What I took from this class is more than I hoped too. In the beginning I was taking this class because a lot of my friends told me about it and how awesome this class was. I needed a sociology course so why not take one that I would enjoy. I didn’t expect to learn as much about race and relations as I did. I’m a very open person so; it takes a lot to shock me about the world. I’m very educated in some parts of the world, religion, and race. However, the statistics and types of speakers taught me more and made me feel uneducated about the world around me. There are so many different things I took away from this class I don’t know where to begin. My memory isn’t that good so, I’ll just mention the things that stuck with me. For instance, when we talked about how money and success ladder goes. Everyone at the bottom will remain their no matter how many benefits or help we receive from the government. The people in front of us will always remain there if they keep receiving the same help the “poor people” are because they will always have more than us. Yes, the bottom will rise from the assistance, but they will not get in front of those who love money or who are afraid to fail. Another thing was the only class where I think there was perfect attendance. This class was all about sex and how male centered everything is. This didn’t shock me as much because I already knew or had a feeling that this was a man centered world. I mean we had to fight for women’s rights. I wouldn’t be sitting in the lecture or writing this paper if the women before me didn’t fight for the right to be educated. Still in today’s world most of what we do is centered around men. For example, how we dress, what we read, and what we get paid; women get paid less than men and I’m sure this will remain until a woman fights for equal pay and rights. I also, learned that in order to understand and realize the differences in race and ethnicity, I need to accept and bring them into my life, therefore making it more comfortable. If I stay in my own bubble with people exactly like me who share the same views as me and are of the same race and ethnicity, I will remain closed minded. I need to take every opportunity in front of me to get to know and understand people of all races and backgrounds, rather than be hesitant or fearful of it. I used to be this way, but after taking this class I have opened up more.

Let me give you a little in sight of my life before I explain my answer and reasoning. I was adopted twice, once when I was a baby and once when I was 11 years old. I was severely abused mentally, physically, and sexually until I was adopted again at 11 years old. Back then I could kill a person because of all of the rage I had held inside of me, but no I couldn’t hurt a fly. The only way I could kill someone now is if I were attacked or my family and loved ones were threatened. I think it’s easier for someone with a horrible past or serious anger issues to be lured into a murder. They need to take their aggression out on someone or something. I remember as a child I would break things and hit our backyard gate with a broom until either the broom or gate broke. It felt good to release my anger out on something. I was saved at a young enough age to be turned around and shown love and affection. I learned to love and to let go of my past. I believe if I still were living in hat lifestyle it wouldn’t take a lot to convince me to kill someone. I remember having lots of thoughts of hurting others and the hurting the ones that did harm to me. I wanted revenge and didn’t know any better. I strongly believe in karma and I learned to benefit from my past and let go of my pain and aggression I held onto. I have gotten better at forgiving those who did harm to me and I have found that forgiveness is the best key to a happier life. I think the only way to justify killing someone is out of protection of yourself or your family. No other reason should be accepted of killing someone, well maybe a serious mental person. Then again, how do you qualify someone is mental unstable, but stable enough to murder? We see many cases were people get the insane plea bargain, but how were they good enough to kill, but not see right from wrong? That’s a different issue I can go on about later. However, it’s a good question to ask yourself. As for me, I’m pretty sure I won’t go on any killing sprees and then blame it on my past. I’m a good example of early intervention. As I’ve said before if I wasn’t saved at the time that I was, I would have been one of those people on the news that murdered her whole family. I’m not that girl anymore and only if I am put in a situation to protect is the only way I would be resulted to killing another human being.

I want to believe that I am in stage 4 because I dont judge other people based on their race. Yes, I am guilty of racial slurs in a joking way, but I could have easy been racist against African Americans. I myself am African American, but I am very light skinned which opened up a lot of jokes and criticism against me. I was always made fun of because I was a light skin African American with long beautiful hair. To make matters worse my own family disliked me because of these attributes I had no control over. I was repeated subjected to name calling like white girl, Casper, and whitty. This went on my whole childhood until I was adopted at 11 years old. I almost hated black people, but I was moved into an area of diversity and I was shown a different side of people. I wasnt called names or made fun of because of my complexion or race. I started to open my mind open and accept others the way they are and understand that some people are either jealous or racist. I have grown a lot since then and became as close to nonjudgmental as I can. Therefore, I believe I am in stage 4 because I have my moments, but I openly accept people for who they are and not what they look like. I have friends of all races and dated multiple races as well. I look at it this way if you are a good genuine person with a fun personality thats all that matters to me. I am accepting of most people, meaning I dont take kindly to those who are borderline racist, have a negative spirit, or loves drama. Normally those kind of people and I dont mix. I have come to terms that I am multiracial and not like most people. My hair, body type, skin complexion, and personality makes me different from everyone, well most people at least. I stand out like a sour thumb in a group of black or brown people, but I dont feel uncomfortable like I used too when I was younger. I understand now people are made different and it doesnt matter what race or ethnicity not every person looks the same. Variety matters upon the gene pool and bloodlines. I am a proud light skinned African American with good hair and I accept people for who they are. This is why I say I am in stage 4. I dont want to say I am in stage 5 because once someone comes off fake to me or does something questionable if not the first, but second statement will probably have something to do with race in it. I am not perfect I grew up around racism and no matter how hard I try to be 100 acceptable some of my statements revert back to race or ethnicity.

I want to say that the comfort in saying “gay is a choice” are for those people who can’t find it in themselves to fully believe that someone can fall in love with the same sex and still be happy. Being openly gay has come a long way because back in the day being was seen as a mental disease and was always looked down upon. This was especially true the bible thumping people. Although the world will never be rid of gay hating people just like racism will never leave this earth. We are getting more “comfortable” with gay’s in today’s society, but not everyone will be on board. “Gay is a choice” will always be a way out for those who don’t fully understand the way of love. Also, how it doesn’t matter who or what the person is you can’t help whom you’re attracted to or whom you love. I personally don’t like the phrase “gay is a choice” because studies have shown that people are indeed born to be attracted to the same sex. Therefore, gay is not a choice it’s a way of life. If people could stop being ignorant to this concept and just accept that same sex love, relationships, and marriage are going to thrive even more now that it’s becoming socially acceptable. I always try to live my life to be as unbiased as I can be because I am not the one to judge anyone. I believe that the world can slowly get better if everyone began to live a life of being nonjudgmental and unbiased. I know that this statement sounds hippie land unlikely to happen, but I like to believe that one day this world can be at peace somehow. Accepting that gay is not choice little by little then maybe the phrase “gay is choice” can become less dominate and be diminished from day to day living. All and all no one can help whom he or she falls in love with like the saying goes “love has no boundaries” and there is someone for everyone. The topic of being gay is also a taboo subject someone is always going to be passionate or dispassionate about it. No matter what the topic is going to be a heated debate because not everyone is too thrilled that some states passed same sex marriage. I could go on and on about gay marriage, but that is the topic right now. However, I will say that no one should care who anyone marries because they are not marring that person. Therefore, strong feelings about this shouldn’t be voiced on the topic. I see it like this if it’s not affecting you or harming you in any way then you shouldn’t feel like you have to make a change. Things are the way they are and if it’s not starting a third world war then leave it alone.

Being raped is a very traumatic experience and to top it off the woman becomes pregnant. Now the situation becomes should she receive an abortion or not. The issue being she’s ending a child’s life. Abortion has always been a hot commodity in the U.S for years. However, I am pro life, but I am biased because I don’t believe women should birth a child that was developed in such a horrendous way. Now the mother has to raise a child that was conceived by rape reliving the experience everyday. I know this is a bit of an extreme, but I feel like this is what a mother of an unwanted child would feel like seeing them everyday. There is the option of adoption, but when the child grows up and later finds out why he/she was given away they might feel a bit of shame on their end even thought it’s not their fault at all. The political argument was based on their belief that the manner in which life was conceived doesn’t have anything to do with the how he/she came into this world and that they shouldn’t suffer (be aborted) because of that. The other argument is that women body’s can kill off the sperm during the trauma. From my understanding this means if a women become pregnant after being raped then her body enjoyed it and welcomed the sperm to create a child. I can understand the first argument because it’s true, but clearly they haven’t meet with raped women or women who birth children as a result of them being raped. If they did then they would know that it’s a difficult situation to be in and to have a child unwilling and having to care for them. The second argument is just plain ignorant and disrespectful to all women. Women bodies are remarkable because we can go through so many traumas and still have a functional body. The other issue is what if the victim is as young as 12? Do you still allow the child to be born? If the answer is no because of the age and she still has her own life to live, then the argument is fair to all women because it’s allowing one group to receive an abortion and not another. Puberty begin as young as 8 years old and is liable to birth children. So, do we allow an 8 year old who was raped becomes pregnant and birth a child? I’m sure that would open up mucho ethical issues and issues for the child. This is a touchy subject to begin with, but politicians and the U.S need to stop being ignorant and put women best interest first. Raped women shouldn’t be punished to birth an unwanted rape baby or denied the right to chose to abort a child.

I always try not to judge a book by its cover because even the nicest looking person can be a murderer in disguise. I think this guy is very approachable because I do have family that wear dreadlocks, dresses in loose clothing, and has a suspicious look about them. My uncle and brothers are the nicest men you would ever meet, but if you judged them like you judge this man in the video then you would never know. I always try to give people a chance before I decide what kind of person I think they are. I am a pretty good judge of character and I live in the hood. I can spot a good guy from a bad one. Growing up I always looked like the “good girl”, but hung around the “bad crowd”. This was because my friends wore baggy clothes, hoodies, and always into trouble. I found it funny because I was classed in the “good girl” category because of the way I dressed and annunciated my words when speaking, but I was always doing mischievous things with my friends as well. I knew my friends weren’t bad we were just being kinds looking for things to do to entertain ourselves. From that experience I knew never to have a perception about someone before getting to know him or her. So, I do view this man as approachable in my book because of my experiences. I can see how he could be judged on how his hair is styled, skin color, and they way he dressed can cause people to be stand offish. What they don’t know is that he could be the next CEO of a company or the stranger that saves their life. Intelligence should be measured by the way a man or woman speaks or looks because maybe the person is smart, but doesn’t know how to correct speak out his or her thoughts. Also, maybe a person is wearing larger or smaller clothing because they can’t afford to buy new things and have to receive hand me downs. Unless you take the time out to learn about someone before judging him or her, then you will never know what he or she can amount to. What most people do that bites them in the butt is underestimate people they think isn’t capable of performing a job. This happens when a person isn’t giving a chance to show what they are capable of and is written off as a thug. I don’t know the guy in this video, but I feel like stuff like this happens to him all of the time. The fact that he’s in college getting an education shows how even “thug” or “hoodlum” looking men are intelligent enough to want more in life than selling drugs on the corner.

My thoughts on the idea that we will be here one day as a Native American is that Im pretty sure I would be dead or committed suicide. What the Native Americans have been through all of these years is disgusting. I know I live on this land as freely as I can taking everything I have for granted. It pains me to see that my ancestors couldnt share or just leave the Native Americans their own land. I know that living in America now with everything I have, I would be upset if there was a rise up amongst the Native Americans taking their land back. Naturally I would say this is my property and try and protect whats mine. However, this isnt my property or land and they have a right to take back what is theirs. I couldnt live a day being a Native American because they have to face difficult tasks daily. Even the slaves were treated better than them. African Americans received rights before Native Americans did and even still we act like we gave them a chance. Im not big on history, but I do know about the trail of tears, the massacre, and the small pox trick. All of this because the Americans wanted the land for themselves. The world today would be extremely different if we had not done what we did. Theres always that question of what if?. What if we hadnt taken the land and stayed within our living areas. What would life be like? Would we be in an a recession? We will never know, but what I do know is the people that were murdered didnt have to be. Living in todays society as a Native American is much more difficult than living as an African American. I dont think I could live a life like that on a daily basis facing alcoholism, homelessness, and suicide. Life is difficult as it as and then to add these things too it just makes life unbearable. I never understood mankind and its humane ways. Someone always have to be in charge. We cant just live together and accept difference. Why do Americans think its their way or no way? Diversity, culture, and religion are all different and not one person believes in the same things ad the next person. I try to live my life as nonjudgmental as possible. I embrace difference, but I cant stand anyone who tries to tell me his or her way is the best way. I believe we just live together and accept one anothers views and beliefs the world could be a better place. If everyone took a seat and look at how trying to put their beliefs on everyone and saw how it always ended in destruction every single time, maybe someone will get a clue and start changing.

The biggest personal decision I ever made was deciding to move out of my mother’s house when I was 18 years old. I knew living on my own was going to be difficult, but it was something that I had to do for myself. I had a sense of responsibility and structure before leaving so I had an idea of what it was going to be like. Once moving into my apartment and settling in the first few months were manageable. Things began to get tough when school, work, and paying bills began to pile up. Also, I wasn’t able to have my social life because I was either always working or always studying. This is what I chose for myself and I had to prove to my mom that I could do this and live on my own successfully. I think the hardest thing I had to deal with while living on my own was choosing what I needed and what I wanted. When shopping I had to choose things of a more affordable price and really budget my money each paycheck. I was happy that I was making it, but I hated the huge responsibility I decided to take on myself at such an early age. This freed me from my mother and her restraints that she had on me. With her I was working 3 jobs choosing work over school and having frequent breakdowns. Once I decided to move out I didn’t have to work as much because I was sharing the apartment with one of my best friends. It definitely made my life easier working less, but money was still an issue. I mean taking a leap into the real world isn’t a piece of cake, but I definitely learned a lot of life lessons and values. I believe now that making my decision to live on my own at 18 seemed ridiculous at the time, but I can honestly say when I leave college and begin what everyone says is the “real world” I’m sure that I am more than prepared than most people I know. I already know the value of money, buying necessities, and most of all budgeting. Don’t get me wrong I am the average poor college student, but I like to believe I’m better at making smart decisions when it comes to housing, food, or any other type of responsibility. In the end I don’t regret my freewill choice to become independent young. Yes, life could have been a bit easier living with a parent, but we all have to move out and live on our own eventually. I just decided to do it earlier than most young people would have.

I think in order for this world to rotate as well as we want it too responsibility should be taken no matter the circumstances. There are always going to be underdogs or the unfortunate because no one lets anyone get ahead enough to be successful. If the one’s on top won’t stop to let others reach them then I feel they have a responsibility to everyone below them. In retrospect without us (less unfortunate) the one’s ahead will fall back anyways. What I mean is there are always going to be a bottom and if everyone is rich then there is a bottom of the rich and top of the rich. No one is equal in this world no matter how you spin it. Someone is always going to be less fortunate. I feel like if responsibility were not taken then the world’s government or any type of structure will crumble for example Uganda. They are the less fortunate and no one has set out to help them properly instead of trying to take over their government as we see fit, we have to have faith that if we give them the proper resources and funding Uganda will begin to form and have structure slowly, but surely. No one is taking responsibility for what is going on in Uganda and that can easily happen anywhere if the less fortunate isn’t looked after. After all children don’t choose where they want to live or whom they parents should be. Children should be given a chance to make it out of poverty and become successful in the world. Who knows that child could become the next president and have more values and life lessons to better strengthen the government. Taking charge of a situation can do more help than harm. If everyone looks at the less fortunate as it being that persons own fault then nothing can be done to change the course of events that got them there. For example a child is born into poverty loves to learn and dreams of a better life for themselves. The child’s mother cannot receive government assistance because she’s not poor enough to receive it or the assistance has been cut off entirely to everyone. This creates many different types of struggles and cutoffs for the child like medical, food, and probably shelter. Even though the mother works hard to provide for her child she can’t give her child the resources needed to succeed in the future. This just leads into a circle of life because the child can grow up with not the good of an education including sex education and have a child and start the circle all over again. If we take responsibility and keep in mind the children of our future then the world in turn can slowly become a better place for all.

I agree with the positive comments, this religious woman is very strong and brave for sticking to her religion and doing right by it no matter what. The negative commenter’s clearly have a closed mind set and view things only in a disapproving way. For example while reading the comments Annecregan006 stated to someone else comment, “Really, JON, what planet do you live on. Be honest, would you date this amazing woman? Or any woman with this much hair on her face? I bet not. What is she even trying to prove? I'm even wondering what kind of job she holds down. I see you like using words like stupid and ignorant when people don't agree with you.”
I understand her point, but she’s so negative towards the woman for no reason at all. She’s faithful to her religion just like Jews are when they wear a kippa and Muslims wears hijabs. Are you saying Jewish people and muslims wil not be hired because of their religion, what they wear, and the appearance? Some jobs do desire beauty , but they won’t hire someone who isn’t qualified for the job. If these people have outstanding work ethics that are appealing to the job, then they will be hired from that. Not every career is as shallow as it seems on the movies. Also, there is someone for everyone in this world. In Africa, bigger women are desired, but in the U.S skinner women are deemed attractive. Some men might like women with facial hair. Not everyone thinks skinny girls with long hair and clear skin are the most beautiful. I know most people do look within someone and fall in love with who a person is and not what they look like. I personally am a fan of independence and strong willed people. This woman is an inspiration to me to keep doing what I’m doing no matter what others may say or do to me. As long as I have loving family, friends, and a healthy stable healthy life I have nothing else to worry about. What people think of me doesn’t bother me because only the important people in my life matter to me and if they feel I’m living right then that’s all that matters. I feel like negative people just want something to joke about to make themselves feel better. I view cyber bullies as low lives with nothing else to do, but comment about others and make the person feel like crap. I don’t understand how people like this can sleep at night knowing that they ruined someone’s day or life. If this woman was weak in any way she could have easily taken her own life because a picture of her went viral were people could make crude comments about her. People don’t think about things like this before they post mean comments and they should.