“White Flight in Networked Publics? How Race and Class Shaped American Teen
Engagement with Myspace and Facebook,” Danah Boyd
Danah Boyd looks at the demographics of MySpace and Facebook and Facebook and
finds that these online communities reflect the same social categories of race and class
found in the larger society. In fact, she traces a movement away from MySpace to
Facebook, and identifies the trend as “White flight” ” a trend that mirrors the movement
of Whites from urban to suburban neighborhoods in the 20th century.
Like the _______________, online environments are often organized by identity and
social categories, according to Boyd.
a. suburban neighborhood
b. urban neighborhood
c. school yard
d. government
“Rethinking Families and Community: The Color, Class, and Centrality of
Extended Kin Ties,” Naomi Gerstel
Naomi Gerstel argues that limiting the definition of “family” to those composed of
husbands and wives or parents and young children misses much of the experience of
families as they actually exist. Calling for recognition of the importance of extended
kin, Gerstel illustrates that the development and maintenance of family support
networks is an important class-based survival strategy. In addition, Gerstel analyzes
how marriage and the nuclear family cut both men and women off from extended and
fictive kin, an idea that challenges much of classical theory on the subject.
Extended kinship is _______________ in the face of economic difficulties.
a. a survival strategy
b. a hindrance to social networking
c. counter indicated
d. a drain on precious family resources
“Is This A White Country, or What?” Lillian Rubin
Lillian Rubin demonstrates the links between economic competition, racial prejudice,
and the anti-immigration sentiments expressed by working class whites. Rubin points
out that while there is a long history of racial hostility toward immigrant groups in
America, the limited employment opportunities and the darker skin tones of recent
immigrants have intensified these hostilities. Racism and nativism, according to Rubin,
is apparent in Whites’ views of recent immigrants and people of color. The visibility of
and the demands for recognition expressed by these groups are seen as threats to whites’
economic livelihood and their understanding of America. Rubin’s interviews with
working class Whites illustrate this point, as well as two contradictions evident in
Whites’ attitudes toward immigrants and people of color: Whites resent the unity of
these groups, yet they exclude them from dominant society. Whites criticize members
of these groups for their perceived failures as well as their successes. Rubin asserts that
Whites have begun to reclaim their ethnic heritage as a way to secure what they see as
their hard earned position of privilege in American society.
According to “Is This A White Country, or What?” the visibility of immigrant
groups and people of color has:
a. been well-received by most Whites.
b. led Whites to consider their own racial identity.
c. meant an end to racism in the U.S.
d. created unity of all races in the struggle against racism.
“Label Us Angry” Jeremiah Torres
Torres is still angry, years after an incident that he describes as “the most painful and
shocking event” of his life. Growing up in Palo Alto California, he and his friend Carlos
had not experienced overt racism until they had a confrontation with a speeding driver
who cut them off as they were leaving their high school parking lot. The events that
followed ” from the meanness of the people in the other car to the reactions of police
officers and the different ways in which the author and his friend handled their anger ”
illustrate some dramatic consequences of racist assumptions and racist labeling.
The author tried to channel his anger by:
a. writing about it
b. fighting back with violence
c. hating white people
d. dropping out of school and joining a gang
“Media Magic: Making Class Invisible,” Gregory Mantsios
Gregory Mantsios examines the way media misrepresents social class by creating an
illusion of an egalitarian society and thereby hiding social and economic inequalities.
Mantsios argues that the media creates a false sense of universal membership in the
middle class. He claims that the working and middle classes come to fear and hold the
poor responsible for their hardships while remaining blind to the damage the upper
class inflicts on society.
Gregory Mantsios argues in “Media Magic: Making Class Invisible,” that the
media represents the concerns of the wealthy. Which of the following are examples of
this?
a. the large amount of space devoted to business news and stock market quotes
b. the large quantity of coupons included in daily newspapers
c. the medias consistent focus on structural inequalities that cause social problems
d. the frequent coverage of movements for social change
“What White Supremacists Taught a Jewish Scholar about Identity,” Abby L.
Ferber
Abby L. Ferber examines the interdependence of systems of oppression. Her research
on white supremacy reveals the connection white supremacists groups make between
anti-Semitism and racism in their efforts to maintain the dominant position of Whites in
society. Ferber asserts that the changing racial classification of Jews, as revealed in their
history, demonstrates the social construction of race. Ferber contrasts her own
experience as a Jewish woman, who racially identifies herself as White, with that of her
ancestors who experienced discrimination based on their designation as an inferior,
non-White race. The variability of racial classifications directly challenges the white
supremacists view of innate, and undeniable, White supremacy. Ferber contends that in
order to maintain their position of racial superiority, white supremacists target Jews in
an attempt to deny their evolved racial classification, thereby denying the relativeness
and ambiguity of race.
Ferber points out the identity of white supremacists, and the white racial purity they
espouse requires the:
a. maintenance of secure boundaries.
b. maintenance of open boundaries.
c. maintenance of closed boundaries.
d. maintenance of protected.
“What White Supremacists Taught a Jewish Scholar about Identity,” Abby L.
Ferber
Abby L. Ferber examines the interdependence of systems of oppression. Her research
on white supremacy reveals the connection white supremacists groups make between
anti-Semitism and racism in their efforts to maintain the dominant position of Whites in
society. Ferber asserts that the changing racial classification of Jews, as revealed in their
history, demonstrates the social construction of race. Ferber contrasts her own
experience as a Jewish woman, who racially identifies herself as White, with that of her
ancestors who experienced discrimination based on their designation as an inferior,
non-White race. The variability of racial classifications directly challenges the white
supremacists view of innate, and undeniable, White supremacy. Ferber contends that in
order to maintain their position of racial superiority, white supremacists target Jews in
an attempt to deny their evolved racial classification, thereby denying the relativeness
and ambiguity of race.
Ferber reveals white supremacy is not a movement just about hatred, but even
more about fear:
a. of the strength and courage reflected in Black identity.
b. of the vulnerability and instability of white identity and privilege.
c. of the deceptiveness of white identity and privilege.
d. of newcomers.
“I Hate It When People Treat Me Like a Fxxx-up,” Jeanne Theoharis
Jeanne Theoharis responds to the commonly held belief that urban minority students
fail to value education by studying attitudes of African American and Latino high
school students who attend an intensely segregated Los Angeles school. The writings of
these students debunk the myth that they do not value an education, and indicate to the
contrary, “how profoundly students value education, how deeply they wish to succeed
academically, and how much they hope to make their families proud.” Theoharis
analyzes the schooling these students receive, identifying structural explanations for
why these highly motivated students sometimes claim that “school sucks.”
At Fremont, for every hundred students who start freshman year, _______________will
be able to complete requirements making them eligible for admission to a four year
college
a. 70
b. 32
c. 29
d. 16
“A Dream Deferred: Undocumented Students at CUNY,” Carolina Bank Munoz
Carolina Bank Munoz argues that contemporary immigration policy ignores structural
conditions that force people to migrate to the United States. These policies, she argues,
seek individual solutions to structural problems, thereby unfairly denying college
education to undocumented students. Many undocumented students came here as
children with parents who obtained visas that eventually expired. Under current policies
it is difficult for these students to obtain documentation. The author advocates for
passage of the Dream Act, which would make it easier for students to obtain
documentation. Documentation would not only increase the life chances of the students,
but would also assure that this country does not lose “a generation of extraordinarily
bright and talented students…”
Our immigration system has its roots in:
a. a shared belief in equal opportunity for all
b. institutionalized racism
c. family law
d. the historical open-door policy
“Darker Shade of Queer,” Chung-suk Han
Chung-suk Han writes as a gay man of color who must confront racism in
“gayborhoods’ and gay organizations and must at the same time confront homophobia
among people of color. Ultimately, he says, the crisis for gay men of color is a crisis of
masculinity ” a crisis that manifests in different ways for gay men of diverse races.
According to the author, many gay white folks become ____ than non-gay white folks
while many people of color become ____.
a. less racist; less accepting
b. more racist; more homophobic
c. less racist; less homophobic
d. more homophobic; more gay
“The Myth of the Latin Woman: I Just Met a Girl Named Maria,” Judith Ortiz
Cofer
In her essay,Judith Ortiz Cofer offers her experience as a Puerto Rican woman. She
discusses how cultural differences have singled her out as a target of stereotypes,
disapproval, and inappropriate treatment by members of mainstream society. Cofer
recognizes the voice her education has given her, and she uses it to open others up to
her culture and experiences.
As noted in “The Myth of the Latin Woman: I Just Met a Girl Named Maria,” Judith
Ortiz Cofer discusses which of the following as setting her apart?
a. appearance and clothing
b. taste in music
c. social class
d. her accent
“The First Americans: Americans Indians,” Matthew Snipp
Matthew Snipp presents a historical summary of the United States’ treatment of
American Indians: removal, assimilation, the Indian New Deal, termination and
relocation, and self determination. In the early 1800s removal of American Indians was
the goal of the United States. Increased population and newly acquired land encouraged
the push of American Indians westward, first through negotiated treaties and ultimately
through forced removal. These actions resulted in severe hardship for American Indians
physically and culturally. At the end of the 1800s the government policy regarding
American Indians shifted to assimilation, or rather “humane extinction.” The goal of the
government, Snipp points out was to “civilize” American Indians through religion,
education, ownership of property, and agricultural careers. The effect of assimilation on
American Indians was the loss and disorganization of land, the impact of which is still
being felt today.
In the early 1930s the government encompassed American Indians in the New Deal
programs. This shift in treatment demonstrated a new respect for American Indian
culture and land. Economic and infrastructure support was granted to American Indian
reservations, and tribal governance was allowed. American Indian policy took a
different shift after WWII with the goals of termination and relocation. The United
States government sought to terminate their dealing with American Indians and relocate
American Indians to urban areas. In the era of the Civil Rights movement, yet another
shift in United States and American Indian relations occurred. “Self-determination,” the
goal of American Indian autonomy, became the focus resulting in greater control of
tribal governments and the end to termination policies. Snipp concludes with a
discussion of the current status of American Indians. Population growth among
American Indians has increased on reservations and in Urban areas. Snipp points out
that both of these segments of the American Indian population face economic hardship.
Urban American Indians also face the struggle of maintaining their culture away from
reservations. Pan-Indianism has served to unite American Indian tribes in their fight for
survival.
The “Trail of Tears” resulted from which of the following policies:
a. the Indian New Deal.
b. removal.
c. assimilation.
d. self-determination.
“Is Capitalism Gendered and Racialized?” Joan Acker
Capitalism has been dominated by white males and built by a subordinated gender and
race segregated labor force. It has been buttressed by a largely unpaid force of
caregivers who are primarily female. These gender and race divisions of labor still exist
and are global in scope. Furthermore, capitalist endeavors are gendered in that
hegemonic masculinities define dominant values in the norms of corporate conduct.
_________________ has been an essential component of power within capitalist
history.
a. Compassion
b. Violence
c. Fairness
d. Kindness