The Social Lookbook

Now that I have knowledge about my social impact, I have the desire to fight against complacency and make a positive change. I feel like my generation is a generation full of change and acceptance. For example, we are more globalized; we have more freedom to express ourselves to the masses, and endless amounts of communication. With all of these changes, we can eventually strike social change with the use of technology. I have positive hope for the future, despite the deviance, stereotypes, and social problems that exist within my world. I see the world better than before.

I would describe a social problem as an issue that involves an entire community. The community can be black, white, christian, transgendered, etc. During the course of a day, a person can be subjected to many social problems. Sometimes a person may experience all of these social problems at the same time. Below is a list of the most common

-RASCISM, SEXISM, CLASS STRUCTURE, INEQUALITY, GENDER DIFFERENCES, ETC!-

Here come’s my children’s history rolling on me like a tidal wave. It’s been a long time since that last lynching, but I can still feel the crash of that wave on my skin. I call it the wave of White Supremacy. You see, back in the “Good Ol’ Boy” days, they used lynching as a public example. This example was supposed to strike fear in the Black Community. It was suppose to keep us under control. It was a policy managed by fright. So here I sit today, drowning in that same water. Today those Good Ol’ Boys have turned into government-employed pigs for the new generation (my generation). They have traded ropes for government-supplied weapons, that poplar tree has transformed to a cold hard ground. The same ground Michael Brown, Eric Garner, Tamir Rice, John Crawford III, and now Walter Scott have to lie on. There are many more BLACK lives not mentioned, but I don’t have FOREVER to write. I am just a hard-working college student trying to finish my Spanish homework, but I can’t seem to complete my assignment, because I am distracted by CNN updates. I am thinking about going to get snacks after my assignment. However it is late, and if I get pulled over by police- I might get killed. America is supposed to be this great place, a place filled with opportunity and prosperity, and YES it is for certain people. But I do not see that image when I press the play button on that horrifying video. (Walter Scott). I see a country that systematically keeps Black lives at a disadvantage. America tells me, “It matters what YOU do”, “and if YOU work hard YOU will succeed”. But how will these statements prove true to people like me? How will it be true if the system is built for us to fail? I really do not know the answer. However, I do know that I will continue to fight.  

I am not going to lie. If it wasn’t for Introduction to Sociology, I would have never picked up this book. However, I am glad I had the chance to read this interesting criticism. The book was a thoughtful experience. I found myself saying things like “wow”, “I KNEW IT!”, etc. I am not the best writer in the world, but I am going to give a small critical response on this book. Ehrenreich wanted to know how it felt to be a low-wage worker, and how to survive off minimum wage. She decided to start her low-wage journey by escaping everything/everybody from her middle-class life. Ehrenreich even had a “starter kit” (a car, money for a down payment/ first months rent).  I like to think of it as an honest consumer review. Firstly, the book was broken into 3 segments (each segment based on the authors location). It was her responsibility to find a job, food, shelter, etc without using her prior work experience or educational background. As a result, she was able to work at several locations: Walmart, Hotels, Maid-Service, etc. I am a low-wage worker myself, which is very interesting. So although she was physically able to determine what it takes, I don’t think her mentality was creditable. How are you rich enough to be poor when convenient? It is so easy for her to go back into a big comfy house (which she mentions in the book), but when you are poor you do not have that peace of mind. You could find out if a person could survive on minimum wage with a calculator and the internet. But a poor man’s life had to be lived in order to understands- not staged. However, even though I don’t feel the author has an accurate experience, it was still a joy to read.

Kanye West gave an exhilarating interview response during his visit at Power 105.1 Radio Station (The Breakfast Club segment). But one of the host poses a wonderful question “Kanye, who were you on the Ellen Show”. If you have seen Kanye West not as KANYE WEST, you definitely saw this “act” on the Ellen Show. During his interview on the Ellen Show, Kanye sits poised and calm. He talks with a over-soft tone, and says nothing but positive things. So when the host poses this question, Kanye says “The world does not want to see an angry black man”. Kanye West put up a facade in order to appeal to other races, specifically whites. He understood that there are two ways to this glance. First, he understands how he looks at himself, and second he understands how the world looks at him as a Black man. W.E.B. Dubois calls this double consciousness. Its even broadcasted within popular culture. For example, when an African-American walks in a corner store they realize they will be judged by the color of their skin. I call it the “hurry up and buy” concept.

I see the world better than before. However, I don’t mean the world is better than before. Some people will say it is the result of finally purchasing glasses. I say, “I changed my major to Sociology”. Before, I lived in a world with no explanation. I was ignorant to the facts. However,the tables have turned. I now try to caste out my western mind. I try to think globally. I restrict my mind to certain social problems and I ask “How do we solve this?”. This blog will layout past, present, and potential future social problems. Be prepared for many exciting entries relevant to popular culture and history. This blog is my own opinionated view toward these social problems. No judgement shall be passed! Enjoy!