A Video Called The Color Of Fear

Ralph Ellison’s “On Being the Target of Discrimination” illustrates a personal narrative on how racial discrimination affects individuals emotionally and psychologically in order to inform people who have never experienced discrimination through the inclusion of emotional appeal, logical appeal, and the structure of the story. The author specifically targets people of caucasian heritage who are primarily male due to their inexperience with unequal treatment and opportunities.

This paper serves as a personal reflection of the implication of racial microaggressions in daily life. Three journal articles and a book chapter are explored in an effort to obtain a greater understanding of the effects of racial microaggressions experienced by people of color and to bring light to how often racial microaggressions are committed by White Americans without notice or accompanied by attempts to explain away the offenses. The sources used provide examples of obvious acts of discrimination as well as subtle microaggressions which are often unconsciously or naively perpetrated and go on to offer recommendations for professional counselors in order to both provide a framework for helping clients of color to cope with encounters of microaggressions and highlight the need of awareness of possible racial microaggressions present during counselor-client interactions which may result in negative impacts on the therapeutic process. Racial microaggressions are broken down into subcategories of microassaults, microinsults, and microinvalidations, providing a deeper explanation of my own experiences with such discriminatory actions. This ultimately leads to a decision of continuation of training with a necessary focus on increasing mindfulness and field experiences in respect to the subject of racial microaggressive behaviors and attitudes.

Chapter one covers the history and definition of racism. It also covers different pathways of racism and how racism is manifested. Within this chapter the impact of racism of people of color is discussed and its effects, such as depression. Symptoms beyond the mental and physical aspects are also discussed such as incarceration.

Race is a particularly powerful way of maintaining the dominance of the social group in power. The construct of race is about stratification, which puts a racially justified hierarchy among people in society to keep the dominant social group in power. Stratification can influence the resources an individual receives. Therefore, social workers sometimes use a theoretical approach called, Critical Race Theory (CRT), to guide their work in making certain general assumptions about issues of power, race, ethnicity, and racism. This is because CRT is an alternative theory that offers a radical lens to make sense of racial inequality in society, which could prove useful when analyzing a client’s situation. The

To effectively lessen the effects of lifelong racism and discrimination, Hays & Erford (2014) recommends a strength-based approach, with the counselor focusing on the individual and family capacities. Focusing on the client’s positive attributes and favorable cultural norms can encourage one to become more resilient (Vaterlaus, Skogrand, & Chaney, 2015). Furthermore, applying counseling skills such as unconditional positive regard, empathy, consistency, focusing on the client, and providing a supportive environment can all help the therapeutic relationship (Hays & Erford, 2014). Additionally, making the counselor/client relationship equal will also allow the client to feel more comfortable, may dispel the mistrust of counseling prominent in African American culture (Hays & Erford, 2014). Finally, acknowledging the racial differences with the client could encourage them to discuss the racism and discrimination they may have experienced (Hays & Erford, 2014).

I have always thought about myself as just a person. After taking this course, I think of myself as a white person. To me, being colorblind and attempting to look at everyone as just a person, were ways I avoided being racist. This course, taught by Dr. Bianca Williams, has enabled me to change my views on racism and race to a move correct outlook. I now understand that it is my duty to be able to acknowledge my race and other identities and the privileges that come with being a white, middle class, heterosexual person. I used to think that interpersonal racism was the main problem in the United States, but after this course realize that institutional racism is the problem. This course, coupled with readings from Devon W. Carbado on his piece titled “Privilege”, Beverly Daniel Tatum’s article titled “Talking about Race, Learning about Racism”, Brittney Cooper’s article on “The Politics of Black Women’s Hair” and Audre Lorde’s article called “The Uses of Anger: Women Responding to Racism”, I have shifted my views on race and racism to a more constructive and correct outlook.

We spend our entire lives trying to figure out who we are, and as much as we all would like to believe we start with a blank slate, that simply isn’t the case. Some of us are born with, albeit slightly hidden, marks of what our history already dictates for us. Racial perception in society has always been a topic of controversy throughout the entire nation. Based on past occurrences, it has been proven that black and brown people as a whole have been oppressed, mistreated, and even wrongfully persecuted based on social stigmas conceived by society. Society today have the wrong ideologies; they believe that a safer environment means locking away individuals that appear to be a menace or danger based on the color of their skin. However, this mentality is flawed because locking up individuals does not promote a change; it only increases hate and eliminates the chance for someone to change their ways and become a better person. In the novel “Citizen” by Claudia Rankins the poem “In Memory of Trayvon Martin”, “The New Jim Crow” by Michelle Alexander, alongside the video situation 6, both conveyed that racism is prevalent in the modern world today as one should take to account the toll of microaggressions on the political and personal standpoint of equality for all colored individuals.

African Americans are socialized around race, race has special meaning, and they expect to talk about race in psychotherapy; that 's simple enough and not an especially revolutionary idea to many. But here 's the rub. Why do most practitioners avoid talking about race despite race 's special meaning to African Americans? How come so many practitioners accept African Americans feeling unsatisfied even if feeling psychotherapy was helpful? Most important for this work, what happens to the therapeutic alliance when you exclude race in psychotherapy systems and clinical sessions?

How nothing has really changed during the time the video was released in 1991 from today. But most importantly finding out that the dominant race benefits from discrimination, oppression, or prejudice of minority race. That is how white privilege become to be in my opinion. How they don't need to work hard to receive the best benefits or services. For example, on the video, it showed on one hand how John gets a better car deal but on the other hand how Glen is not. It totally stirs up anger in me to see injustice happening. Since john and Glen had the same background. Furthermore, sad to see how just by one's race, they are treated unfairly. It didn't change how I feel or think of the issue the issue since it proves true to the claim that racial bias still exists in U.S.A. The experiment on the video proved if one is white, then they have white privilege and are not likely to face discrimination. Race determines if we are discriminated or oppress in society. Furthermore, aware that there has been no progress of the injustice. Finally, that discrimination or oppression are hard to identify because of freedom of speech, which, therefore, allows people to express their opinion. Learned how society justified's dominant race group negative behavior or attitude toward minority race group with freedom of

Racism and racial stereotypes have existed throughout human history. The radical belief associated by thinking the skin color, language, or a person’s nationality is the reason that someone is one way or another has become extremely detrimental to society. Throughout human existence it has sparked tension between groups of people and ultimately influenced wars and even caused slavery. Racism in America dates back to when Native Americans were often attacked, relocated, and assimilated into European culture. Since then, racism within the states has grown to include various other cultures as well. In the essays by Brent Staples, Bharati Mukherjee, and Manuel Munoz, they discuss the various causes as well as the effects that racial stereotyping can place on a victim and the stigma it leaves behind for the society to witness.

Having our first Black president it is easy for some analysts to say that this era is post- racism and biases. Our countries present racial realities speak otherwise. There is a presidential candidate who may very well become president judging by the polls spewing racist and prejudiced remarks. It seems that almost daily media headlines for public figures and authorities apologizing for their remarks appear. Although I believe that it is pre-mature to say that this era is post- racism and bias solely on the basis that the highest elected official is a man of color; what is anticipated is the demographic change in this country. The majority gap is closing and as helping professionals we need to be prepared to access the needs of a more diverse clientele. This process begins by helpers or counselors being aware of their own cultural biases and values. We cannot depend on laws, quotas and institutions to evoke change but to begin to look introspectively and acquire the skills to build healthy cross- race therapeutic relationships.

The world is composed of millions of people that come from different locations, are part of different races, believe in different religions, and have developed different cultures to those of everyone else. Over the course of human history, the differences that we have developed have played an enormous role in dividing us. Perhaps the chief problem that has plagued society in the past, and continues to do so to this day, is the idea that one’s race is superior to that of others; in other words: racism. Racism has led to the discrimination, oppression, and deaths of countless numbers of people. In the present, racism is often closely associated with stereotypes. In today’s society, being stereotypical often gets you the criticism that “you

Racism is a plague spreading through the world. Over a million people have died due to lynching, burnings, stabbings, and beatings. The purpose of this paper is to reveal the dangers of racism and discrimination and the pain they cause, while offering solutions to help counteract them.

2.What were the parts of the video segments that brought up feelings for you, such as shame, guilt, envy, anger, sadness, recognition, joy, satisfaction, hope or other feelings?

As a multicultural counselor, I want to learn about the different worldviews of my clients and understand my own reactions (Sue & Sue, 2012, p. 6). I understand the advantages I have as a White person, and that many systems I take for granted are often closed or dangerous to people of color (p. 12). People of color experience racism on a regular basis as part of our culture, and so I assume that in any clinical case involving a client of color, racism is at least part of the story (Kivel, 2002, p. 551). In my work with Avery, I might feel attacked by her expression of anger or outrage over her conflicted status. My focus will be to set my feelings aside and validate her feelings of injustice,