Graduation Date
1993
Document Type
Thesis
Program
Master of Arts degree with a major in Sociology
Committee Chair Name
Dr. Samuel P. Oliner
Committee Chair Affiliation
Cal Poly Humboldt Faculty or Staff
Second Committee Member Name
Dr. Elizabeth Watson
Third Committee Member Name
Dr. Jerrald Krause
Keywords
Art
Subject Categories
Art
Abstract
There is an obvious need for more tolerance and awareness in a society whose very essence is built on oppression and racism. It is apparent that as our society changes in the direction of increased diversity, we need to provide more opportunities for individuals to develop perspectives from a multicultural, inclusive frame of reference. This study incorporates an analysis of the roots of racism from the historical context of "manifest destiny" and the "white man's burden," and provides an extensive list of definitions and designations of racism designed to aid in understanding the complexity of oppressive interactions on both the micro and macro levels. The following concepts are also discussed within the framework of solutions for racism reduction based on interactional change: (1) Multicultural Education from the frame of reference that this educational method is the foundation for any program development which has the goal of reducing racist perspective. (2) Oppressor and Oppressed Hurdles which manifest themselves during interactions between majority and minority group members from the perspective that these hurdles are linked in an endless, interrelated circle guiding interaction. Oppressor Hurdles include racist-perspective, stereotypes, ignorance, language, intolerance, ethnocentrism and psychological, including but not limited to frustration aggression, blaming the victim or scapegoating. Oppressed Hurdles include low self-esteem, lack of education, drugs, lack of cohesion and adhesion, sense of helplessness, hopelessness and powerlessness, and health. A new tool I developed to measure awareness levels is also presented in the section on Oppressor and Oppressed Hurdles. The levels of awareness range from low through medium to high. (3) The relationship between institutional-to-individual-to-individual interaction and the perpetuation of racist oppression. Institutional structures are influenced by the results of relationships between individuals from majority and minority groups making up society. In turn, institutional structures influence the interactions which are V occurring on the micro level between minority and majority group members. This relationship is clearly self-perpetuating, self-defining and dialectic in nature. (4) Consequences of racism serve as a reminder of how debilitating racism is for everyone involved, including both minority and majority group members, regardless of position in society or color, but also provide a method for educating individuals on racism’s permeating negative effects on society as a whole. (5) Solutions for the elimination of racism within the perspective of deconstructing and reconstructing society's four major institutional structures: Political, Educational, Economic, and Legal structures. (6) The concepts of strength in diversity and a society based on a realistic pluralism. In other words making diversity a legitimate topic of discussion as well as a topic that doesn't automatically connote negative feelings or perspectives. Finally, my thesis incorporates the above concepts and ideas into a delivery system aimed at promoting non-racist perspective at all levels of society. The three areas proposed for presenting my program are the educational level, the communitybased level and the business/govemment level. The information on eliminating racist perspective is disseminated according to which of the three levels is being addressed, the demography of the group, and the level of awareness the group presents.
Recommended Citation
Pate, Eddie, "Eliminating Racism: A Solutions-Oriented Approach Based on Interactional Change" (1993). Cal Poly Humboldt theses and projects. 2433.
https://digitalcommons.humboldt.edu/etd/2433