1. Slide #1
In the past, America as with many countries in the world
was once a place where Racism was common. America is and
has been on a move. Its move is knocking down “walls and
barriers” of intolerance and un acceptance in society. With
these barriers coming down America is becoming a more open
culturally. Now with a recognized motto as the land of the
free and home of the brave, you would think that anyone who
would come here is not the case. Yet we are on the verge of
ending this unnecessary discrimination with our progressing
edification that we are all the same.
Slide #2
Q:What is Race?
A:Race by definition is “b. an arbitrary classification of
modern humans, sometimes, esp. formerly, based on any or a
combination of various physical characteristics, as skin color,
facial form, or eye shape, and now frequently based on such
genetic markers as blood groups.” I prefer the definition in the
dictionary that says Race is “any people united by common
history, language, cultural traits, etc”.
So let me ask you this? Wouldn’t we all be of the same
race? American. I mean don’t we all go to similar schools,
live in the same neighborhoods, have the same goals, speak the
same language?
Slide #3
America has always been see as a land of freedom and
opportunity. Yet has that always been the case? No, not unless
you were “pure white”. Why is that?
Slide #4
Native Americans were the original inhabitants of America.
They met and greeted the pilgrims with open arms as peaceful
people. They were greeted with discrimination, sickness,
bloodshed. The first true genocide. They were seen as
heathens. It’s ironic though don’t you think? The pilgrims
2. came here to escape persecution and inadvertently persecuted the
Indians here.
Slide #5
The Revolutionary War was fought in order to gain “freedom”
and “independence” from the British, who ruled. America won the
war, and with that freedom they imported even more slaves, and
took more land from the natives. The Declaration of
Independence was written as well, stating, “We hold these truths
to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they
are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable rights,
that among these are life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness.
That to secure these rights, governments are instituted among
men, deriving their just powers from the consent of the
governed. That whenever any form of government becomes
destructive to these ends, it is the right of the people to
alter or to abolish it, and to institute new government, laying
its foundation on such principles and organizing its powers in
such form, as to them shall seem most likely to affect their
safety and happiness.” Which is ironic since everyone that was
not of true English descent was not viewed as a man or really a
human.
Slide #6
Abraham Lincoln once said, “We are not enemies, but
friends. We must not be enemies. Though passion may have
strained, it must not break our bonds of affection. The mystic
cords of memory will swell when again touched as surely they
will be by the better angels of our nature.”
The Civil War was fought in order to stop the onset of
slavery in the North, not to “Free The Slaves” which is what
apparently occurred. Yet even with their freedom were they
really free? Did they receive the same recognition and rights as
others have when they fought for their independence? I don’t
believe so.
As well the statue of liberty was presented to America in
recognition of its Abolishment of slavery. The concept was
created by Laboulaye, an ardent supporter of the Union in the
American Civil War, he’s quotes as saying, "If a monument should
3. rise in the United States, as a memorial to their independence,
I should think it only natural if it were built by united effort
—a common work of both our nations."
Slide #7
The Statue of Liberty says; "Give me your tired, your poor,
your huddled masses yearning to breathe free, the wretched
refuse of your teeming shore. Send these, the homeless, tempest-
tost to me, I lift my lamp beside the golden door." I’ve
personally never seen a sub context where it states exactly whom
its talking to. It is speaking to everyone.
Slide #8
IRISH NEED NOT APPLY. When America experienced its
Industrial Revolution, and a huge migration of people to
America, The statue of liberty on Elis island was a symbol of
their arrival to a new world and life’s. Yet the people who
immigrated here were discriminated against, and disrespected,
treated as thought they were unwanted.
Slide #9
During world war 2, Yes we went to Germany to end the
oppression/tyranny/eradication of the Jewish people. Yet back at
home we placed the Japanese into “concentration camps”, and were
not looked at again as equals. How is that fair or even
tolerant? As well we were trying to say that people should be
treated fairly, yet the Military was segregated, and even the
Marine Corp. did not allow people of color to even enlist. Where
is the equality there?
