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Oppression In Ronald Takaki's A Different Mirror

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After reading “A Different Mirror” by Ronald Takaki, Chapter 6 of “Chicana and Chicano Art” by Carlos Jackson, and Surveillance by Ashaki M. Jackson, I learned about how collectively minorities face oppression based on their race and how even through all the adversity they faced they still considered themselves to be American although others did not consider them to be. In the beginning of “A Different Mirror”, it describes how the end of WWII sparked a fire for minorities desire to be considered first class citizens such as white americans. Throughout the readings I also learned about how and why many minorities migrated to America. All in all this week's readings really opened my eyes, from the powerful poems in Surveillance to how chicano art has been publicly …show more content…

The oppression of minorities throughout history has been evident throughout the history of this nation starting with the Natives and Africans. This oppression made it harder on non-whites to be successful due to limited resources and opportunities. To me growing up I experienced this first hand, growing up in La Puente I grew up in a mainly minority community, I noticed how other schools early on prepared students for college while we were prepared to simply graduate. Leading me to ask What if my school did the same? Would more of my classmates be in college?. Although oppression is still apparent there has been many opportunities to succeed for example WW1. The war gave new opportunities to minorities, allowing them to serve and receive benefits such as the G.I. Bill in return for their service. This new opportunity gave a sense of hope and patriotism to minorities. Coming with our human nature we always want more and are never satisfied. It sparked a sense of ethnic pride which started the civil rights movement in which minorities wanted equal rights for all. The war had changed minorities mindset giving a sense of entitlement to

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This poem “I Am Joaquin” helped establish the term “Chicano” and helped the concept of Chicanoism. Prior to the 1960s the term “Chicanos” was not used, but through this poem it was able to establish this Chicano identity. It helped bring this identity together and people began to call themselves as Chicano/as. (Lecture 10/8) Roldofo Gonzales insisted that we as Mexican Americans needed to stand up and work for justice.

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The other aspect that changed the perception was the involvement of different religious groups towards ensuring equality to all groups. Why the blacks considered to be weak to be soldiers The thoughts and the remarks were

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In chapter fourteen of A Different Mirror by Ronald Takaki, the author elaborates how all nations contributed to political and economic climate during the 20th century. As World War II escalated in Europe and Asia, President Franklin D. Roosevelt made a speech to Congress on January 6, 1941, stating that we support those who struggle to gain human rights and that our nation has the destiny to have people gain freedom everywhere. Eleven months later on December 7, 1941, Japan dropped a bomb on Pearl Harbor. President Roosevelt took the initiative of the Kellog-Briand Act, resulting in the United States entering World War II. This changed the United States relations with Mexicans, Africans, Japanese, Chinese, Jewish, and Native Americans.

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The world continues to take in the idea a white American has more power than any other ethnic group all around the world, and if a person isn't born with light skin and blue eyes their future is already limited by society. Takaki predicts that eventually every ethnic group will eventually be viewed as a minority group. I agree with Roland Takaki’s prediction, the world will never truly accept minority groups as equals because nobody wants to be a lower class citizen and as Takaki demonstrates is by writing about how Hilter wanted people of Jewish decent to be established as lower class citizens and so did Osama bin Laden in which Al-Qaeda attacked the United States back in 9/11/2001 . Many wars also have had the same intention, to establish dominates over another minority group which has provided one group to keep all of the power another using tactics such as fear. The world has to change and we need to stop assuming one ethnic group is better than another if we do not wars and economic catastrophes to keep occurring like 9/11 .

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Written works about American Identity are a very common theme amongst writers, including poet Dwight Okita and short-story writer Sandra Cisneros. Dwight Okita is famous for her poem “In Response to Order 9066: All Americans of Japanese Descent Must Report to Relocation Centers,” in which the theme of American identity is portrayed through a 14-year-old girl. In a similar way, Sandra Cisneros’s short story is told by a young girl of Mexican heritage who prefers American culture—in sharp contrast to her deep-rooted Mexican grandmother. Although the overall theme of the two texts is “American Identity,” both Okita's poem and Cisneros's short story delve deeper and portray that cultural heritage and physical appearances do not determine what it

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The immigrants entering the United States throughout its history have always had a profound effect on American culture. However, the identity of immigrant groups has been fundamentally challenged and shaped as they attempt to integrate into U.S. society. The influx of Mexicans into the United States has become a controversial political issue that necessitates a comprehensive understanding of their cultural themes and sense of identity. The film Mi Familia (or My Family) covers the journey and experiences of one Mexican-American (or “Chicano”) family from Mexico as they start a new life in the United States. Throughout the course of the film, the same essential conflicts and themes that epitomize Chicano identity in other works of literature

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Ronald Takaki a renowned pioneer in the field of ethnic studies has over the years authored numerous books on diversity in American society. As a grandson of Japanese immigrants who became the first black studies professor at UCLA, Takaki for many years has continually tried to bridge cultures and ethnic groups in the United States. In his book “A different mirror: A history of multicultural America”, Takaki addresses the idea of multiculturalism in our society, and also talks about how for many years we have been told to acknowledge the notions that the core principles of our nation uprooted only from one group rather than a contribution from other various cultures as well. The ‘master narrative’ posed by Takaki describes the growing

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Judith was contracted to create a mural and scheme to represent the Chicano community at the University of Southern California in Los Angeles. Her working method involves students who are interested to contribute in

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Shared hardships, mobilization and military losses created a sense of community for those at risk for personal loss which rose above but did not eliminate pre-war social divisions. However, at the same time differences in society came into focus such as ethnic or national identity outsiders and marginalized populations such as the elderly, criminal, abandoned children, and other outcasts. Identities and loyalties shifted as did the relation between national well-being and individual or group well-being. Definitions of well-being arose from prewar traditions and norms. However, what people thought they could or couldn't do without changed.

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The way of America’s life and society had strikingly changed during the time of World War 1. Men were needed at war and the women were left at home or were nurses at war. Many people were even ignored because they had labels on themselves (ex; color, gender, nationality, religion and weight). African American, Asian Americans, Japanese Americans and women (Minority Group) were among the groups that experienced a combination of racism, segregation and prejudice. Being able to overcome negative stereotypes and then still perform roles for the high class giving you this negativity with respect is one of the biggest problem you might of faced if you are a minority.

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Furthermore, he describes the multiple forms of control Chicana women face when he states, “The Chicana is first of all oppressed economically, socially, and politically by virtue of her being a woman. Secondly, the Chicana as a member of an oppressed ethnic and/ or racial group is limited to the same extent as the Chicano by the dominant Anglo society” (50). However, he fails to mention the experiences of queer women, which implies how the Chicano

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In the book A Different Mirror: A History of Multicultural America by Ronald Takaki, he argues that the “Master Narrative of American History” does not accurately reflect the meaning behind what it means to be an American, because this country is populated by immigrants from around the world. Therefore, Takaki wrote this book to make us look into a different mirror and showing us a more inclusive outlook by reflecting us the true history of America that includes Native Americans. Many also lack information about the history of several other ethnicities and for that reason, society created a construction through a separation between the minorities and whites. By conveying the history of the original settlers who have been inhabiting America, Takaki is able to exclude many people’s mentality that the history of whites are more superior than other racial minorities, in which have made them feel unimportant because of their lifestyle, when America is a country of all people, and not only

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This situation is relatable in the past and right now for minorities. From the texts that I chose, it can be seen that this global issue is transnational. The literary extract I chose is a poem called “Remember” by Joy Harjo, the first Native American Poet Laurette of the United

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Just as with opportunity, we have achieved it in some areas but not in others. Take, for instance, the fact that slavery was generally accepted previous to the civil war. Today, the mere thought of slavery is appalling to most. On the other hand, minorities face oppression on a day-to-day basis. A young black man in a hoodie walking around at night is seen as a threat, a danger.

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