Categories
2008 Abstracts Stage 3

“Discrimination may go but Prejudice will always be here”: Considering the Social and Historical Changes in Race Relations in Western Society from Slavery to Modern Day

Territory: Society both Historical and Contemporary with reference to the Initial Claim. Object/Philosophical Concepts: Freedom vs. Equality within the context of Historical Society and the Contemporary Change. My project is centred around the initial claim, “Discrimination may go but Prejudice will always be here”. I wanted to look at the social and cultural change in society where race is concerned, looking closely at the relationship between Freedom and Equality. The initial claim raised questions about society both with Civil Rights and Cultural Acceptance. Asking the question, even if we are Equal in the eyes of the law, are we Free from social prejudice? Historical Society: From Slavery to Civil Rights, what legal rights did black people have in a white society, when did it change and why did it take so long? Contemporary Change: To try and get an idea of race and multiculturalism in modern society, how it has changed society and cultural acceptance from different races. Sources: My original inspiration came from the Quote, which a line from a song by Audioweb called Policeman Skank which is based around racist views of police and unfair judgement in society due to race. I also watched the 2004 film Crash which I think captures an accurate view of race within contemporary American society but also illustrates my philosophical concept of Alienation within society. I also looked at key figures and periods in history which I feel outline the relationship between Freedom and Equality, like Slave Trading and Slavery, Martin Luther King, Rosa Parks, Hitler, the Aryan Race and the 1936 Olympics and the Civil Rights Movements in 1950’s and 1960’s and Philosophical Concept: Based my research into contemporary society I wanted to look at a philosophical concept which not only brought together my concepts of Freedom vs. Equality, but also highlighted social constraints we face today. I think the concept of Alienation, in both Marxist theory and in Heideggerian thought, demonstrated not only how have we become alien to other races, but also to our own. I wanted to look closely at this concept as it is one I find particularly interesting and a concept I believe we can all relate to in society, whether it is to do with race or not.