PPD Chapter 1!

The author concludes that even though he may not fit the all the terms given he can still be part of the solution of bringing all people together and everyone being able to get along. He stresses the fact that he has to go off the defensive side in order to be able to help with the solution. I find the author is truing to trying to enlighten readers on new ways of thinking about the differences of people and ways to change that can make a difference.

Basically, what I got from Privilege, Power, and Difference, Chapter 1 Rodney King’s Question, was the most racism and hate for “then” which is anyone outside of a certain persons “Us” group or who they consider themselves part of comes from the white race. I felt like throughout the whole chapter they were saying only white people are racist. I also got from the text how important it is for people to talk about racial and ethnical problems not just stay in their comfort zone and not be afraid to use certain words that may be offensive. I felt like the other had good ways on overcoming the barriers between people and also stressed how important it is for not only the underprivileged but also the privileged make equal treatment of all people everyone’s problem.

Although I agree with the fact that in the past most racism was from the white side I believe times have changed that. In a society where it is so stressed to treat everyone with respect it seems to me that now that racism may be flip flopped. From personal experience of having my first encounter of living with an individual of a different race it seemed more to me that they carried a chip on their shoulder that all whites are racist and think of themselves as better. It felt like they talked down on me for not having been in some of the situations they had been in while not going through the trials they had been through also.

At first when reading the text my defense mechanisms did come out but then the more I read the more I thought well yes this is true. However I did feel there was a whole other side to everything then they put out there. I felt they could of shown both sides of the spectrum and been a lot less offensive to white people. As much as everyone would like to believe there is no racism against white people there is just as much as there is against every other race. I felt there was a lot of truth in what the author was talking about its hard to talk about certain topics if u can’t use they the words in which may be offensive. In which case I firmly believe that many people do feel if they ignore the trouble or don’t talk about “them” then the problem will just go away which only makes it more complicated.