The most important aspect I got out of this new media experience was learning to speak in my own voice. I’ve looked back on my earlier posts and many of them were much more formally written, as if they were papers for school. I just didn’t really know how to write in a “blogging” manner and perhaps I still don’t, but I’ve definitely found my voice and have begun writing in a more personal manner than previously. I’ve learned that it is in the manner that you write a blog, that makes it more appealing to read. Anyone can write things and report the facts, but blogging takes a personal voice to make certain blogs more appealing to one group of people than others. If we all wrote formally, it would be impossible to decide which blogs to read!

In terms of what I would do differently, I definitely would find a way to get more pictures up. My topic is pretty difficult in that sense but I’ve seen the posts that include pictures get WAYYY more views than those with only text. Perhaps the pictures do not even need to relate to my post as much as I think they should, but I really would have liked to post more visuals. I also would have blogged more on a daily basis. Too often I would forget about blogging and then have all my posts on a single day instead of spread out throughout the week. It took a while to get into the habit of writing everyday, so even if I had an idea to write about, it would be posted all at the end of the week. 

I really enjoyed having my own space on the Web to share my thoughts and ideas with people, even if not many were reading them. It was really nice to see something in the news and then be able to comment on it in whatever way I wanted. I love the freedom of blogging. It really allows you to take a subject and take a moment to reflect on it to the public, instead of keeping everything to yourself or your close friends. 

I didn’t like the fact that I had only a few comments on my posts. Granted, it is a different topic and not too many people knew about it, but I left many open-ended questions that I would have loved to hear people’s comments. I shared my blog with friends and would sometimes post a link to it on Facebook, Twitter, and instant messaging. I know a lot of my friends read it, but they just didn’t feel the need to comment or didn’t want to sign up on WordPress in order to leave a comment. I guess I can understand that, but I really wanted my blog to be a place where people could share their true feelings about such an important topic in society. I think that would have made the experience much more interesting. 

With that said, I definitely intend to keep updating this blog. I know in reality once my online journalism class is over I won’t have the constant reminder e to post as part of my grade, so it will definitely take me a while to get used to blogging on my own. I just really like my topic, even though it can be hard to find things to talk about most of the time. It will be great to still have a place to share my thoughts when topics on race come up in the media. I might not continue to blog so routinely, but I definitely will post things I find interesting and relevant to my topic. 

Overall, I think blogs are great and I encourage anyone who has comments on ANYTHING they find interesting to start one. It’s such a great way to get out your own frustrations, thoughts, and comments while also sharing your ideas with the world. It can turn into a great conversation piece, whether if it’s just with friends and family or total strangers. It is the media of the 21st century and the way, I believe, people will be sharing news and information for decades to come. I don’t think anyone should pass up the opportunity to be able to share your views of the world to the world. It was a great exercise in new media and I hope to continue blogging on this and other blogs!

I’m just gonna chalk her comment up to the fact that she’s old and doesn’t have the social knowledge to know what she’s talking about. Telling a race they should change their names so it’s easier for AMERICANS (the nation made up of DIVERSE people) to pronounce, is so incredibly absurd I don’t even know how her aids and team of people around her let her even think this idea!!!!! 

Did she seriously think she could suggest this and not have people in a fury? What century does she think she’s living in?

I’m sure names of Asian decent aren’t the only things this woman can’t pronounce so let’s all just save her the trouble and change our names to Betty. I’m sure she’d love that.

I don’t find it racist, I mean, it’s a joke. It’s a chia pet people. I don’t think it was done maliciously. Obama is an icon and people are capitalizing on him in any way they can. I’m sure plenty of people wanted to buy the product because it might be “cool” to have your president’s head on your desk sprouting some leaves. I don’t know. There’s plenty of random Obama memorabilia out there.

However, I do think it is a little ridiculous and perhaps disrespectful to have the leader of the free world’s head molded into a chia pet. It just doesn’t seem right. But, Obama’s iconic status has partially made it acceptable for these strange tributes. People do seem to be overreacting just a little. I’m gonna take this one as a joke and leave it at that.

What I’d really LOVE to see is a Dick Cheney chia pet that just comes with the head and no seeds. (GET IT?!)

Elizabeth asked, when does art cross the line between being funny and just plain racist? She also said pc people are so worried about being pc that we don’t really know what they’re thinking or how they really feel about racial groups. If people are always pc, you never know if they are actually open-minded or if they just hide all of their insulting feelings.

Joy talked about it being different when you are making fun of your own group.  Since she’s Italian, she feels fine making jokes about Italians but admitted it does feel weird when others who are not Italian make stereotypical jokes.

Sherri was offended when watching a white comic making insulting jokes against minorities, while most of audience was white. As a minority, she was offended.

Whoopi says she makes fun of everybody because every racial/ethnic group has their own behaviors and idiosyncrasies. She also said we all have those prejudicial remarks in us and they do come out at one time or another. She talked about the watermellon stereotype with black people and said if she’s asked whether she likes watermellon she always has to think if it’s because she’s black of if they have some to share with her.

–Very interesting discussion today. Although I hardly ever agree with her, Elizabeth made some great points today. When does a joke cross the line? It can be annoying to not be able to joke about things with friends for the constant fear of offending someone. Are people too sensitive or are those making the jokes not sensitive enough? I also liked her point about pc people. It’s true, we really never know how they actually think because they are so concerned with their “pc-ness.” Is it better to always be pc or better to be speak your mind in a respectful way?

I say, speak your mind but be kind!

For minorities, I believe the answer is the fact that many came from predominantly white areas. Many of my African American friends were one of the only black kids at their high schools. Perhaps not growing up with members of your same race makes it appealing and comforting to bond with members of your race in college.

Then comes the different racial and ethnic student groups. These groups like the Latino American Student Organization bring people of different backgrounds together and again, this is appealing because some may have come from neighborhoods where they were the racial minority.

For all of us, I feel it’s a matter of fitting in somewhere. As humans, we are drawn to people who are similar to us and that applies to similar races. There is some underlying comfort in being with people from similar backgrounds as you. Think about how excited you get when you meet a someone from your hometown or even close to it. It’s exciting to meet people similar to you and that includes similar looking.

I guess I basically answered my own question about college groups and their racial similarities!

Should racist videos be banned from YouTube, or should people be able to look into the world’s racist past?

I”m pretty torn on this one. After viewing the cartoons I can honestly say they made my jaw drop with their offensiveness. It just boggles my mind that something like those skits were once broadcast to a paying public. I also don’t think the cartoons serve the public any good. They offend a great majority of the public are not helping anyone.

However, I do believe it is necessary to view pieces of history and unfortunately, racism is a big part of the world’s history.  It is important to see how far we’ve come in the battle against racism. Therefore, I believe these several cartoons should have an age restriction. Granted, the restriction does not do much and is easy enough for younger viewers to change their age in their profile settings, but at least it would be restricting some access. Also, only about five racist cartoons were banned. I do not know what makes these five cartoons more offensive than others, but other historical racist videos are available for those who wish to view them so I do not know what message  YouTube was trying to send by only banning five.

Is this how discrimination begins? Can nature fuel the start of stereotypes? Perhaps more people need to be aware of biological differences between races, or do they know and just not care?

So terrible. We need to stop this.

I think it’s important for everyone to spend some time in a big city like Boston. I’ve grown so much as a person from the people I’ve met and the new things I’ve experienced. I’ve gone to a Chinese New Year Parade, seen art exhibits from all over the world, listened to people speaking Arabic, and attended a bustling jazz festival. Granted these things can be done anywhere, but it’s so much easier to come into contact with different people and cultures in a large city. I can’t imagine how much more sheltered I would be today if I stayed in my small town in New Jersey. Big cities force you to adopt a new culture, one that incorporates things from all the people around you. I love how different races, ages, and sexual orientations come together within a few miles of one another. People have so much to offer and cities are where differences congregate. 

I see some of my friends at colleges in more rural areas and there is such a difference in their views of the world compared to my peers in Boston. Those in rural areas tend to not be as tolerant of human differences and I feel like I’m always showing them something new I’ve discovered. Cities are not for everyone, but I truly believe it’s essential for emerging adults to spend a significant amount of time in a large city to be able to grow as an individual. It’s definitely a great way to learn about world while remaining in a single city, if that makes any sense. 

I’m looking forward to everything else I’ll learn during the next two years in Boston!

You hear people saying, “Stop acting so white” or “Why do you have to act so black?” but now I’ve been hearing, “Must we act so ethnic?” I’ve just been wondering what this new phrase actually means. I usually hear it when my black guy friends start talking about typical African American foods or when they where their hoods inside. What ethnicity are they talking about? If they’re talking about their racial ethnicity, that would mean African and I don’t know what’s African about eating collard green or wearing a hood indoor, so why the new change of phrase? Why does someone need to be acting any sort of race? I’m still trying to understand what my friends mean by this phrase.