RETHINKING RACISM: BONILLA-SILVA QUESTIONS

1. In the opening quote: "The habit of considering racism as a mental quirk, as a psychological flaw, must be abandoned." What does Frantz Fanon (1967:77) mean by "mental quirk" and "psychological flaw?"

2. From Note #10 in the article, how is Power defined by Bonilla-Silva? How does this apply to race relations today?

3. How does Ruth Benedict (page 1) define racism in her 1945 publication Race and Racism?  How does that compare to Schaefer's definition in 1990?

4. How do orthodox Marxists and neo-Marxists view "race" in relation to "class"?  

5. What three frameworks or concepts (page 3) does the author synthesize to form his "alternative structural theory" in analyzing racial issues?

6. Last week we talked about college students knowing how to speak in "politically correct" terminology (Farley).  How does Bonilla-Silva believe this also applies to social research? 

7. What are the consequences of racialization?

8. How does race acquire a life of its own? Note 16. [Comment: whether or not members of the dominant race are members of the dominant class-they will, on average, defend the racial hierarchy. This is what Marx calls "false consciousness."]

9. What is a racialized social system? How does it differ from prejudice and institutional racism?

10. Why doesn't education "cure" racism by itself? 

TAKING SIDES: ISSUE ARE AMERICA'S SCHOOLS RESEGREGATING?

1. What is the summary of Issue 17? (pp 306-309). Was segregation the official policy of the US government?

2. Explain, with detail, the section labeled "Unmaking Brown" (pp 310-312) up to "Hidden History of Choice" on page 312. Explain the legislation in this section. What does the author mean by unmaking Brown?

3. Explain, with detail, the sections from "Hidden History of Choice" (pp 312-314) including "A Paradigm Shift". For example, what policies/practices have and haven't worked?

4. What are the facts and contradictions that Ellen presents on pages315-316? Up to the section called: why are some mixed neighborhoods stable.

5. Why are some mixed neighborhoods stable? Explain this in detail. What is the 'racial neighborhood stereotyping' hypothesis? Explain all three parts.

6. What are the policies that Ellen presents on page 317; how is that measured in "Testing the Theory"? What is the data? What does the author mean by "neighborhoods sheltered from black growth are more stable?" Cover all up to "Policy Implications, Big and Small".

Is There a Need for a Permanent Voting Rights Act?

1. Introduce and summarize the topic "Is There a Need for a Permanent Voting Rights Act?"

2. Introduce and summarize the 'yes' side of this issue from Richard Valelly concerning the pertinence of the 1965 Voting Rights Act.

3. Introduce and summarize the 'no' side of this issue from Abigail Thernstrom concerning redistricting and the Voting Rights Act.

4. Explain in detail what Abigail Thernstrom means by "The Act Transformed".

5. Explain in detail what Abigail Thernstrom means by "A Legacy of Progress" and "A Legacy Endangered".

6. Explain in detail what Abigail Thernstrom means by "Getting Beyond Race".