Race and Denial

After watching the film in class, there were many interesting topics that made clear the severity of discrimination still present today. Significant points were made on white privilege and denial, demonstrating the altered priorities of our American society. The denial of discrimination showed how naive our culture has become in terms of advocacy and responsibility towards unjust causes. A statistic was shown that only 6% of white people believed that discrimination is still a problem today, while 12% actually believed that Elvis Presley is still alive. Outrageous, yes... but surprisingly, not unbelievable. White privilege was also discussed in the film, using numerous examples about the inequity of opportunity amongst, race, gender, and class. It was interesting to see that white people tend to take advantage of their benefits more so than others, adding to the supremacy of the race. We see the disadvantages placed on minorities in every day life, as well as in sports. For example, certain athletes may not receive the playing time that others have based on their skin color; assumed that they will not succeed based on constructed stereotypes. To this day, female sports will suffer in financial funding, and receive less attention than male sports, primarily based on the norms of society that have oppressed their gender in the athletic profession. The denial of racial injustice and the inequity of racial privileges in this country is a continuous problem of apathy, which will pursue until we own up to the responsibility, and make a change.
Eloise D.
KIN338I.S6