Extra Credit Response (worth 5 extra credit points)
As we begin to move into our next Unit and the play, Fences, these two materials are a good way to transition into the next part of the class. Since our main focus this semester is to draw parallels between the past and present, Fences is an ideal snapshot of an African American family in the late 1950s as they are struggling to rectify the past (slavery) with their present (segregation, continued discrimination, stereotypical gender roles, pre-Civil Rights), while looking towards the future (desegregation and more opportunity).
- The article: “The NFL is Suddenly Worried About Black Lives” is about the recent controversies surrounding the peaceful protests against racism and police brutality that started in the NFL. In Fences, sports, specifically baseball and football, play a huge role in both a metaphorical and literal manner.
- With this in mind, the Ted Talk, 50 Years of Racism–Why Silence isn’t the Answer is about James A White Sr.’s numerous confrontations with racism throughout his life and how, even now, he is trying to figure out the best strategies to try and end systemic racism in the U.S.
For this extra credit assignment, I would like you to address the following questions:
1.) Why does James A. Smith share a number of anecdotes in his Ted Talk? How does he think we can fight back against the current systemic racism in society?
2.) In reading “The NFL is Suddenly Worried…,” what persuasive appeals (logos, ethos, pathos) does Jamele Hill use to make her case? And, how would you describe her tone?
3.) Where do you stand on the protesting (kneeling) in the NFL? And, do you agree with Jamele Hill that “as unrest spreads across the nation, the NFL does not get to act as if it always stood with Kaepernick or the other players who followed his lead. Not when the league has shown itself to be a fake ally, an obstacle in the pursuit of social justice and equality, and a reflection of the racism that it says it stands against”? In other words, do you think the NFL has done enough to right its wrongs?
This should be around 500 words and is due by 11:59 pm on Wed., Oct. 4th.
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