Race, Ethnicity, & the U.S
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Race, Ethnicity, & the U.S.
Chapter 1
In the book “The Third Option,” Miles McPherson talks about the importance of understanding and respecting people of all races and cultures. According to McPherson, it is acceptable to recognize the color differences because not seeing the color is typically ignoring the existing racial tension. However, despite the color of an individual, all people should be treated equally (McPherson, 2020). Pastor McPherson further argues that we should see people as individuals, not group members (McPherson, 2020). He believes that this is how Jesus saw people and that we should follow His example. McPherson begins by talking about how we often see people in terms of “color.” He says that we often judge people based on the color of their skin and that this is not right. He argues that we should see people as individuals and respect them for who they are, not for their appearance. He then talks about the story of Jesus and the Samaritan woman. He points out that Jesus did not judge the woman based on her race or culture. Instead, he saw her as an individual and treated her with respect. McPherson argues that we should follow Jesus’ example and not judge people based on their race or culture.
Chapter 2
In his book The Third Option, Miles McPherson outlines three expressions of racism. The first is “individual racism,” when an individual believes one race is superior to another (McPherson, 2020). I have experienced this expression of racism in my personal life, where people comment negatively about another race or engage in discriminatory behavior. People of color are discriminated against in schools and healthcare facilities. The second expression of racism is “institutional racism,” which occurs when institutions or organizations promote or perpetuate racist beliefs or policies (McPherson, 2020). I have seen this happen where we have segregated housing or schools or hiring practices that favor one race over another. The third expression of racism is “structural racism,” a system of inequality that gives advantages to one race over another (McPherson, 2020). In real-life situations, this can be seen in socioeconomic disparities between races or the overrepresentation of people of color in the criminal justice system.
I favor racial in-group solidarity because it allows us to advocate better for our shared interests and values. I prefer racial in-group cohesion because it strengthens our community and makes us more resilient in the face of adversity. Finally, I favor racial in-group pride because it affirms our worth and dignity as individuals and a group.
Chapter 5
My answer is false. According to The Third Option by Miles McPherson, everyone has racial blind spots. We all have biases and prejudices that we are not aware of. The implicit association test can help us understand our racial biases and prejudices.
Chapter 6
In the past, I have been hurt by someone’s blind spot, specifically a lack of awareness. I have had friends who were unaware of how their words or actions affected me. Sometimes, this hurt my feelings and negatively affected how I perceived them. Since we’re from different backgrounds, they could forget that we do not share similar cultures and speak ill of my cultural practices.
One of the nine blind spots that McPherson talks about is the need for acceptance. This is something that I can relate to. I have always been a bit of an outsider and have always felt like I needed to prove myself to others. This has led to me being quite a people pleaser and constantly needing to be liked. I am also a perfectionist, which sometimes makes me quite hard on myself. I am always striving to be better and to be accepted by others. This need for acceptance can sometimes be a bit of a burden, but it also motivates me to be the best I can be.
Chapter 7
The type of people whose opinion about race-related things differs from mine is the “racist camp .”According to McPherson (2020), this racists camps comprises people who believe that race is a natural and essential societal factor. They think that white people are superior to other races and that whites should be in control of society. I am an anti-racist camp, and I believe that race is not an accurate or essential factor in society. In my opinion, all races are equal, and that race should not be used to discriminate against people. I harbor some feelings of hatred in my heart towards the racist camps. I believe people who leave wounds on other people’s hearts deserve less in life. They are enemies of humankind, and society should unite against them. They have no room in our community.
To stop discrimination due to color, I think we should go back to the drawing board and look at where racism emerged. Racism started when we started to judge creations. It is not our will and power that one person is more beautifully created than another. Black or white, we are all created by some supernatural being in His will. We only have the power and will to appreciate the creations as they are not rated. Let us all start by teaching kids at school that racism is unacceptable. We have to teach our kids that humanity is based in our souls and that person-to-person love, caring, and unity are what they should be taught, not just how to be successful in life. Educating kids to live in harmony with everyone will be a culture that will wipe out our racial abuse forever. Think of why you are a Christian or Muslim or any religion. Most of us are because we grew up in families that have certain faith, and we were taught to believe, and when we became conscious minds, we embraced the teachings and passed them to our kids. Therefore, to end racism, we teach the next generation the right way of life. Also, It is so important that we communicate with one another to bring our hearts one step closer. We need to be willing to share our thoughts and feelings and listen to the other person’s words. We also need to be patient and understanding and give each other the benefit of the doubt. When we do these things, we will find that we can connect on a deeper level and that our relationship will become stronger.
Chapter 14
I have much internal dialogue about race. I think about race in class, talking to my friends at work, and watching the news. It’s hard to have an honest conversation about race because I feel like I’m always walking on eggshells. I do not want to say the wrong thing and offend someone. I think our society is too quick to judge people based on the color of their skin. We need to have a more honest conversation about race. Still, I’m unsure how to have that conversation without offending someone. We need to learn to see people as individuals and not judge them based on the color of their skin. We must come together and have an honest conversation about race and learn to respect and honor each other.
I could choose to engage in a dialogue about race with someone of Indian ethnicity. I would love to learn about their experience living in North and South America. I admire how this ethical group maintains tribal affiliations. Their culture and community attachment make them amazing people. The benefit of engaging with such ethnicity is that it would help me as a person to have a good relationship and be open to discussing with anyone in life. This conversation helps people learn about different cultures, which is the beauty of life. Having a moment to share my own experiences with racism and discrimination and then asking if they have ever experienced anything similar will help everyone to end racism and enjoy each other’s company. Expressing thoughts and feelings on race and racism and how other people think with open minds affect our society positively.
Chapter 17
The cultural practice that hinders me from getting to know or honoring those who are different is my habit of viewing people different from me as a threat. I do not take the time to get to know or understand their perspective. I judge them harshly, and I am quick to anger. This attitude keeps me from seeing the good in people who are different from me. It also keeps me from being able to learn from them or grow as a person. I need to know to see people who are different from me as an opportunity to learn and grow instead of a threat. Only then will I be able to get to know them and honor them for who they are.
One cultural practice that has enriched my life, according to “The Third Option” by Miles McPherson, is the concept of ” Ubuntu.” This African philosophy emphasizes the interconnectedness of all humanity and the importance of community. This philosophy has helped me to see the value in all people, regardless of their backgrounds or circumstances. It has also helped me to be more compassionate and understanding of others. This philosophy has enriched my life and made me a better person.
Conclusion
The Third Option by Miles McPherson is a book about race relations in America. I have learned much from this book, including how to improve racial relations. McPherson argues that the only way to improve race relations in America is for blacks and whites to work together. He argues that the current system, in which blacks are seen as inferior to whites, is not working. I have also learned from this book that the black community needs to take responsibility for its problems and that the white community needs to be more understanding and accepting of black culture. Also, from the book, I have learned that the most equipped person to refill one’s racial blind spots is someone willing to have difficult conversations about race and racism. This friend should also be someone you feel safe and comfortable discussing these issues with.
References
McPherson, M. (2020). The third option: Hope for a racially divided nation. Howard Books.
