C.P. Ellis

I think his story does offer credible way of overcoming hatred and misunderstanding between races. The method told about uses communication between people of differences to solve dislikes and tensions. He says, "I didn't until I met a black person and talked with him, eyeball to eyeball, and met a Jewish person and talked to him, eyeball to eyeball. I found out they're people just like me." This shows that it is easy to hate a group of people, but more difficult to hate an individual person. By talking about issues between different races and religious, for example, people saw that there wasn't a great deal of different between them. This realization allowed them to discard their hostility towards each other. I think that this method to get rid of discrimination is possible, but difficult to achieve. In order for it to work, both sides would need to be committed to solving the problem. Although I think some would be willing, many would oppose. I think it is possible to use this method to help discrimination, but I don't think it would work to solve it completely on a large scale.

The Pressure to Cover

Mainstream is a myth because no one is normal. Everyone has differences, but most people cover them up to appear to be mainstream. I think that mainstream person is someone who the majority of the population views as typical of our society. This doesn't mean that everyone in our society would like or want to be a mainstream person, but they have to pretend to be that mainstream person to be accepted by society. I think that Yoshino makes good points to defend that mainstream is a myth by giving examples that everyone covers something. People cover small and large things only because they believe that will make them appear to be mainstream.

Incidents in the Life of a Slave Girl - Credibility

"And now, reader, I come to a period in my unhappy life, which I would gladly forget if I could. The remembrance fills me with sorrow and shame. It pains me to tell you of it; but I have promised to tell you the truth, and I will do it honestly; let it cost me what it may." (46)
She makes it clear that it is difficult for her to write and this shows how much slavery has impacted her. It lets the reader know that she is taking a risk by writing this, but she also says that she will tell the truth. She also uses certain language, description, and often imagery to make her stories seem real and appeal to people's emotions.

Freedom

Emily Flint tries to find Linda so Linda hides. Mrs. Bruce offers to buy Linda, but Linda doesn't like the idea of being passed on from owner to owner and being bought and sold. Mrs. Bruce buys Linda anyway and frees her. Linda is appreciative of being free but is frustrated with the whole system of slavery.

Incidents in the Life of a Slave Girl

It is important that this book is fact and not fiction because fact is more real and believable. The fact that the events in the book are real makes it easier for people to make a real connection. It appeals to people's emotions with real facts. Many people would expect for a slave to write in the type of language used and that just reinforces credibility. If it was edited, there could also have been some question on whether the content was modified. Just like “What to the Slave is the Forth of July?” which was from the viewpoint of a slave, it gives an inside look.

Douglas

He is saying that he has no freedom on a day where freedom is celebrated throughout the United States. Not only does he not feel free, he says that the fourth of July demonstrates the differences between blacks and whites. He says, "The sunlight that brought light and healing to you, has brought stripes and death to me. This Fourth July is yours, not mine. You may rejoice, I must mourn." He appeals to one's emotion by trying to project his own emotions on the reader. He does not provide any logic or facts to support his opinion, and his argument appeals only to emotion.

Causes of Prejudice

I agree with the way that Parrillo describes prejudices are formed. He presents several different theories that have been proven correct by studies. Parents, peers, experiences, and environment, or socialization, all have a big impact of development of prejudice. For example, someone who grows up with with parents who are racists and verbalize or act on those beliefs has a higher chance of agreeing with that and continuing to pass those views on to their children. When people in a certain social class feel that their security is threatened and they are able to blame it on another social class, they will act out against that opposing class. The acting out of one class on another is economic competition. Non-Jewish people feel threatened by Jewish people because of the stereotype that Jews are better with business than non-Jews. Society has widespread beliefs on a class level. For example, Chinese are good at math. Even though this is not necessarily a negative prejudice, it makes people feel threatened and prejudices are formed.