Author: Bobby Bohner

Categories
Short Essays and Responses

Short Essay 4

In order to understand the situation of American blacks, we must not throw out earlier ways of conceiving American identity. Instead, we must adapt these conceptions and combine them with the psychology of victimization described in Wax’s book in order to understand the situation of American blacks. Additionally, we must consider institutions such as slavery and structural racism that have put blacks at a disadvantage while searching for equal opportunity in society. Although Wax cites that race-based discrimination accounts for a small portion of disparity, and advocates for reforming culture instead of utilizing government programs and structural changes, a mix of these approaches is essential in order to empower blacks and allow them to align with the modified view of American identity that is the “deconstructionist” identity introduced by Huntington in Who Are We?

            Wax asserts that victimization by blacks has been a “defining part of group identity throughout our national history” (97). Further, Wax explains the distinction between the internal and external locus of control. A person with an external locus of control “tends to believe that his destiny is largely out of his hands. The most important forces in his life are bad luck or social impediments such as discrimination” (98). On the other hand, a person with an internal locus of control “regards his fate as largely a product of his own actions, decisions and choices. Such a person ignores or discounts external barriers” (98). Wax goes on to assert that some evidence shows that blacks tend to have more of an external locus than whites. Most of Wax’s argument is that blacks focus much more on external forces that are out of their control, hence the title of the chapter “The Psychology of Victimization”. Even though Wax has a well thought out argument, she fails to fully recognize that whites have had advantages over blacks and other minorities since the beginning of America. Although a shift to an internal locus of control would benefit all members of society, something like this will take time. Also, in order to have a national identity for all, it is essential for people to be more understanding of past institutions such as slavery that left blacks at a disadvantage. Additionally, we must draw back on the strong national identity that was largely created by whites in order to allow minority groups to align with an identity that is more accepting and full of other subnational identities.  

            Wax outlines the two approaches to improving the situation for blacks in America. The first is government programs and structural changes such as education and employment remedies. The second approach is “an inner focus on reforming the culture and altering individual values and behaviors” (95). Wax argues that the government programs and structural changes have outlived their usefulness, and we must look toward reforming culture and altering individual values and cultures. Additionally, Wax argues that many people turn to blame race-based discrimination for many issues in society, yet this “explains a very small part of existing differences in educational attainment, jobs, wages, family structure, consumer credit rates, and involvement with the criminal justice system”(95). Although Wax argues that an approach utilizing both structural changes and cultural changes has proved to be futile, it is still necessary. Drawing back on government programs would make the situation for blacks even worse. Although cultural change is a novel idea, it seems unattainable and also does not contribute to a deconstructionist identity. We must be accepting of culture, instead of changing it. Continuing government programs as well as promoting an internal locus of control will allow for improvements for both blacks and society as a whole.

            In order to understand the situation of blacks, we must adapt the Anglo-Protestant view of identity, and create a more deconstructionist identity. As pointed out by Huntington in Who Are We?, “in the 1960s and 1970s they began to promote measures consciously designed to weaken America’s cultural and creedal identity and to strengthen racial, ethnic, cultural, and other subnational identities” (Huntington 143). Continuing to adapt a deconstructionist identity and developing a sense of empathy for past hardships will allow blacks and other minorities to be empowered and improve their condition. Overall, it is seemingly impossible to change a culture, but with a combination of government programs, a deconstructionist identity, empathy, and a promotion of the internal locus of control, we can better understand the situation of American blacks and help American blacks rise above disparity. 

Categories
Reading and Film Presentations and Discussion

ERA (Race, pp. 71-100)

Throughout pages 71-100, Wax brings up a number of novel points and makes some very thoughtful arguments regarding education, employment, family disintegration, and victimization, among others. One of the most interesting sections of the reading was the one regarding employment remedies. Wax asserts that the largest issue in employment is not race discrimination. Wax actually claims that race based discrimination accounts for a negligible portion of the disadvantages that blacks suffer. Instead of racial discrimination, the biggest issue is actually shortfalls in cognitive and noncognitive attributes. Wax even goes so far to assert that “even after controlling for standard influences on human capital formation (such as parental income and years of schooling), there are still significant differences by race in the capabilities employers seek”. In regards to remedies for this issue, Wax dispels one of the ideas that many would probably propose as the first solution: job training. Wax says these programs are often famously expensive and not efficient, and have not been shown to make much difference to labor market outcomes. In defense of these points, Wax asserts that “the evidence suggests that the foundations for good work skills are established early in childhood, well before formal schooling begins. Later interventions such as on-the-job training are too little too late”. This point is actually very interesting, and does make sense after further thought. A lot of skills that people need to succeed in the world are soft skills, the skills such as hard work or leadership which are rather intrinsic and hard to teach someone through something such as job training. The best option for remedy that Wax points out is behavioral reform in young children of only a few years of age. Wax claims that this reform is largely up to communities and individuals. Although Wax makes many solid points and backs them up, I really wonder if it would be possible to get whole communities of thousands of people on the same page in regard to instilling soft skills within their children from a young age. 

Categories
Catch-All/Student Discussion Questions

John Grady Cole Reflection

John Grady Cole seems to portray an identity that is filled with passion and pragmatism. He is a man of few words, and he goes about life in a very unique manner. This paints an interesting picture, and many modern examples of people who are considered “passionate” are rather outspoken and their voice is heard. From an early stage in the book, John Grady Cole demonstrates this idea of passion and pragmatism. For example, on page 10, John replies to Rawlins’ comment “She aint worth it. None of em are” by saying “Yes they are” (10).  after a long pause. Instead of rattling off many reasons why she was worth it, he gives only a few words of explanation and lets the reader figure out the rest. Another example of this narrative is seen on page 180. The prison guard is trying to get a bribe from John Grady Cole, and his response is simply “We don’t have money…we aint fixin to make any arrangements” (180). Essentially, Grady does not feel the need to get into many details and give a long explanation, he simply asserts his view, and stands his ground instead of even trying to bargain with the guard. John Grady Cole’s pragmatic, soft spoken, and passionate nature is fascinating to me. 

Categories
Reading and Film Presentations and Discussion

ERA (McCarthy, pp. 139-179)

Pages 139-179 of All the Pretty Horses contain a lot of unfolding action that develops the plot much further. John Grady Cole has been chasing Alejandra in a pursuit of passion that he felt in prior relations. John’s only issue is that Don Hector found out about his relations with Alejandra, and now is plotting revenge against John Grady Cole. John Grady Cole and Rawlins are left on edge as one day, a group of Mexican soldiers comes to the ranch to inquire about them, but left. A few days later, their suspicions are confirmed as the Mexican soldiers return and take John Grady Cole and Rawlins away in chains. The men are taken to a prison in which they discover Blevins is also there when they enter a dark room and he calls out to them. Rawlins and John are interrogated at the prison, and the man interrogating them accuses them of being imposters and criminals who came to Mexico to rob and kill. This idea probably stems from the fact that Blevins returned to Encantada to retrieve his gun, and ended up killing a man. Rawlins has a rough interrogation and so does John Grady Cole, but they proclaim their innocence. This begins a narrative that they follow in which they stand their ground and do not give into pressure. The men begin to think about the possibility of Blevins being killed for his wrongdoings, and Blevins chimes in and chastises them for not putting in a good word for him. This creates tension and Rawlins begins to go after Blevins with his words, almost making him cry. Eventually, the men are taken out of Encantada, and on their way to a new prison, Blevins is executed. John Grady Cole and Rawlins are taken to the Saltillo prison, and put into a new cell. The prison guard assumes they are rich Americans, and says to them “You are not the first Americans to be here” (p.180), and further implies that he is seeking a bribe. John Grady tells the guard “We don’t have any money…we aint fixin to make any arrangements” (p.180). Grady further develops this narrative where he will stand his ground, and not give into something outside his ideals. Grady does not try to please the guards, he accepts his fate that his life may be over, but he is not going to a pay a bribe when he feels he did nothing wrong. 

Categories
Catch-All/Student Discussion Questions

United 93 Photos and Civil Religion

The photos posted on the blog of United Flight 93 possess many examples of civil religion and patriotism, and instill within me a sense of pride to be an American. Much of the civil religion seen in the United 93 photos is obviously in the aftermath, but there are examples of civil religion that historical accounts of United 93 talk about. For example, there are many stories of people banding together and praying on a plane, simply because they felt this individual responsibility to band together for America. Additionally, it may not be an example of civil religion, but I am sometimes reminded of United 93 when I see the large carts that stewardesses push around plane. This is because aboard United 93, passengers on board were trying to get behind the cart and use it to ram the cockpit door open after they realized it had been hijacked. In regards to civil religion and the powerpoint photos posted of United 93, a few certain photos come to mind. For example, the many different shrines or sites of remembrance to the victims that lost their lives on United 93 is a source of civil religion, as these sites commemorate the great service that many people did on 9/11, and serve as a constant reminder on 9/11 every year, which has become a day where the sense of civil religion is very high in remembrance of all of the victims. Also, the photo of the American flag colored bald eagle on slide 17 is a great example of civil religion. The red, white and blue mixed with the bald eagle instill a sense of patriotism, while the saying “America United” reminds me of the pledge of allegiance line “one nation, under God”. Overall, many aspects of surrounding United 93 have come to serve as sources of civil religion.