Reading Reflection #9

As I read the last chapter I felt relieved to finally get through it. This book has been one of the more interesting books that I have had to read for classes, and it has been a break from textbook work.

Newman challenged me big time. His beliefs are similar to mine as we both believe that equality is crucial, however he has challenged me as a person to step up to the plate. He make many points about our society that I have overlooked--such as the weatherman always being accepted. Anther thing Newman points out are problems with things such as the US Census Bureau asking for a person's race and only having six categories to choose from. I have never had an issue with it, because I am white, I don't have to read any further than that. However I might feel differently if I had a black mother and a white father. Throughout reading this book I have been challenged to point out inequality and oppression that remains overlooked in our society.

I really liked the section in this chapter called "Possibilities: altering inequalities." The black students who sat in a Woolworth's protested in what I consider the best way to alter inequalities. They were nonviolent. They were calm, quite and respectful while their "superiors" (white people) were proving themselves as rude and immature by shouting and physically trying to move them. The black students prevailed, in my mind, even if they did not get served--they made a monumental point and they proved themselves to be superior. Being nonviolent shows the maturity and poise that these students have which the angry white people obviously did not have. Though protests can be unsuccessful in their goals (of things like being served at Woolworth's) but are always successful in that they spread the word and make a point. This inspires me to work towards altering inequalities.


The last chapter left me asking questions, as Newman obviously planned. When will differences be accepted rather than something that divides our society? It is unfortunate, but I feel that equality is not something that I will see in our country in my lifetime. Maybe we are taking steps towards it, but they're only babysteps. Sure, over the past hundred years we have made huge strides towards equality, but in the past fifty, our effort has waned. After finishing this book I feel like social change is something that can occur, but it can only happen with the cooperation of people nationwide.