Perception  of  life 

in  America

I think the importance to see that we are reflected in every aspect of the life of our society, especially in good standing and in the sphere of power can be illustrated by the story of Kamala Harris. For her to be chosen  as a Black and South Asian American woman on the Democratic ticket sends a message to young girls of color that she often projected when she was running her own presidential campaign: "I see you, I hear you. "All across the nation, little girls woke up, especially little Black and brown girls, who so often feel overlooked and undervalued in their communities, but today they're seeing themselves for the first time in a new way. "It just feels like Black girls like me can run for class president, Black girls like me can go for the big things in life like she did," said a 14-year-old Paris Bond on CNN in an interview on Tuesday.

 

 

Social isolation can impact our many foreign students, especially those who from, Asia and Africa.  They usually struggle with the challenge associated with stereotypes and discrimination. Many us as a student from those part of the world feels marginalized or like we do not belong because of the way we can be perceived sometimes.  find ways to feel more socially connected and part of a group. As a black student, I have experienced bullying and racial slurs at school or at work ... and sometimes it makes me feel like I don’t want to live in the United States because I feel marginalized and uncertain about whom to trust. I think school administrators should elaborate on more strategies to help students coming from other countries feel protected and appreciated. And at an individual level others, students should feel compelled to mingle with students from a different cultural background.

 

I do agree with Imahori on his decision to change his name, in the sense that legally changing your name does offer quite a few potential benefits. First of all, it can give you a fresh start. Whether you want to put a difficult past behind you, escape the attentions of a stalker, or start fresh during a new phase in your life, a legal name change can be very empowering.

 

 

I strongly believe that people with European American cultural backgrounds are privileged. Because If someone has never had to worry that the color of his or her skin might work against him during a job interview or when he will be trying to find a place to live, then he or she is privileged. If  you ever have to feel afraid to put your arm around or kiss your romantic partner in public because people might assault the two of you if they saw, or if you never had to deal with unwanted sexual advances, comments, or ogling, then you probably enjoy the cultural privileges of some type, due to your white skin color.

 

 

 

Recent researches suggest that today, more than 40 million people living in the U.S. were born in another country. The United States has more immigrants than any other country in the world. Those who wish to do so may apply after meeting certain qualifying conditions. In 2018, the top country of origin for new immigrants coming into the U.S. Mexico is the top origin country of the U.S. immigrant population. In 2018, roughly 11.2 million immigrants living in the U.S. were from there, accounting for 25% of all U.S. immigrants. The next largest origin groups were those from China (6%), India (6%), the Philippines (4%), and El Salvador (3%). In 2020, Immigration has become far more central in public conversation in the United States. The wrong implication by politics and mass media of bad deeds of some immigrants has contributed to creating a state of fear towards immigrants. That fear has influenced historical immigration policy and is echoed in recent immigration laws. First, the nature of migration selection appears to have changed over time. Immigrants from European countries that, though poorer than the US, were not as dissimilar as those from third world countries.  One factor that can explain why some countries are more represented in the U.S through immigration is the quota of the number of immigrants allowed yearly. According to the United Nations, under the Trump administration in 2019, the United States, allow Germany, and Saudi Arabia had the largest number of immigrants of any country, while Tuvalu, Saint Helena, and Tokelau had the lowest.

 

References

Authors Unknown. (nd.) Unpacking the invisible knapsack II: Sexual orientation; daily effects of straight privilege. Retrieved from http://www.cs. earlham.edu/~hyrax/personal/files/ student_res /straightprivilege.htm. Rosenbloom, S. R., & Way, N. (2004) Experiences of discrimination among African American, Asian American, and Latino adolescents in an urban high school. Youth & Society, 35, 420-45. Boysen, G., & Vogel, D. (2009). Bias in the Classroom: Types, frequencies, and responses. Teaching of Psychology, 36, 12–17. Brandon. W. (2003). Toward a white teachers' guide to playing fair: Exploring the cultural politics of multicultural teaching. International Journal of Qualitative Studies in Education (Special Issue: Whiteness issues in teacher education), 16, 31–50. Campbell, R., & Schram, P. (1995). Feminist research methods: A content analysis of psychology and social science textbooks. Psychology of Women Quarterly, 19, 85–106. Deutch, B. (1996). The male privilege checklist: An unabashed imitation of an article by Peggy

 

Cultural History

Studies support the assumption that the majority of people believe that death is not the end of one's existence but rather a transition from one life to another. Different religions have provided belief structures that support the religious and social needs of practitioners.

Cameroonians have a variety of religious beliefs, and many individuals combine beliefs and practices of world religions with those of their own cultural groups. Approximately 53 percent of the population are members of Christian denominations, about 25 percent practice mainly “traditional” religions, and approximately 22 percent are Muslim

In Cameroon, traditional religions are systems of practices and beliefs that adapt to changing social conditions. Most people are animist despite their religion. They are involved in the veneration of ancestors and the belief that people, animals, and natural objects are invested with spiritual power. They believe that upon death, there is rebirth to another life. Death is accepted as inevitable and not feared. The moral of their actions is very relative. The good and wrong are subjected to individual judgment.

As a Christian, I believe that Jesus is the son of God and the Savior,  that there is an afterlife, based upon the promises of the Holy Bible and the life and teachings of Jesus Christ and his disciples. Upon death, I believe that we will come before God and we will be judged according to the choices we would have made in our earthly lives. That perception indeed influences my actions in the daily basics. 

I think Slavery is America’s “original sin” and undeniable negative legacy.  It was not solved by the framers of the U.S. Constitution, nor was it resolved by the horrendous conflict that was of the American Civil War. It simply changed its odious form and continued the generational enslavement of an entire strata of American society. In turn, the Civil Rights Movement struck a mighty blow against racism in America. Even when America rose up to elect its first Black President, Barack Obama, the U.S may indeed have lost ground as a collective nation along the way with the election of Donald J. Trump. Due to that, many social conflicts. The most hateful remnants of slavery persist in the U.S. today in the form of systemic racism baked into nearly every aspect of American society. The police systemic brutality has to lead the country to distrust in governmental institutions and raise up the question of equality and life dignity in America. 

National history has long played a prominent role in the forging of national identities. This historiographic nationalism has contributed to xenophobia, exclusion, discrimination, violence, war, and genocide. In the U.S today, some people think that America belongs only to whites because they conquered the land. In another hand, some believe that America is a land of immigrants, it belongs to everybody who chooses to love and cherish it as his or her home country. That divided perception can be illustrated in the political approaches of the two main political parties in the country, Republicans, and democrats.

In a 1969 editorial in Television Quarterly, communications scholar Cedric C. Clark wrote that minorities are often subjected to predictable stages of treatment in media depictions, particularly on television. According to Clark, there are 4 stages of minority representations: non-recognition, ridicule, regulation, and respect. The representations or applications of these 4 stages can be observed in the mass media as follow:

●       Stage 1: Non-recognition: Amid the pandemic of Covid-19, there no special spotlight on how the Indian Americans community who are struggling since they constitute one of the most vulnerable ethnic population in the U.S.

●       Stage 2: Ridicule: the life of Kanye West is more on media than the scientific accomplishments of black-dominated Colleges and Universities. 

●       Stage 3: Regulation: The research demonstrates that U.S. television has primarily used 2 ways of portraying immigrants: either criminals or job thieves.

●       Stage 4: Respect: The Election of Kamala Harris has given brought a lot of respect and praise to black and Asian communities but especially to women

References

Bechtel, L. J., Chen, A., Pierce, R. A., & Walker, B. A. (1992). Assessment of clergy knowledge and attitudes toward near-death experiences. Journal of Near-Death Studies. 10 (3), pp. 161-170. Becker, C. (1981). The centrality of near-death experiences in Chinese Pure Land Buddhism. Anabiosis - The Journal of Near-Death. 1, pp. 154-170. Becker, C. (1984, Spring). The Pure Land revisited: Sino-Japanese meditations and near-death experiences of the next world. Anabiosis - The Journal of Near-Death. 4, pp. 51-68. Becker, C. (1985, Spring). Views from Tibet: Near-death Experiences and the Book of the Dead. Vital Signs. 4, pp. 2-4. Budge E. A. W. (Ed.) (1989). The book of the dead. New York: Arkana. Couliano, I. P. (1991). Out of this world - Otherworldly journeys from Gilgamesh to Albert Einstein. Boston, MA: Shambhala. DeSpelder, L. A. & Strickland, A. L. (1983). The last dance - encountering death and dying. Palo Alto, CA: Mayfield Publishing.

 

International Film Review

 The African Doctor

 

 

According to Havard Business Review, in the U.S, racial and ethnic minorities have higher rates of chronic disease, obesity, and premature death than white people. Black patients in particular have among the worst health outcomes, experiencing higher rates of hypertension and stroke. And black men have the lowest life expectancy of any demographic group, living on average 4.5 fewer years than white men. African Americans make up 13% of the U.S. population, but only 4% of U.S. doctors and less than 7% of U.S. medical students.

In the Mass Media, the career of doctor has always being advertised more suitable only for  whites reinforcing the political and cultural stereotyping of people of color. I was among the people who was disapproving the fact that a prodigy in the world of health and science as Dr. Ben Carson, one of the best Neurosurgeons this world ever had, was picked by Donald Trump  as United States Secretary of Housing and Urban Development, instead of united states secretary of health and human services. 

The African Doctor, tells the true story of Seyolo Zantoko, a French doctor, who struggles to serve as a doctor in a small French village and obtain French nationality in order to expose his family to a wider world. The comedy-drama film is based on the real-life father of French musician Kamini Zantoko, who is also one of the co-writers, and the movie is directed by Julien Rambaldi.

The movie starts out with our main character Seyolo, who graduates from a French medical school. He is offered a job in his homeland of Zaire/Congo working for a corrupt government official. Despite the money and the perks attached to this position, Seylo decides to go to a small French village which has been seeking a doctor for its citizens for years. He decides to take this job in the hopes that it will allow him to also become a French citizen. From there, Seylo and his family are given the fish out of water story treatment. The family deals with many issues when trying to integrate themselves into the village. Not only are they battling against prejudice people, but they deal with their own culture shock, and adaptability to an entirely new way of life.

Even though the film is set in the 1970’s and deals heavily with race issues, The African Doctor is labeled more of a comedy. The issue of race is a heavy issue in our culture, but I just love how this film uses comedy not just to say something about our characters, but displays humor with the challenges Seyolo and his family go through. It uses comedy so well in order to sympathize with our main characters and the comedy is used for some great character development that viewers will feel a connection and relate to Seyolo.

Throughout the movie, I identified myself with Seyolo. Despite all the comedic struggles Seyolo goes through, he maintains a positive outlook on everything, and encourages his struggling wife and kids without displaying his own inner agitation when things appear to be down in the dumps. The film has a great balance between comedy and drama, allowing viewers to understand the conflict between Seyolo and his wife Anne as they adjust to the consequences of his decision for their family. This provides a realistic and relatable view many people face, yet our characters provide an inside look for some viewers, and are examples of how anyone can work through difficult times. Anne is a great support despite the fact that she does not approve of their move and throughout the film, she mentions how much better it would be to live in Paris.

Seyolo’s character and even his comedic moments are used as a mirror to reflect each person he encounters in this small village, and reflecting back what is in their hearts. The actress who plays Anne Zantoko is a great blend of spirit, style, and a stellar personality that viewers will fall in love with. Similarly, the children also do a great job portraying the difficulties of fitting in at a school where they are mocked and bullied for the color of their skin, while also struggling to adapt to their father’s expectations at home.

Most people know of the American issues and history during the 1960’s and 1970’s. The African Doctor provides a look that I personally didn’t heavily consider before seeing this film and that’s how other countries viewed racism and cultural differences during this era. I’m not sure if this film accurately displays the French attitude towards race as the setting is in a quiet rural village which had not been exposed much to outsiders and diversity. France may have viewed equal rights more in the bigger cities, where it is a little more common to see other cultures and diversity amongst the people who live there.  Seyolo’s wife’s family shows up a couple of times in the film, driving in from their home in Brussels.

Therefore, the film states that their family is a quite international, well-traveled, and one with exposure to other cultures other than their own people. Seyolo’s in-laws actually provide some of the funniest moments in the film; they are loud, rowdy, and over-the-top. They challenge Seyolo not to lose his cultural identity yet while trying to mix-and-mingle with a new one. The in-laws help with not just a few comedic moments, but using comedic moments to help us understand and appreciate our family history even at times when we may not want to fully acknowledge it.

Overall, the African Doctor is a very funny film that often puts a humorous spin on the absurdity of ignorance and culture shock on display. The film is a great reminder of the social impact that one person can have when they live a life of kindness, humbleness, and acceptance. 

References: The African Doctor, Havard Business Review, Wikipedia

 

Stereotyping 

According to the website Quebec.ca, Stereotypes are characteristics that society instinctively attributes to groups of people to classify them according to age, weight, occupation, skin color, gender, etc. Sexual stereotyping involves associating girls and boys with separate and, at times, opposing sets of characteristics.

 

When a child sees a stereotyped image over and over or hear something stereotyping his culture, again and again, that will automatically affect his perception of himself and the world around. Impacting negatively his identity.  For example, on TV and socio-media, stories about black people are mostly about crimes, drugs, gangster life etc. that situation empowers this quick classification of black African American as people who are citizens of second-zone. And most of the black children grow up in that stereotyped net because they hear it from the music and the politicians, they read it in their textbooks and Novels and they see it in their films and commercials

 

Framing describes the practice of thinking about news items and story content within familiar. context. Framing is related to the agenda-setting tradition but expands the research by focusing on the. essence of the issues at hand rather than on a particular topic.

It is not justifiable for a person from one culture to encourage a person from another culture to disregard his or her own cultural values for the simple reason that all culture matters and valuable. 

        Ethno-centricsm: liam G Summer defines it as “view of things in which one’s own group is the center of everything, and all others are scaled and rated with reference to it.” 

 

For more than 100 years, Thousands of native American children were ripped from their families and sent to boarding schools to be “civilized “among them was Denis Banks. He became the founder of the American Indian movement. Here is his what he says about the way the U.S government framed their education at the boarding schools: “They wanted to destroy our identity. They put us on this boarding school, I'm one of them that they put in these boarding schools. They said they will destroy and kill the Indian in order to save the man.  Over 100,000 children were taken from their homes. I was living with my mum and my grandma. They came and took me away from them. We were taken by force from our mothers and fathers, from our grandparents. That destroyed the language, the songs.  I couldn't sing any native song anymore. I couldn't speak any native language, the vernacular would be English and English only. There was Corporal punishment at the boarding schools for doing otherwise. I would never forgive the U.S government for allowing a policy like that to be inflicted upon us.  Centuries after, the historical trauma is still with us till today and will be carried on the next generation.” 

 

Media framing theory is the idea that an article is constructed in a certain way to convey a particular message; the way in which a reporter organizes the information, chooses what information to include and how it is worded is how it can be framed. Olasunkanmi Arowolo (2017) said "Frames can be defined as organizing ideas or themes, ways of linking together stories historically, building up a narrative over time and across political space"

 

Personally as a black man, I’m always surprised to see that there’re people of other culture who will love black music but don't love black people. They want to hear it but they don't want to fund the schools that have the music programs that will later help the students to turn into the next great musicians. In movies, I see white people in mostly honorable roles, like heroes and their princesses, doctors etc. But when it comes to people of color it is mostly roles that goes along with the stereotypes.  The popular culture and Media shape how we understand reality. I think by voicing more and more about stereotypes and valuating other people cultures and worldviews, I can become a diversity ally in my sphere of influence. 

 

 

References: Quebec.ca, heathychildren.org, “framing effects” by L.WAYS