Prejudice and the African-American Situation

I have been given three texts, in which I will outline the attitude of the author, towards the African-American situation. Then, I will compare text 1 and text 2, such as language and tone. Finally, I will take starting point in one of the three given texts, and argue for my own view on the situation. In the first text ‘Black is being seen in a whole new light’, Yolanda Young, lawyer and columnist who writes for USA today, describes the “new look” on African-Americans. She explains that Barack and Michelle Obama, with their status, have created a new image on Blacks. Young has a very positive attitude about the topic, and feels more or less equal. She also feels recognized by the white population, and in L. 4-6 she points out that she almost receives compliments from white people on a daily basis, for an example “you’re so pretty, you look like Michelle Obama.” This positive attitude is being supported by a study of 300 college students, all of them are white, made in 2008, the same period as the election of President Obama. The study showed that 51% of the students preferred white people. Previous research, before Obama’s election, had seen around 80% of the students preferring whites. Finally, Yolanda Young mentions that the growing positive attitude, also is seen with children. She takes starting point in an experiment made by Kenneth and Mamie Clark, which showed that an overwhelming amount of the children thought a white doll was prettier than a black doll. In the text, L. 27-29, Young said “Rather than be discouraged, I say give it four more years. Self-esteem isn’t grown in an incubator; rather, it is influenced by external images and feedback in a process that streams into adulthood”. Here, she says that it takes time to create new images and looks on African-Americans, and that self-esteem is something that does not come in one day. In the second text, an excerpt of a speech by Eric Holder, attorney General in Obamas government. Holder thinks that people talk too little about the whole situation about races in general, and that the topic has become a taboo. Holder thinks this is a problem, and therefor he requests that USA as a country has to progress in the area, and to become a fully melting pot. Holder points out that the African-Americans are a huge part of the American history, and to understand Americas history, you must know the history of the African-Americans. He explains the importance of this in L. 41-44, in the end of his speech. The attitude in the speech is mostly not very positive. However, Holder also has a very firm and strong attitude in his speech, and expresses that he is going to lead the country to a better place. In the third and last text ‘The obsession over race continues’ by Walter Blackstrom, a columnist, Blackstrom criticises the obsession about race, thinking it is a topic that should not be referred to at all. He thinks it creates an image of black people and white people, with the blacks being the victims, and the whites being guilty. He uses an example, where he went to a kindergarten, and was shown a book about slavery by one of the teachers. Also, his good friend asked him why black people don’t smile so much. Blackstrom is not happy with the book, the question, and the ongoing prejudice in general. Blackstrom has a very negative attitude about the topic, and he thinks there is still racism in the American society, but mostly it is created by talking about the topic.