a class divided

A detailed Summary of a class divided

"A Class Divided" is a film that everyone should view no matter what race or ethnicity a person might be. Whether we realize it or not, everyone is prone to some form of discrimination or prejudice. Most Americans are not part of the dominant group, therefore due to being a minority, we undergo a feeling of inferiority. This film presents us with a different view on the color of someone's skin. After viewing this, a person will hopefully be less likely to focus on the differences they have with other people and see people all as equals. This topic was of great interest to me due to the fact that I witness discrimination many times a day. Even myself, as a woman, will face discrimination in my life. This film helps those who do not face prejudices in their everyday life, realize what it is like to be on the other end.

Those who are a part of the dominant group feel no close association with those of a minority group and often feel threatened by them as a result. The dominant group consists of all rich, well-educated, white, Protestant, male, who are older and heterosexual. If lacking even one of these characteristics, a person is then considered a minority. This is the typical way that we separate the two groups. In th

Another concept from the film was the arrogant attitudes where a group would refer to the others as "them" or "your people." Even today we relate certain groups that are not like us to phrases such as these. This arrogance makes me think about Hitler and the Jews. Hitler told the Germans that all those who had blue eyes and blonde hair were better. Therefore, everyone who did not hold these features, should be removed. Obviously he was referring to the Jewish people. Everyone believed him or got brainwashed by him in my opinion. Even though the Jewish never caused harm to the Germans, they saw no need for them to remain on this earth.

Another thing I noticed was that the children who were under normal circumstances, cooperative with one another, turned nasty and discriminating once told they were better. Those who were outside the superior group felt "immoralized" and "humiliated" that they did not hold the features of the other group. They felt like outsiders and therefore remained out the outside. In jobs this can become an obstacle if you only associated with those like you. Many ideas can be lost if everyone does not cooperate with one another. An example is Institutional Inequality. Minorities are oppressed and controlled by the dominant group. Therefore they are not getting a wide variety of views and opinions that could be beneficial. They have gatekeeps, which are people who limit access to positions of wealth, power and respect. This seems to me to make things at a stand still because those who are in the dominant group hold much of the same ideas.

The teacher points out to the children the ascribed trait that they were born with blue eyes or brown eyes. The first day in which the blue eyed had the upper hand, tensions grew between the two groups. One boy hit another due to the fact that he was called "brown eyes." Someone of authority told him that he had blue eyes so therefore he was better. He called him a name to hurt him, not to be funny. He saw the brown eyed as different and therefore since they were told they were the best, he wanted to make him realize he was not as good as him. We see this happen in everyday life by things we call "stereotypes." We automatically look at Mexicans and assume they are out to do harm. Jewish people we consider to be stingy with money. We have name calling just as the children were calling each other names. Our society uses names such as nigger, cracker and gook to dehumanize the other group. We witness name calling almost everyday, though we hardly even notice it anymore.

This film taught me a lot. Although I was not a part of it myself, it helped me put everything into perspective. I realize how I would feel if I had been discriminated towards having blue eyes even though I could not help it. This film shows us first hand displays of discrimination. Discimination is a behavior. It's when

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Approximate Word count = 1957
Approximate Pages = 8 (250 words per page double spaced)

Category: English