comes from what is portrayed in society and on television. We are constantly bombarded with hair advertisements that are pushing relaxers that make hair straight and more manageable. Chris Rock released a movie called "Good Hair" that gets a first hand account on what black women say about hair while in the salon as well as the standards they live by to maintain "good hair".

This movie Chris Rock has put together is a good message to send to society. He asks women about why they want to acheive "good hair" and even shows viewers how bad relaxers and perms are for one's hair and scalp. This trailer also shows Chris Rock trying to sell "black hair" that can be used as wigs and extensions. Many people frowned and made faces at him because this type of hair is undesireable to them. No one was interested in purchasing it. This shows how society is caught up in the idea of "good hair" being straight and long.
When I was younger, I used to get relaxers consistently to control my hair. When I turned 16, I saw my natural hair growing in and I liked the curls and waves I saw coming in. I decided to grow it out. Many people disagreed with this idea but I deviated from that belief I have known all my life. Now at the age of 20, I have managed it just fine without a perm. I want the world to know that even if someone's hair is shorter, darker or not as easy to manage, that does not make it bad and it is not something that is only found amongst black people. That is a terrible stereotype that has been propelled throughout society. I have seen people of many different ethicities with many different textures and I have learned that all hair is beautiful. I also want people to understand that I dont think there is anything wrong with experimenting and trying different styles. There is nothing wrong with having straight hair. I want everyone who reads this blog to understand that no matter how difficult it is to maintain specific textures, no one should ever feel like they should change the structure of the hair they were born with to satisfy society. Take pride in your texture ladies and learn how to work it!

Race and Ethnicity in America!

By Truong Pham:


America has always been viewed as the country of diversity; the home of many ethnic backgrounds.  Multiculturalism is very important in our United States. It helps us look at other cultures respectably and freely.  Without it, we would be forced to be informed about only the mainstream culture in our society.

          Many people confuse race and Ethnicity.  Race is a group of people united or classified together on the basis of common history, nationality, or geographic distribution, or in other words a general description. Ethnicity is an ethnic quality or affiliation resulting from racial or cultural ties, or more exactly, what country or countries you and your ancestors originate from.  Multiculturalism has found its way to become a popular term because race truly does not define any real differences between people. How people are raised and their beliefs are what make them different.

What makes the US the melting pot of the world is that it is a place that is full of different cultures.  There are many benefits of multiculturalism. With the mix of different cultures in the United States we have new ideas and worthwhile benefits. Since all these new ideas are around, the United States benefits from this.  For example, food; There are many different things out there for us to choose such as tacos, sushi, and Chinese food. We also got different sports, which people have brought over from different countries. We have hockey from Canada, soccer from Europe, and golf from Scotland. If we did not have these different blends of cultures we would not have been able to experience these sports or foods.  With all the different ideas and beliefs coming from the different cultures we develop respect for their views. We learn from them like with the Native Americans. They had a lot of respect for the land and the earth. They taught us to respect the land and ourselves. Having multiculturalism in America lets us blend our different cultures together and learn from each other.  

Since mixed culture children are booming in the United States, will this change the way we look at each other? Hopefully, because I feel that there is no need to be racist. All people are the same, no matter what shape, color, or size. Being in America has allowed us to view other cultures and religions we would not have known about if there was no immigration. Because of this we have holidays that appeal to all cultures.  We are becoming more and more multicultural country, so I hope there will be no more racism and we could all sit and laugh at each others identities peacefully.

Race and Ethnicity

By James Collins:

There is a elaborate make up covering the ongoing issue of Race and Ethnicity within these United States of America. This covering of the racial and ethnic discrimination is set in place by the controlling powers of our nation’s government, and there is a need for the countries cultural groups to push for social change. This country was built and founded by numbers of diverse peoples. They all started out in this land as minorities who were dominated by power seeking supremacist looking to gain freedom from oppression from some other controlling power. As an African American male I have felt the pain and lived through the damages caused by race and ethnical categorizing of my people. This type of social organization has been put on all the cultural aspects of our nation’s poor people.

This racial makeup of the United States is not invisible it has just become a norm of society’s population. Here is a list with some researched demographics of racial and ethnic categorizing:

·         3.1 White American

·         3.2 Black American

·         3.3 Asian American

·         3.4 Two or more races

·         3.5 American Indians and Alaska Natives

·         3.6 Native Hawaiians and other Pacific Islanders

·         3.7 Some other race.

The truth is out, and the question is if you are a concerned people; when it come to race and ethnicity in America put in place by the dominate powers of our society. Will the people of the most powerful and influencing nation on earth remain invisible under the “the power of an illusion “? How can we change race and ethnicity in the U.S.A.

Commercial Ethnic Stereotype… is it all in fun or taken too seriously?

by Astrid Beato

A stereotype is an over generalized belief about a particular group or class of people. For example, all black people are lazy, all white people are racists, all Italians are in the mob, all Hispanics are illegal aliens, etc. 

  

Commercials based on ethnic stereotypes should be a concerned because of the negative, offensive message that the commercials are representing or is it all just for fun and humor and shouldn't be taken personally? In today’s society we all know or should know at least that we shouldn’t judge or treat differently people of color or where they are from or what race or ethnicity anyone is, etc. Seeing the big picture there are racists, and discrimination does happen but not as frequently as before. Society is changing and so is how people think, so why can't some of us joke and laugh about funny ethnic jokes that are presented in commercials without being offended. For example here is a commercial aired at the Superbowl that people claim to be racist.

From my experiences there are days when I hangout with friends and we sometimes make fun of each others ethnic background based on typical stereotyping. For instances, Dominicans eat plantains everyday and raise farm animals and Mexicans only eat tacos and cleans people houses. Sometimes you can’t help yourself from laughing or giggling because sometimes the jokes are true, but not to an extent where “they” always do that or "that" always happens, but of course it all depends with who and how close you are with your friends to make racial jokes.

Racial stereotypes are even in places that people don't even notice that is happening. For example, in children’s movies racial stereotypes are not attended to offend any race. Here is a link where of this source. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fS3e-n8Mj7I (might want to skip the first minute of the video.)

 Here is a video of contradicting stereotype. When people think of Scotland they think of white skin people with red hair, but in this video they are Asian descended but are from Scotland which in a stereotype world doesn't make sense.

In conclusion we shouldn’t take any of these commercials personally, in my opinion because it’s all in fun plus these commercials are clearly a little too exaggerated. Also stereotyping is everywhere and it is inevitable so might as well get a little chuck out of it, even if it’s your own race.

Race and Ethnicity in the United States

Created by: Brittanie DeShields


According to our book "Sociology Matters", a racial group refers to a group of people set apart from other because of obvious physical differences. For example, Whites, African Americans, and Asian Americans are all considered racial groups. In opposition, an ethnic group is set apart from others primarily because of its national origin or distinctive cultural patterns. Puerto Ricans, Jews, and polish Americans are all in different ethnic groups.

In the above video there a many different slides that show facts and information about race and ethnicity within the United States. According to this video there is only one race in the world: the human race. I agree with this slide and it is the reason why I picked it because I don't believe we should have to look at each other by skin color or certain looks. I have plenty of friends from all different backgrounds and we were all raised differently. We still accept each other and don't treat each other differently because of our races. In my opinion, I think racism is still alive today there is no doubt in my mind. The way people reacted to Barack Obama being president and that he is a black man was a HUGE issue all because of his race. I heard a few people say they weren't voting for him just because he is black. That's racism at its best! Even though this is America everyone is allowed to have there opinions yet some things are better left unsaid. For example I am mixed with black and puerto rican and all throughout school I was always teased for talking properly and being light skined. I never really understood why until when I got old enough and my mother explained to me that people of certain races are looked at in certain ways because of the way they are portrayed in society.

To this day I still don't understand why people should be treated differently just because of race, ethnicity, gender, looks, or anything else. Racism comes in all different shapes, sizes and forms. If people learned more about others on a personal level rather than through the media or other places, I believe we could alleviate some of the racism and become more accepting of one another.

Race on Campus by Lanisha Moore

        Race and Ethnicity in the United States has been a huge debate for years. The subject is sensitive and is capable of resulting in controversy, protest, and even violence. Race is considered to describe groups with obvious different physical features, example being Caucasians and African Americans. Ethnicity usually considers the persons national origin or distinctive cultural patterns, example being Puerto Rican rathered than being categorized as Hispanic. The sociological perspective of  functionalists consider prejudice and discrimination based on race and ethnicity has positive functions for dominant groups. Interactionists social perspective concludes that everyday interaction between people of different racial and ethnic backgrounds contributes to tolerance or hostility. The issues surrounding the definitions and different emphasis from functionalists, and Interactionists has sparked huge debates on issues including discrimination in the work place, educational institutions and in the community.

      

         West Chester University students sparked huge debates and even received media attention following a flyer posted on campus to organize a "White Student Union". A mass e-mail was distributed to students denouncing any existence of any such union. The statements in the above video and beneath news article ponders questions such as, " Is it right for the school to have a Black Student Union but not a White Student Union" and  "Which if either Race is being under represented or appreciated". Race and Ethnicity will always continue to have huge effects on American Society. In some aspect this debate coincide with the debate surrounding "The Little Rock Nine" and other race in school debates. While some people will never admit to whether or not racism still exist, statistics show inequality, prejudice and discrimination still exist among different racial and ethnic groups. Most notably in fields surrounding education, social and economic status just to name a few.http://www.foxnews.com/us/2010/12/03/flier-white-student-union-kicks-controversy-west-chester-university/

       In Conclusion, I have no set response on West Chester University allowing a White Student Union. I will say everyone deserves a voice and has the right to such as long as it is respectful and intelligent. It should be done for a good cause not only out of spite or jealousy.