Category: Uncategorized

Christiana Awode 

Prof stone.

Eng 1101 

December 22

     Structural racism has been affecting people of color for many years, because of this they have no opportunities with education, jobs, wealth, taxes, voting, healthcare, and housing treatment. This exists because of white supremacy, white people placing themselves on the top and putting black and other minorities at the bottom. 

No matter how many protests about racism nothing is done to help people of color Racism can be stopped, and laws can be put into place but the U.S and the government choose not to so “everyone has an opportunity”. My main focus on the audience is the congress. I’m targeting representatives, they can introduce solutions, offers, and amendments. Bowman might have some sort of power to alter or put in a law to protect people of color from structural racism. 

 

    Over the years, I see structural racism is real. I became interested because I’m coming to an age where I will be an adult soon. I want to succeed in life and be able to reach high class, but structural racism is taking any opportunity I have. I’m worried racism might affect me the way it’s affecting adults.  In my letter I will be targeting one specific audience. Jamaal Bowman is a United States Presentative, a democratic, he served in the house from 2011 till now. My letter would consist of a congress of the united states title up top, below the date, the name of the representative I am trying to target. Under the state, the district, and party, and time he served. I will be explaining to Jamaal Bowman how racism is affecting people of color, and their communities. I’ll be trying to convince him to make changes since he is still serving in the house. I will be incorporating some people of color we lost because of racism, and white privilege. This letter would be a short, personal, and  direct speech to Jamaal. 

     Jamaal might have been convinced, bringing my personal thoughts and how it would affect not only me but the kids in this generation might have opened his eyes a little bit. Maybe instead of targeting one audience from the congress I should have targeted a group, they may all read my letter, have a meeting about it and at least talk about that being the first step. This was kind of easy in a way it’s a real thing happening everywhere in society. Having this as a college project was a good thing, I wanted to get the people in charge of making these laws to at least notice how it’s affecting people of color. All the protests have not been working so maybe expressing how it will affect kids might give them a little sympathy. 

Entry 2

 

Matthew, Bowen Dayana. ‘Just Health: Treating Structural Racism to Heal America”. New York University Press, 2022.

 

   “Just health: Treating Structural Racism to Heal America” by Dayana Bowen, was published in February 2022. Bowen is a leader in public health and a civil rights lawyer who focuses on healthcare. Bowen shows how racial inequality hurt the public, and how we can change the Black Lives Matter Movement.

    Bowen begins this book by clarifying how structural racism kills many people of color, Black, and Native yearly in America today. She illustrates to us what happened to Vincent Edward Bowen Jr, aka her ‘Dad” he died at the young age of forty-nine. Bowen lost her dad her sophomore year of college, as she states he was “hardworking”, and “charming, he accomplished the “American Dream”. Structural Inequality is the most harmful to Americans, Bowens states “This inequality is structural because it operates through the enduring societal institutions to regulate other groups to an inferior status and elevate other groups to superiority solely” (Bowen 2). This is where white supremacy comes in, they have higher privileges, a superior race dominating other races. All this leads to the worst health for people of color, this poor health killed Bowen’s father Vincent. Bowen explains there are paths for structural inequality, perpetuates prejudice dividing Americans by social class, and this affects a person how they treat themselves. Bowen says, “Intergroup contact can improve relationships across different socioeconomic status, gender, sex, religion and even differences in race and national origin” (Bowen 4). Structural inequality plays a role in special treatment for one group, even in neighborhoods and social classes where segregation plays a big role, one race won’t want to be near another race, one race lives in nice housing with protection, and another race is in poverty and has no benefits.

   Bowen is a professor of law and George Washington University law school; she helps communities with disadvantages. She is a member of the health policy team serving the Office of Civil Rights for the U.S. Bowen is very concerned for all people of color and the amount of death, in the book she talks about social class and how it affects someone of color, and how they live.  Bowen is trying to target all people of color especially African American men, in the article she talks about her dad Vincent, and how structural inequality killed him from poor health. How people of color have the most terrible health, and how it all affects education and housing. Structural inequality is damaging communities and the lives of people.

   This book was published in February 2022, on Black History Month. This month gives every African American attention needed. To get their voice out to gain publicity and change it’s a time for people of color to gather together to protect their lives. The author wants to change for people of color, and fair treatment for all races of color. Bowen wants all the poor minority populations to have good health and not suffer. A book is a great way to get through to a big audience, it comes with different contents, so the reader is satisfied. Bowen can connect to the people reading her book and get them to understand and even want change.