This is an unedited (except for the names) discussion between an ESL student from the ISALC and a member of the Black Student Union. The original comment by Toshi was lifted from an "electronic conversation" which occurred earlier in the semester as we were discussing an episode from the video series, "Roots".

To: esl-411@lclark.edu
From: Michael Krauss <krauss@lclark.edu>
Subject: Class response to Roots 1 and 2
Date: 2/4/98

To members of the list:

Our class participated in an "electronic conversation" on the following topic. I've selected a couple of students' remarks. Please comment as you like.

P.S. It seems that I won't get your responses unless you "cc krauss". Please include me whenever you post to this list (unless it is a personal response to an individual on the list).

Thanks,
Michael

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The following was the class assignment:

Subject: What impressed you most?
From: Michael
Date: Thursday, January 29, 1998, 10:27 am

Hello class,

After having seen Roots 1 and 2, choose one scene or one idea that impressed you the most or taught you the most. Please describe it in a paragraph of at least 100 words.

Also, do you think that slavery still affects African Americans today? If so, how?

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Subject: Arrival at the United States.
From: Toshi
Date: Thursday, January 29, 1998, 11:25 am

What impressed me most about Roots 1 and 2 was the scene after Kunta arrived at the United States. I could imagine that Kunta would be treated as a slave there. However, I did not know how, so it impressed me very much. All black people were chained each other so that they couldn't escape from there and treated as animals. It may be less than animals because white people did not believe that black people were the same human being as them. Especially, in the scene that black people were painted with tar to hide their scars to look healthy and strong when they were in auction impressed me very much.

Moreover, I think the discrimination against black people is happening even today. Of course, the society tried not to have such a discrimination, but I am sure that happens often somewhere we couldn't see. I have seen the news that police men in the United States hit a black man hardly many times for no reason. Then, the discrimination seemed to continue for a long time.

I have been thinking about the relationship between White people and Black people. I have heard that most of crimes happened in the United States were caused by black people. (bold added by editor) However, now I could understand a little. Becuase of the discrimination happening in the United States, they may not be able to understand each other. In general, if violence between people happened for no reason, no one could do anything but just detest each other. Although this is very difficult problem to solve, it made me think about it.

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Intially, there was no response to the above, so I pulled out the quote in bold and reposted it--receiving the following reply.

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To: esl-411@lclark.edu
From: Bob Jones <jones@lclark.edu>
Subject: Your mail
Date: 2/10/98

Hello, my name is Bob Jones, I'm a senior here, a member of the BSU, thank you for including me in your discussions. I saw the comment made a few days ago, something to the effect that most of the crimes in the U.S. are committed by African Americans. I believe the media is a fault somewhat in giving misleading information on crimes committed by minorities. On the TV or in the newspaper, its always in the main headlines if there black on white crimes, or if black atheletes do something wrong. Black entertainers, recently "gansta rappers", are being paraded all over the place and quoted as if they speak for the entire black population in the U.S., no matter if they have questionable character or not. So when I saw that comment, it made me angry and I didn't want to respond, but one has to realize that its not entirely the medias fault some people think this way. These things are happening, the media isn't making them up. But what about black on black crimes, no one cares about those? Why are there more young black males in prison then any other ethnic groups? I'm trying to say that we have to look at the roots of the problem. The media does not like to report on why recently more and more of these crimes are happening. One reason is basic living conditions, there are many blacks living in poverty, in the inner city ghettos. We have no idea going to lewis and clark how bad it is. For some people crime might be the only option. Then why are the multi-millionaire stars still assaulting people, smoking weed, associating themselves with the "hood"? Maybe becuase money cannot change how they were raised, how society looked upon them and shunned them, why we try and cut welfare every single year. Why are there more blacks in prison proportionately? Are white cops out to get them? Sorry for going on so for long, my point again is that this issue goes farther then the media, although they do not help the situation. What about accomplishments of blacks in the US? No, lets just spend 2 years on OJ Simpson.

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To: Bob Jones <jones@lclark.edu>
Cc: esl-411@lclark.edu, krauss@lclark.edu
From: Toshi <toshi@lclark.edu>
Subject: Your mail
Date: 2/14/98

Hello, my name is Toshi. I read your comment and I agreed with your opinion. I think that the media is misleading information on the crime committed by minorities, too. However, many of people may think that most of crimes are caused by minorities because of the media. I don't know if there are any solution or things making the problem smaller. Although I cannot say anything strongly as I don't know the fact and the information that I can get are all from the media, it was also the media which made me realize that there was still discrimination between majorities and minorities in the United States. This is very difficult question to solve. But I don't think the media is the only cause making people think so. I think that people have so weak mind that most of them want to protect themselves. In this society, no one can do anything by one's self. As a result people may tend to think that majorities who have been building the society are more respectful than minorities. And it may not be able to be helped because it is the temper of human beings. We have two inconsistencies, natures that tried to change ourselves and tried to preserve ourselves. Because of this, majorities try to keep their own culture, and minorities try to change the culture which has already been their culture.

It is sad that people discriminate against each other and majority usually do against minorities. Even in Japan, it happens and this problem is not only in the United States but also all over the world. Unfortunately, I don't think that human being can destroy the discrimination because differencies cannot be " sameness". But we can have a hope to try not to have it.

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Created by: krauss@lclark.edu
Updated: 2/22/98