Help me with my paper! it's on race

[ElizK]

I am so stressed out!!! I need some honest help on a very controversial subject. My English assignment is to write a definition essay on race. How do you define race? I said physical characteristics and stereotypes, but I know there is much more than that.

Please help! This is due tomorrow, and I am very unhappy with what I have written so far. I need some new ideas.

Thank you VERY much.

 

[lovesmurfs]

Best wishes. I'd recommend getting some third party source materials. Race is too broad a subject. Race as it relates to...?

You could compare race to ethnicity (the US Census Bureau offers specific standardized categories of ethnicity)? Is there a difference? How has it been perceived in the past? Today?

There's PBS information on Race at http://www.pbs.org/race/001_WhatIsRace/001_00-home.htm

Good luck.

 

[ElizK]

Here is my original thesis:

Race is used by society to categorize and stereotype an individual based on physical characteristics, and is a relatively new term.

It's just not a convincing arguement. I have a whole paper written, but I'm considering chucking it and starting over, because it's very weak. This was a group project (I HATE group projects), but I am allowed to do it all myself if I choose to.

 

[nmmom95]

I would add that race is not a clear-cut concept. What about people with multi-racial backgrounds? While steroetypes exist, the lines have blurred. I think that the best way to answer is to say there is no definitive answer.

 

[The Mystery Machine]

Race is your cultural heritage. I guess I am lost on why you think it is controversial.

Are you comparing it to something?

 

[The Mystery Machine]

Here is my original thesis:

Race is used by society to categorize and stereotype an individual based on physical characteristics, and is a relatively new term.

It's just not a convincing arguement. I have a whole paper written, but I'm considering chucking it and starting over, because it's very weak. This was a group project (I HATE group projects), but I am allowed to do it all myself if I choose to.

I don't agree with your definition so I can see why you are running into controversy.

I am Polish or European American which translates into "white" on an application.

Now if you are arguing the use of race in society that is certainly a broad subject and loaded with opinions.

Many people are proud of their heritage and do not find it a negative.

 

[ElizK]

I don't necessarily think it's controversial, but it can be a hot subject.

No, not comparing it. We're supposed to define it.

 

[ElizK]

I don't agree with your definition so I can see why you are running into controversy.

I am Polish or European American which translates into "white" on an application.

Exactly my problem. I wouldn't even break myself down into my origins. I'm about as American as they come. The most recent immigrant was in the 1870's! Nevermind my Native American great-great grandmother.

 

[The Mystery Machine]

Exactly my problem. I wouldn't even break myself down into my origins. I'm about as American as they come. The most recent immigrant was in the 1870's! Nevermind my Native American great-great grandmother.

Now see, I would since my great grandparents came over on the boat.

Plus living in TX for awhile I really appreciated the rich connection the people had toward their country of origin.

I knew many people that were born in many different countries and became citizens.

They celebrated their heritage and shared it with us. It was pretty cool. I miss that.

 

[ElizK]

We actually had that conversation in class. I see myself as American only (and perhaps was a bit vocal about that...). My culture is American. The teacher asked me what that culture was, and I couldn't answer at the time, but thought about it later. We would quickly figure out what my American culture is if I was plunked down in the middle of a foreign country!

btw... where did you live in Texas? I know the Hill Country is rich in those cultures, but not so much here in Ft Worth.

 

[paintnolish]

We just talked about race in my senior seminar English class. I will give you a few things from my notes, all of which are from the book Cultural Theory and Popular Culture: A Reader.
-There is just one human race. Human biology does not divide people into different races. Racism does.
-Race is a cultural and historical category which makes difference signify something between people of different skin tones.
-Differences of course exists in skin tones, however these differences don't mean anything on their own. They have to be made to mean something.
Some of the reading included in the section where by authors like bell hooks (yes, that is supposed to be lower case), Paul Stuart, and Paul Gilroy. GL with your paper. Let me know if you need anything else. This is fresh in my mind!

 

[The Mystery Machine]

We actually had that conversation in class. I see myself as American only (and perhaps was a bit vocal about that...). My culture is American. The teacher asked me what that culture was, and I couldn't answer at the time, but thought about it later. We would quickly figure out what my American culture is if I was plunked down in the middle of a foreign country!

btw... where did you live in Texas? I know the Hill Country is rich in those cultures, but not so much here in Ft Worth.

Flower Mound. We had a lot of Indian families in our neighborhood, my dd's BF was Indian. Plus my dd was in GS's and one of her leaders was from Mexico. And then I worked in the school cafeterias and my boss was from Guatemala.
My older dd had some Korean and Indian friends.

We really miss the diversity of DFW.

Oh and I know you think you do not have diversity in Fort Worth but you do compared to Missouri.

 

[Tinkh]

Humans have one race. That is the human race. Ethnicity and culture are different than race. Good luck on your paper. Pointing that out and expanding on that would give you an interesting paper.

 

[ElizK]

We just talked about race in my senior seminar English class. I will give you a few things from my notes, all of which are from the book Cultural Theory and Popular Culture: A Reader.
-There is just one human race. Human biology does not divide people into different races. Racism does.
-Race is a cultural and historical category which makes difference signify something between people of different skin tones.
-Differences of course exists in skin tones, however these differences don't mean anything on their own. They have to be made to mean something.
Some of the reading included in the section where by authors like bell hooks (yes, that is supposed to be lower case), Paul Stuart, and Paul Gilroy. GL with your paper. Let me know if you need anything else. This is fresh in my mind!

This is very helpful. Thank you!

Humans have one race. That is the human race. Ethnicity and culture are different than race. Good luck on your paper. Pointing that out and expanding on that would give you an interesting paper.

Thank you!

 

[ElizK]

Finished! My DD17 read it, and she said, "Well, it doesn't scream 'I suck!'" I consider that high praise.

 

[paintnolish]

Good job. Let us know how it turns out.