Response to Leticia Torraoba's Blog.

I am writing this blog to give my opinion on Leticia Torraoba’s blog. Leticia writes about Tannenbaums claim on “biological type.” Biological type was the mixing of races such as “white” and “black” races having babies together. Tannenbaum agreed with this concept of mixed races having children because he believed that this would bring the two races together. He claimed that as long as mixed children were brought in the Anglo America culture this idea of mixed races could be beneficial for the Anglo Americans. I found it interesting when Letcia pointed out Tannenbaums claim that African American women who birthed more children were held at a higher standard and looked upon at as trophies in a way. Leticia quoted Tannenbaum, "“A girl of seventeen that has giving birth two children were called good breeder” (Tannenbaum82). This was great supporting evidence for her claim. Frank Tannenbaum was very hypocritical of his ideas throughout his book, Slave and Citizen. Towards the end of his book he supported the mixing of races, but in his own racist way. I agree with Tannenbaum’s claim that mixed children would help bring the two races together. I can see how it would help because it gave both races something greater to have in common. There would be a different level of respect and understanding if it came down to the mixing of their races. Unlike Tannenbaum I don’t agree that the “mulatto” children should be brought up the Anglo American way in order for this concept of mixed children to go right. The “mulatto” children would have new ideas and ways of thinking to offer if they embraced both races. Leticia should definitely talk about “biological type” in her essay. This would be a perfect supporting claim for Tannenbaum and her idea on the mixing of races.  

Self Preservation vs. Loyalty

            If there is one thing I look for in people its loyalty. To have someone be faithful to me when it comes down to their friendship and honestly is essential in my eyes. Its fulfilling to know that there is someone out there who will respect and accept the person that you are. There are people who believe they are loyal. When in reality they are only protecting themselves from any situation that could possibly impair them.

             Loyalty is offering to help a friend through a rough time. Loyalty is being honest. Loyalty is being genuine. Loyalty is trying to understand even when you don't agree. Loyalty is being that helping hand that is quick to give than it is faster to receive. When you give your loyalty out to someone it's because in your heart you want to. Loyalty is someone offering beyond what one asked for. If you are willing to put yourself through a situation because in the end you know it will benefit you that does not necessarily mean that you are loyal. There is a thin line between self preservation and loyalty. Knowing the difference between your own good and the person next to you is not loyalty. Abiding by someone else’s cruel intentions knowing it is wrong, but still accepting it because in the end you are protecting yourself from any danger or are benefiting from the situation, is what I'd call self preservation.
             In Slave and Citizen, by Frank Tannenbaum, Tannenbaum claims that African Americans were loyal to their masters, but where they really “loyal”? I think African Americans were just smart enough to obey their masters not because they were loyal, but because they were scared of any potential harm that could have been done to them. They knew better and were smart enough to adapt themselves and abide by what their masters demanded of them. African Americans saw what happened to other races that refused to conform to the expectations of "the white men." As a result they chose to go by what they were told to do. Just because they were there for their masters and did as told does not mean that they were loyal. They did things for their own good.
              In the end of it all African Americans just wanted to stay alive and if that meant obeying their masters they were willing to do so. As I said before there is a thin line between self preservation and loyalty. Many people believe they are being loyal just because they are doing something for you. In realty if you are thinking about yourself in the process of helping someone else you aren't being loyal, you are just letting those natural instincts humans have to keep themselves out of any harm kick in. So next time you think you are being loyal ask yourself, Am I doing this because I genuinely care for another person’s well being or am I only interested in what I’ll get out of this?

 

 

 

Tannenbaum Summary Stumble!

In Slave and Citizen Tannenbaum argues the different roles African Americans played in the New World. He differentiates the way African Americans were portrayed and treated in the South in comparison to the way they were in the Spanish Part. On one hand he claims how African Americans had a different level of acceptance in colonial Brazil which was more loosely interpreted by the people. On the other he claims how they were …… (and I’m stuck)

"Dog Eat Dog World"

        Tannenbaum claimed that it is in all human beings to have a callous indifference to the suffering of others. I believe that there is an evil and selfishness in all of us which under certain circumstances it can be unleashed. Tannenbaum also claimed that the United States is divergent from other parts of the New World in the sense that we have morally separated ourselves from ever accepting an African American. Till this day African Americans are automatically looked upon by the color of their skin. Regardless of all the laws that have been passed stating that African Americans have rights, there is a level of ignorance that will always remain in our society. A level of ignorance so unattainable that we will go as far as to ignore laws that have prevailed over the years and pick at our stereotypical image of what an African American has always been seen for. History has repeated itself and in our times I believe we are more prejudice than ever. We have a larger variety of people and groups to target, not just African Americans.
        This brings me back to Tannenbaums claim on human beings and their callousness. There is a connection with the way we continue to perceive African Americans and the way we all target other groups or people that proves the callousness that's buried in each and every one of us. The ability we have to morally separate anyone from our society now and days is essential to Tannenbaums claim. It really makes me believe that it is in all human beings to put others beneath us if in the end it is beneficial to us. Who ever said it’s a "dog eat dog" world wasn't kidding.      
        Tannenbaum portrayed human beings as such unselfish beings which he was far from wrong. There was something Tannenbaum saw in humans that he knew if in the future we weren't targeting African Americans we would be morally degrading another aspect of our society because it is in all human beings to have a callous indifference to the suffering of others.

Twitter- timeline talk.

I really believe that history has repeated itself. People always talk about slavery back then and how things were with African American, yet many fail to see that the same racism is going on now. On twitter Nico mentioned that the same way African Americans were the backbone of America back then, same goes for minorities and immigrants in our time. It’s sad to see that our society’s way of thinking has been blocked. Many fail to see the similarities that still take place. Another thing that has been on my mind is that Yan Peng mentioned when she learned about African Americans in china, but she didn’t learn about African American history the way it’s been taught to her here. In china they didn’t focus much on how African Americans were brutally mistreated and haggled about like cattle. So I ask myself, what other piece of information are we possibly being misinformed about?

Diagnostic (The Souls of Black Folks, by W.E.B Du Bois)

 

How does one stay true to themselves, their culture, and race without being soaked into the world that is in front of them? Someone once told me don’t forget where you came from, the battles you’ve fought through are the ones that have left you scars that mark you who you are. There is a struggle that comes with blossoming into what you’ve always wanted to be, but not conforming to what you’ve become. There is a difference with adjusting to what’s around you than being transmuted into something else.

In a passage from the novel, The Souls of Black Folks, by W.E.B Du Bois, Du Bois speaks about the struggle African Americans go through with remaining true to themselves and embracing their history and race, but still being accepted just any American living in America would. Du Bois wrote “He would not Africanize America, for America has too much to teach the world and Africa. He would not bleach his Negro soul in a flood of white Americanism, for he knows that Negro blood has a message for the world.” To learn from America is what Negros was willing to do, not to change anything about it. But simply adjust to this lifestyle and learn from other races and cultures. African Americans were willing to take in what America had to offer without having to Americanize themselves. They wanted to stay true to their history which tainted who they are. They knew that to convert into something else would be a deprivation to Americans because we could assimilate from they’re struggle and story. There was a time in my life where it became a battle within me to stay grounded and not forget who I am. I grew up with the Dominican side of my family and had that culture instilled in me. I started to lose a sense of who I was my junior high school years. Going to a catholic school I was quick to embrace my Italian side and the small percentage of me that was white to conform to others around me instead of embracing the culture I grew up surrounded by. I was somewhat embarrassed of being Dominican. At the time I didn’t understand what a beautiful thing it was to embrace who I am without changing myself.

It’s a meritorious feeling to live in a diverse world. You learn so much from what another person’s background has to offer. You don’t have to mold yourself into what’s around you. You can take so much from someone else’s experience and give back from yours. In this point in time diversity should be everything to all of us.