Essay On Being Black In America

b. Using the scores from your team's weighted scoring model and working with regard to Ringo Sho and Nemawashi, make and support your recommendation for the RX 330 North American plant location - TMMC or a factory in the USA.

Being “Black” in America means living with prejudice instilled by racist institutions that hinder people of color’s ability to thrive in this country. In his piece “On Being Black in America”, Olúfémi Táíwò states that, “Black people have never had the full benefits of American citizenship extended to them” (Táíwò 2003, 45). To be Black, or colored, in America, individuals must adapt to the prevailing white privilege. They do not have the entitlements or privileges of a white American who has unlimited access to freedom and justice, meant for “all.” As such, they live a “Black” experience.

Since the early 1900s, Black women have had a fascination with their hair. More explicitly, they have had a fascination with straightening their hair. The need to be accepted by the majority class has caused them to do so. Though the image of straight hair as being better than coarse hair still hasn’t left the Black community, there has been a surge of non straight hairstyles since the nineteen sixties. Wearing more natural hairstyles, which ironically enough include ‘weaves’ and ‘hair extensions’ has been considered to be more empowered and more enlightened. However, this image comes with a price, and though it appears the ‘natural’ hairstyle movement has advanced Black women, it has actually set

However, culture cannot defined how enough of your race you are. The article, ‘What does it mean to be Black-ish?’ it discuss how culture incorporates with how Black you really are by referring back to a new ABC comedy called Black-ish which entirely focuses on a Black father and family in the suburbs who wonders if his family have lost touch to their African-American roots and identity. In the article, the author stated that, “Black people like the Johnsons (Black-ish family) who live in the suburbs and have prestigious careers and send their kids to private school are not real Black. They’re back-ish. If you want to be real Black, you need to stay in the hood.” (Cleveland, 2014) This thought process is comparing rich, suburban Blacks to low-class, urban Blacks by saying that richer Blacks are not true Blacks because of their selective status and because of this it forms a negative racial identity and produce the thought that all Blacks are alike: urban neighborhood, excel at sports and hip-hop references. The author also brings up a Tom Gilovich, a social psychologist, quote, ““Racists who maintain that African-Americans can’t excel outside sports and entertainment are unlikely to be the likes of, say, Barack Obama or Attorney General Eric Holder.” … In other words, President Obama and Attorney General Eric Holder aren’t black; they’re black-ish.” (Cleveland, 2014) In this quote is explaining that because

In the late 1960s, the Afro hairstyles became a political statement, announcing, “I am black and proud” and challenged white aesthetics. This movement asked Black people to show their natural beauty without shame, spreading to the world that black is beautiful (BlackHistory.com). However, two decades later, this statement has slowly faded away and has been replaced by fake hair weaves and hair straightening chemical creams. Today, African Americans spend over half a trillion dollars on hair care and weaves, more than any other racial group. Majority of African American women do not feel the need to wear their hair naturally, and choose to chemically straighten their hair (Johnson & Bankhead, 2014).

1b. I am a woman, I practice Catholicism, I am 26 years old. As for my socio economic background I come from a middle class family. Growing up in the Congo we didn’t have much money, my parents did everything in their power to provide us with everything that we need to have the best possible life. For that reason my dad got a job here in Denver twenty plus years ago and we had to start all over. It was through the help of many family friends and relatives that we were able to have all the chances in life. My parents had to go to school and learn English and work at the same time. They had sacrificed a lot in order to make sure that we had everything in order to succeed in this

Sadly, society does not see our hair this way. Black women's hair is measured against the European standard of beauty and labeled ugly, undesirable, and unmanageable. How we wear our hair determines how others perceive us, which could lead to stereotyping. Cultural appropriation of traditionally Black hair styles (especially by white men and women) robs us of credit due for creating and perfecting the hairstyles. During slavery, African women were forced to manipulate their hair using

While Kylie Jenner’s faux dreadlocks for her ‘rebel-themed’ Teen Vogue photoshoot were described as beautiful, edgy, and raw by various style magazines, Zendaya Coleman’s dreadlocks she wore on the Oscars red carpet were described as making her look like she “smells like patchouli oil. Or, weed," by Fashion Police host Giuliana Rancic. America loves to appropriate black culture, even when black people themselves, don’t receive the same amount of love from America. From box braids to dashikis, black culture has been stolen by America and used for their own personal gain, disregarding the historical context and meaning of these traditions or blatantly perpetuating stereotypes.

“To be black and conscious in America is to be in a constant state of rage” - James Baldwin There are so many ways that you could possibly interpret that question, such as what it is like to be Black in America, how do I feel about being Black, or what do I feel being Black means. I will go with the last option, because that somewhat encapsulates the other two. As I said in my previous essay, I have learned so much in my years at UC Santa Cruz and it has immensely shaped how I would answer this question. Before I would probably say that what it means to be Black is probably to be the best athlete on the team, to be the funniest in the room, or to have amazing game when it comes to women.

This research aims to discover the motives of black women and their hair/hairstyles they choose. In an attempt to answer this question, I observed a salon that dealt with a predominantly black female clientele. While there, I noted the dynamics between the hairdressers and the clients: whether the stylist have an input/impact on what hairstyles are chosen, what are the intentions or goals of the women when they choose a style?, and what the style the majority of them gravitate towards? It was a very friendly atmosphere so I was able to interact with both the customers and the clients and obtain more information beyond the physical/visual aspect of the environment.

African Americans now constitute nearly 1 million of the total 2.3 million incarcerated; that is 60% of 30% of the African American population. African Americas are incarcerated at nearly six times the rate of whites. “Between 6.6% and 7.5% of all black males ages 25 to 39 were imprisoned in 2011, which were the highest imprisonment rates among the measured sex, race, Hispanic origin, and age groups." (Carson, E. Ann, and Sabol, William J. 2011.) Stated on Americanprogram.org “ The Sentencing Project reports that African Americans are 21 percent more likely to receive mandatory-minimum sentences than white defendants and are 20 percent more likely to be sentenced to prison.” Hispanics and African Americans make up 58% of all prisoners in 2008, even though African Americans and Hispanics make up approximately one quarter of the US population. (Henderson 2000). Slightly 15% of the inmate population is made up of 283,000 Hispanic prisoners.

In Ellis Cose last chapter in The Envy of the World: On Being a Black Man in America, he list twelve “Hard Truths.” The first truth reads: “Play the race card carefully , and at your own peril.” To play the race card means to use race to gain an advantage in a situation. At your own peril is another way of saying at your own risk. The whole phrase as a whole acknowledges the fact that being of a certain race holds an advantage. In order to gain the advantages during different situations you must use the race as a tool, but carefully. Being that you must be cautious with using your race, negative consequences may follow if the race card is used the wrong way. This is why it must be done at your own risk so there is no one to blame but yourself.

Being an individual of color has certainly taught me a few valuable lessons in my 17 years of life. The social constructs of slavery and racism is not over. No matter how much wealth you posses or how much “freedom” you’ve acquired, you still are considered a “nigga.” Even though being black in America varies and differs from every person, I live in a generation where I am systematically oppressed and have to rise up beyond the stereotypes of being black. I’ve learned that saying hello is just another way of saying goodbye.

Many black girls go thru social identity issues on a daily basis. Skin color has created division even within black people because fairer skin tones are highly praised in the Negro community. Discrimination is used everywhere against black girls with a deeper skin pigment per example, makeup brands neglect the commercialization of darker shades of foundation, hair products for women of color

There has been a notable amount of conversation on the internet on the rebirth of the natural hair movement. Cherise Luter (2014) states that despite afros and the natural hair movement not being a new concept (i.e. the Black Power Movement), it has gone under what she calls a “refreshing change”. Furthermore, what used to be “I’m black and I’m proud”, has been replaced with “I’m me and I’m proud” (Luter 2016). So, what is the natural hair movement? It is defined as a movement where black women decide to not conform to the social norms of chemically altering their hair and wearing it in its natural, kinky, or curled state (Joignot 2015). The movement could also be considered as an outlet for black women to display their racial and cultural pride or to articulate their “political position (Brown 2014:297). However, simply the terminology “movement” is something that should be shocking to many. There is a great amount of historical context behind the continuous influence Eurocentric beauty ideals have had on black women for centuries. According to Nadia Brown (2014), Black natural hair throughout history has proven to be recognized as “either unintended or intended personal and political statements” (298). the beauty standard in Western society which praises European hair textures, has influenced many black women to be critical of other black women who choose to chemically straighten their hair, accusing them of being subservient to the dominant and pervasive racist