1. Hidden Bias, White Privilege and "The Color of Fear"
This exercise is designed to indicate the extent to which members of society have biases that they do not explicitly recognize. Go to Project Implicit, log in as a guest, and scroll down to find the "Race Test." You can, of course, take other tests available to test your hidden bias in other areas.] The test will take approximately ten minutes. After you have finished the test a results page will appear indicating whether you have an “implicit” or hidden bias and, if so, whether it is strong, moderate, or weak. More important, the results page will present a frequency distribution of all the scores of tests that have been taken by others visiting this site.
First, summarize and then discuss the implications of the data presented for all of the test-takers – I am not interested in your score. How, for example, might these findings affect the success of programs that attempt to reduce the extent to which bias and prejudice exist in society? Also, discuss how David, the "white" man who owned pear orchards in Ukiah, California in the movie "The Color of Fear," illustrates the principle of "hidden bias."
Second, read Peggy McIntosh's “White Privilege: Unpacking the Invisible Knapsack”. Look at her list of "white privileges" and, next to each one, indicate whether you agree with the statement ("A"), disagree with the statement ("D"), or think that the statement is not applicable ("NA"). Provide three examples of how you think members of different racial categories might answer differently
Third, read Robert Jensen's, "White Privilege Shapes the U.S."and "More thoughts on why the system of white privilege is wrong". Summarize and evaluate the arguments Jensen concerning makes concerning "white privilege" and discuss how the findings from the implicit association test relate to both his and McIntosh's positions.
Fourth, in the movie "The Color of Fear," the people of color argue - among other things - that
(a) racism is essentially a white problem;
(b) the most lethal and toxic form of racism in America is committed daily by white people who consider themselves to be decent, honest, loving, and caring folks;
(c) prejudice an discrimination between people of color is NOT the same - it is fundamentally different from - prejudice and discrimination between white people and people of color.
Drawing upon the class discussion AND materials contained in the textbook, to what extent do you agree with these assessments? Why?
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2. Gallup Poll: Black - White Relations in the U.S.
Socially patterned differences in the perception of social situations and circumstances are a common occurrence. For this assignment, you will examine Gallup Poll data about race relations and compare the responses of white and black samples. After charting these responses, you will discuss the implications of these different perceptions of what are seemingly “the same” events and situations.
Download the Gallup Poll Social Audit, “Black – White Relations in the United States: 2001 Update.” Read the report, print out (use landscape setting), and fill in the following table (click here).
Provide a sociological explanation for the divergent views of these different groups. How can race relations be improved if the parties involved have fundamentally different views of the same events and circumstances situation?
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3. Stereotypes and the Portrayals of Minority Groups in Popular Culture
How have minorities been portrayed in popular culture and the mass media? What caricatures and stereotypes have appeared over time? What is their purpose? What impact do they have? Examine the web pages listed below. You will choose three cases to discuss. First, summarize the depictions of each category of people. What was the purpose of these depictions? How have these images shaped the beliefs and attitudes of members of the dominant group and of the subordinate groups towards each other? What are the similarities and differences in the depictions of the three groups you have chosen? To what extent do similar images of these groups exist in contemporary society?
Virtual Jim Crow Museum of Racist Memorabilia
Stereoypes of the Irish
Stereotypes of Jewish People
Stereotypes of East Asians in the US
Old 'Yellow Peril' Anti-Chinese Posters
Visualizing Otherness - Nazi and Other Use of Visual Representation
Visualizing Otherness - Racist and Discriminatory Views of Afro-Americans in Popular Culture
Visualizing Otherness - Native Americans
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4. Hate on the Web
Investigate and analyze hate on the internet.
Go to the "Intelligence Project" of the Southern Poverty Law Center. Read the "What We Do" and "Our issues" - the links on located on the top banner - then go to "HateWatch" - also located on the top banner. Summarize three stories presented. What social factors help explain the existence of these phenomena?
Next, click on the "Hate Map" - also located on the top banner. Choose three states and write a “sociologically informed” opinion of the materials you have found.
