Video Analysis Links

 https://docs.google.com/document/d/1HGsgOZw3iHdJq1qEnLCu8AyPoTzTO2uwq7Guw9teRxU/edit - Precious Knowledge

https://docs.google.com/document/d/1xCmokT3iCEFQbnw5f6vdRN6LiXFwoCKIk6aU62mE89Y/edit - Classroom Tour

https://docs.google.com/document/d/15MC-Q3UBgqbuPfiabzsQj4_tgJM0VAWNFcORoG8PH7A/edit - Teach Us All

Where White Privilege Came From Alan Johnson

 Where White Privilege Came From

By: Alan Johnson

    All of us know about slavery, but few of us know the real story behind it. The start of slavery is also when the start of white privilege happened. At first the British wanted to enslave the Irish. The Irish were looked at as savage people who were inferior. The attempt to enslave them ultimately failed because some of them were from England and did not allow this to happen. They also could not enslave Native Americans because they could just go off to other tribes. So, the British decided to enslave black people. The Declaration of Independence went against the slavery that was happening, so Americans turned to race to justify their actions. This is when the racism against Native Americans started to occur. Whites believed that they were doing blacks a favor as they were so inferior to them that serving the whites was an honor for black people. The concept of race never existed until countries were setting themselves up and wanted to have structure. One of the first instances we see race come up is when whites had terrible jobs, and they would tell themselves "at least I'm white." The belief system that whites are superior could have started as an unconscious decision. The way that history has played out has led some people to believe things, as nature has decided some ways to be the way of the world. Whites today definitely have a sense of power that has always been there, unearned. As humans we go through life and socialize, but we must realize the systems that have led us to be in the place we are today. 

The Lives of Children and the Conscience of A Nation - Lucas McElroy

 The Lives of Children and the Conscience of a Nation

By: Jonathan Cozal

        Argument: In the article Jonathan Cozal explains how in New York the majority of the white population in New York lives in better off areas, but then when you get to Harlem and areas around there the median household income drops to $7,600. The center of Mott Haven is two thirds Hispanic and one third black. The areas in and around Mott Haven are not the safest. There is a high homicide rate and a lot of violence. People will steal and kill for no reason. It also affects the children in the neighborhood. Children have seen people get shot in the face and witnessed assaults. These are things that children should never see in their lives. I believe that this is his most significant argument. That children are around this environment and it is very hard for them to get out. The climate that the children are in affect them for the rest of their lives. This feeds into them potentially being unsuccessful and getting into drugs and other damaging things. 

Mott Haven, New York City, New York

    Comments/Questions: Why can't the government get more funding in the underdeveloped parts of the country? If we got the areas off their feet and gave them jobs and minimized drug availability then there could be improvement in the areas. $7,600 median household income is unfathomably low and if the government could help out just a little it would make things easier for people living in poverty.

Hyperlink: https://furmancenter.org/neighborhoods/view/central-harlem