Race and Ethnicity

Trent Bartling

SOC 270

Reflective Paper 5

12/3/05

1. What do you consider to be the most valuable information you got from this class? Why do you consider this most valuable?

I think that the most valuable thing that I took from this class is the fact that racism is still very much a major part of our society. Growing up in rural Iowa I always new that there were racist people, but I never knew how the racism actually affected our society and how strongly it influences such things as government funding for education and housing developments. Racism and prejudice always seemed secondary to me. I always knew that this country had issues with racism, but I never imagined that it affected serious issues so heavily. Minorities in this country are put at a greater disadvantage then whites. Many minorities especially those that do not speak English as their primary language have to deal with inadequate housing, under funded school districts and the everyday struggle of discrimination for their differences and beliefs.

2. To what extent, if any, has your thought process about race relations change as a result of this class? Explain your answer.

I wouldn't say that my personal beliefs have changed due to this class, because I feel that I have always been open-minded and treated everyone with equal respect. I would however say that my thought process has changed slightly. My thought process has been altered because I always looked at racism as a problem, but not my problem. I was never directly involved in racism, and I thought that there was nothing that I could do to change the views of others. After this class I have realized that if you are not part of the solution then you are ultimately part of the problem. Many people turn their head when they are around a situation of discrimination, saying nothing. People have the misconception that just because you didn't say anything negative or directly discriminate against another person that there is nothing else that they can do to fix the problem. The only way for racism and discrimination to disappear in this country is for us to admit that they exist and they are a major problem.

3. What will you do differently