The Difference Between Us: Race—The Power of an Illusion

  1. Watch: The Difference Between Us: Race—The Power of an Illusion (Segments 1, 7, 9, 12, 13, 15, 23, 24) Answer these questions (you may connect your answers): 1. What does it mean to say that "race" is a social reality but also a biological fiction? 2. How does the use of this fiction become an excuse for social inequality? 3. How was race classified in America? What explains the difference in skin color? 4. How can we understand and explain the different rates of participation and success in sports or other careers by diverse "races"? 5. What are some consequences of using the concept of (and assumptions about) race in our society? 400 WORDS – Chapter 11 in book
  2. Watch DEFORCE: The Past, Present, and Future of Detroit (segments 2, 5, 7, 10, 22, 23, 24, 25) Answer these questions: 1. How did industrial work and federal policies benefit white workers and their entrance into the middle class? 2. Did they also benefit the Blacks who were migrating to Detroit for work? Why or why not? 3. Based on your answers above, what were some of the consequences for whites and Blacks? 4. Why was it been so easy for the drug industry to sustain itself for so long if its illegal, harmful, and very few actually prosper? 5. How does the war on drugs affect whites and Blacks? Does it have the same impact on them? 300 WORDS – Chapter 11 in book
  3. Watch: Men Are Finished: A Debate (Segments 3, 4, 5, 6, 13, 16, 26, 27, 28, 29) Answer these questions (you may connect your answers): 1. Who do you agree with in the first debate? (Segments 3 and 4). Explain your answer 2. Who do you agree with in the 2nd debate (segments 5 and 6). Support your answer with info from the book. 3. Evaluate the answers given in segments 13 and 16. Does the info used to answer the question convince you? Why or why not? 4. Out of the 4 which two do you agree with and why? You have to address the opposing view in your answer (segments 26-29). WORDS 350 – Chapter 12 in book
  4. Watch: TEDTalks: Hanna Rosin—New Data on the Rise of Women (entire video, segments 1-13, is 16 minutes) Answer these questions (you can answer as questions or in a paragraph): 1. What new info does she provide about women and the economy? Why does she say its the economy and not ideas? 2. How is this new situation changing the role and status of women and men? How is it impacting our culture? 3. How are women responding to these changes? How are men adapting to these changes? 4. What does she mean by the "end of men"? Do you agree that this new situation is the "end of men"? Explain your answer. WORDS 350 – Chapter 12 in book
  5. Watch: A History of Social Classes (Segments 1, 5, 6, 8, 10, 11, 12, 13) Use item number 10208 to find film. Answer these questions (you may connect your answers): 1. How much social mobility has your family experienced from grandparents to you? How did class structure allow or limit this mobility? 2. What social class do you belong to? Explain how you know, can prove, your class status. What did Karl Marx mean by class struggle? 3. Does this struggle still exist? Is the Fight for $15 Campaign an example of it? If this campaign is succesfull will it benefit you? 4. Do you belong to a union? Does your job have a union? Does it need one? Why, why not? 5. Are things getting better economically in the US? Are elites still in control? How so? How does socialism limit their control in Europe?