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Reading and Film Presentations and Discussion

ERA Race, Wrongs, and Remedies pp. 1-33

In the beginning of Amy Wax’s book titled Race, Wrongs, and Remedies, she begins to formulate an argument about the issue of race in America and the ways in which this problem is being addressed. In the first section of the first chapter, she relays the concept of the remedial ideal. She explains that this is the idea that when someone experiences disadvantage or damage because of an external force, that external force is responsible for making the victim whole again and for making efforts to remedy the damage. This ties into the concept of “victim blaming.” This point of view does everything in its power to avoid victim blaming. Because the victim was not the cause of their own effect, ideally they are not held responsible for what has happened to them and as a result are not responsible for the cure. 

After having established this as the ideal, Wax goes on to recognize that this concept and ideal situation is often not fully achieved. She argues that instead, sometimes the victim must be a part of the healing process. This is the case in the issue of race relations in the United States. Wax claims that there are many who believe that the problem is due to prevailing racism today, others who believe that racism is structurally innate in America, and others who believe that the race issues are mostly behavioral at this point. Because of the remedial ideal, each of these viewpoints have found ways to argue that solutions come from the external world rather than within the individual. However, Wax points out that even if change is made on the outside, it is still up to the individual to accept this change and respond effectively. 

While I most definitely concede that individuality plays an important role in solving the issue of race in America, I am wary about the amount of importance that Wax places on this aspect. I believe that race issues are still extremely pervasive in American culture and see them playing out in various industries. Some of these include different workplaces such as the film industry and the political scene. It seems clear to me that black Americans are often absent from these industries, despite the fact that many may be working hard to enter them. For example, there are many black directors and actors who do not ever enter the mainstream film culture, and this is not for lack of trying. It is often simply because their pieces do not align with the norms of the mainstream film industry. This makes me wonder to what extent individual responsibility can truly eradicate discrimination. I believe that while it is necessary for a solution, external progress is still imperative in order to create equality between races.  

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