"Race Matters" Chapters 5-8

5 Sentence Summary
In chapters 5-8, West talks about the importance of affirmative action in relation to the Progressives. He then goes on to discuss the relationships among blacks and Jews and how the history with the two groups is affecting us today. He also mentions the dominance of blacks over whites not only in relationships but as well as sports. The last chapter is focused mainly on Malcolm X and how we need to be more like him in order to help change the world. Malcolm makes many political points on democracy and black rage.
4 Key Elements
“Progressives should view affirmative action as neither a major solution to poverty nor a sufficient means to equality” (p. 95).
“Only by living against the grain can we keep alive the possibility that the visceral feelings about black bodies fed by racist myths and promoted by market-driven quests for stimulation do not forever render us obsessed with sexuality and fearful of each other’s humanity.” (pg. 131)
“They crave peer acceptance in both, receive genuine approval from neither, yet persist in viewing themselves through the lenses of the dominant white society (139).”
“Malcolm X was the first real black spokesperson who looked ferocious white racism in the eye, didn’t blink, and lived long enough to tell America the truth about this glaring hypocrisy in a bold and defiant manner.” (p. 151)
3 Key Terms
psychocutural- relating to the interaction psychological ad cultural factors of an individual’s personality in the characteristics of a group.
psychocutural- relating to the interaction psychological ad cultural factors of an individual’s personality in the characteristics of a group.
affirmative action- the increasing representation of a minority group (sometimes in unemployment)
2 Connections
Cornel talks about how whites see the marriage between blacks and whites as bad. I can see how this is true because growing up that’s the view my parents have always had. As times are changing I don’t really see the harm in it.
Another thing that I was able to connect to was the dominance between blacks and whites. I was extremely involved in athletics growing up and so were my sister and brother. The constant competition between these two races is apparent in sports big time.
1 Question
The bible mentions to “not be unequally yoked,” I think that a lot of people tend to apply to race when it comes to marriage but the way I see it is being with someone with different beliefs than you. What exactly does it mean? Does that apply to race or is it more of just and opinion and how you want to take it?