w. 36

Hi 2a

Here is our blog for Hi2a for 2015-16

w. 36

Friday, 4 Sept.:

We came to the decision that we will work with colonialims / Imperialism -- but exactly what issues will we work with and how we will our conduct our work is still yet undecided.

We started discussing racism, trying to get a definition that captured racism, not merely prejudice or discrimination of different types. Essentially, racism is based in the physical/biological elements of a person. A sense of superiority/inferiority is grounded in the physical being of the person -- things that are by nature a part of that person, not things that are learned or adapted (and thus could be changed, such as religion, language, clothing or grooming habits, organizaiton affliation).

Reflect upon these ideas. Test out examples in your mind. Draw from experience or from examples you've read or heard about.

We noted that black-white racism has its roots in the transatlantic slave trade, which started in the 16th century. Having a centuries'-long institution that set up whites as superior to blacks in terms of political power, economic power, and education, and which was justified using Christianity, served as the basis for racist societies on both sides of the Atlantic.