Starting mainly with Bell Hook's book we were challenged to think and look through a new lens. This one involved class more so than race. Although, after Thursdays film about the history of American class, it is obvious that the two directly link. I thought one of the most intriguing quotes spoken in the whole movie was when one of the men talking off screen spoke something along the lines of, "We (America) had our chance after segregation. We had the perfect opportunity to really turn things around through the housing market, and we blew it. We completely messed that up.." That has crossed my mind more than once since I watched the documentary and saw what shaped the start of an ongoing LONG term milestone in American real-estate. I feel like he made an extremely legitimate point. Do you all feel like we blew it after the post-war g.i.'s came home ready to buy houses, denying African-American families homes in Levitown? It really makes me question how different things might be today.
Another kind of question that was strongly raised in my mind after reading Bell Hooks was the two-sided conversation we have had in class a few times now. This is the topic of equal opportunity. Although we technically have "equal opportunity" do you all feel like we really do? Of course you hear success stories such as the one of Bell Hooks herself. She came from an unideal home situation, with beliefs that taught her that possessing any luxuries was bad, plus little money. She went onto college and truly made something of herself, well beyond what most people would have predicted, given her circumstances. I love the term we repeatedly use "pulling yourselves up by your boot straps." This author more than pulled herself up and rose to the occasion. However, she is one in a million people that are not able to achieve this. Although we may have "equal opportunity," the availability of "success" is prearranged and provided in advance for many people. To some people it is so predetermined (I mean this in the context of society not religion- although if you want to apply it religiously that could certainly fit also) that there is no such thing as equal opportunity. It is honestly a tough thing to chose a stance on. I can see it from both points of view. I focus mainly on this because I feel like it pretty much molds what "class" one ends up in through the majority of life.
I proposed two questions. Feel free to share thoughts and opinions on either. :)
Warning: May cause over thinking or "what if-ing" so don't drive yourself crazy. (Jk)
Unfortunately I missed the film on Thursday, so I'll address the second part of your post.
ReplyDeleteI loved Bell Hooks's book on class. It's such an accurate portrayal of the obstacles that exist for those that aren't part of the "right" things- the "right" race, class, gender, etc. And yet, as Jamie mentioned, Bell Hooks was able to overcome them all. However, her path to success, which I believe she has achieved (and I think Hooks herself would say the same) was much more difficult than someone who would have been born into a family with greater wealth, a white family, if she had been born a straight white male of the middle to upper class, her journey would've been much different and I think less obstacles would've been present for her. While she talks of her class being the major obstacle in her life, we know the entire time that she is also in fact a black woman- the intersectionality of these three constructs push against Hooks as she tries to move forward in the world.
We can examine any segment of American society, or even look at it as a whole, and easily find a way that someone has less equality of opportunity than another person. Whether we're discussing access to education, financial benefits, jobs, or parenthood, some people are disadvantaged from the start because of who they are, where they're from, who they love, or what they look like. This is absolutely true and absolutely unfair.
I like how you saw the connection with segregation and real estate with Levittown. But to answer the question; I do not think America blew it up when the soldiers came home. Segregation and racism was already a problem before the baby boom generation. If any thing the Levittown just added to the problem. But as the blacks started to move in, white America found it harder to segregate anything else. In the bell hooks case, she has certainly overcame the obstacles of racism and segregation. @ Sarah I like how you stated that if bell hooks were a white male; things would go little smoother for her.
ReplyDeleteAs for the second question; I feel like white America has more of an equal opportunity than other non-white Americans. It is better for non-whites than in the Civil Rights era, but it could be so much better. There are truly disadvantages that most people suffer with because of their skin color. I feel as if I have made a big accomplishment by coming to University who would not let someone of my race or sex receive a higher education. There are still some things that need to change, but we have come a long way as nation.
I also thought that the connection between segregation and real estate post-war was very interesting/sad. I think that the fact that these non-white Americans were fighting for freedom and equality on behalf of this country and then were not rewarded this way when came home. I feel that the video really presented the 'self full-filling prophesy' that many people today over look. It is a stereotype that non-white people live in 'ghettos', the inner cities, poor and jobless areas, and with little opportunity. Not only does this 'prophesy' predict the economics, but also shows that since all of the jobs, value of houses, and tax revenue for schools, etc. left with white flight it was inevitable that non-whites would be left out of reach of opportunity.
ReplyDeleteGoing on what you said about Bell Hooks and "pulling yourself up by your boot straps" I think that this is some what problematic. Society uses 'token' figures that have over come oppression as 'evidence' that the oppression does not exist. Bell Hooks, Barack Obama, Condoleeza Rice, Hillary Clinton, and others have overcome obstacles from class, race, and gender. While they deserve to be celebrated and acknowledged, the oppression still exists. It was still harder for them to achieve what they did because of their status. There is not equal opportunity. The path to opportunity is not equal. It is possible for all, just easier for others.
In regards to the film from Thursday, I do feel like the government at that time "messed it up" because there were new aspects in play that could have been defined from their beginnings as progressive, but instead were stagnant. First of all, the Federal Housing Administration made it easy, for the first time ever, for non-affluent families to purchase and own homes. Instead of welcoming all non-affluent families to purchase and own homes, only white non-affluent families were actually permitted (and expected) to do so. Secondly, the entire notion of making housing affordable for war veterans was a complete slap in the face to African-American soldiers who had risked their life and well-being to fight for a country that, when they returned home, would not even give them a chance to shelter their families in a suitable area. This act was a disgrace that doomed the non-white housing market from the beginning and aided in the formation of ghettos and low-income areas.
ReplyDeleteWith respect to the "equal opportunity" idea that Hooks presents in her book, I feel that it is something we are supposed to have and should have, but do not actually have. At the same time, I feel that the idea of "success being prearranged" that Jamie presents is both true and false; although it may be easier for a white female to advance further than a latino or african-american female, no one will advance at all without hard work and perseverance. These two factors must be considered and incorporated when discussing any type of predetermined success; I guess that it could indeed be referred to "pulling oneself up by their bootstraps." According to Hooks, there is certainly a desire to individuals to advance beyond their class; she writes, "Today's youth who are among the 38 million or more poor citizens of this society or who are members of working-class groups who want to leave their class origins behind" (84). Just the simple fact that everyone is trying in some capacity to "move up" on the social ladder tells us something about being on the bottom: it's not comfortable or desirable.
I feel like America always blows things all the time lol when it comes to this whole racial thing, because honestly there is more money when things are segregated, because you charge the whites a high price for living with just white... Charge the blacks and others an arm, leg, and sexual body part to be a part of the white community and still make profit off all the poor people.. if all people were together and charged at an equal rate america would make money but not nearly as much. Its not right, but it happens. And just as it was then its honestly the same way now. I was born and raised in the Suburbs of Springfield, Illinois and my family was the only black family in the neighborhood and the "black" side of town was way across town in city limits. Did I mention my cozy little suburban area was like its own little town on county lines.... And its still like that today maybe a couple more black families but they all have money and grew up the "suburban" life. But honestly these days its more of a way of life, something you don't question or speak about.. Its just the way it is rather its right or long. Like in the video the white people would say. They didn't necessarily have a problem with the blacks, but there were incentives for being "against" them. No one wants to be the "outcast" or the one person who did that and lose everything.
ReplyDeleteIn America there is a true "equal opportunity" however its harder for some to attain not necessarily because the color of their skin, but because of where they grew up and how the were raised. If you your born street and raised street all you know is street. And its unfortunate. And Miaosis speaks on this when he says society tries to hide this issue by showing examples of all the successful people as Carley said the Barak Obamas Condalesisa Rice ect. but those are anomalies and in reality rarely happen, but society makes it seem as if its easy. But if you've never lived or seen how hard a "Street" life can really be you can't really understand how just because things are "equal opportunity" they are just as unfair.
And another thing with this equal opportunity... Its not really a white issue anymore.. Sure white people have an advantage, however a black person with money who knows the right people can do the same as a white person. Its more or less a class issue. Rich White and Black people can do a lot and get away. Of course the skin color is a difference but in the end money talks. Rich White people dislike "white trash" just as much as they dislike "ghetto blacks". And rich blacks have disdain for "ghetto blacks" just as much as they disdain "White trash". but then you could I guess put this into the the whole "whiteness".
America has not come a long way. America has gotten worse. If you go to a big city or a small little town in alabama you will see the issues. And its not a race thing. Its easy to blame it on racve since its been a problem in society for so long but "Whiteness" is no longer as much as an influence these days as money is... Green is the new color. Green represents money which is the root of all evil and the equivalent to POWER.