Midterm Outline & Reminder

Below is a brief outline of the topics we've covered in class since the beginning of the term. This may help you give some order to your notes and prepare for the midterm exam next Tuesday, 10/21.

I. Comments on the relevance of this course, especially for members of the "dominant white majority"

A. Dr. Bonilla-Silva passage on the blog

II. "Race: the power of an illusion" (3 parts)

A. Family main points on each part.
B. What I highlighted in class following each part.

III. Basic Definitions

A. Culture
1. Metaphors for America: melting pot (problems with that) & newer metaphors which reflect a more pluralistic attitude: salad bowl, stew, stir fry.

B. Race
1. Emphasized message of video series
2. Talked about Blumenbach and his race hierarchy; where the term "Caucasian" came from. Posted some of this on the blog.
3. AAA Draft Statement on Race (handout)

C. Racism
1. Noted most people would say they are not racist according to that definition, but that does not mean racism is dead.
2. Different forms: cultural racism (Frederickson), color-blind racism (Bonilla-Silva), institutional racism.

D. Ethnic Group
1. How distinguished from race.

E. Ethnocentrism
1. Ethnocentrism is to ethnic group what racism is to race.
2. Stressed that a society or individual can be ethnocentric but not necessarily racist.

F. Prejudice
1. Noted connection to "stereotype". Prejudice often based on limited knowledge of other people. Can be positive, but mostly negative.
2. Sources from which prejudice is learned: a. authority figures, b. media images, c. negative experiences, d. discrimination.
3. Often grows out of situation of groups competing for scarce resources. (eg. Indians)
4. Ways to overcome it: a. contact, b. cooperative action, c. empathy, d. law (indirect)-- posted quote from Dr. King in this context.

G. Discrimination
1. Can be various levels: individual, group, institutional, which is the most significant.
2. Challenged notion of "reverse discrimination"

IV. Dr. Tatum's book (however far we get by Thursday, 10/16).


List of handouts:

1. Obama's speech on race (do not need to study)
2. Basic Definitions
3. AAA Draft Statement on Race
4. "All Brains Are the SAme Color" (generally)
5. "Racism Without Racists" (do not need to study; come back to later)

Of course, do not forget the blog material.


REMINDER: Look forward to receiving all your suggestions for midterm exam questions by roughly 1PM this afternoon (Wed.) See you tomorrow.