Kirsten Olean

Kirsten Olean

Amount of People Diagnosed and Living with HIV and/or AIDS

*sources: http://www.avert.org/usa-race-age.htm

                 http://www.mass.gov/eohhs/docs/dph/cdc/aids/quarterly-county.pdf

            HIV and AIDS is a very serious illness that affects many lives. There are multiple ways to get the disease the two most prevalent are sexually transmitted and by injection (mostly sharing needles during recreational drug use). Though in the United States only .036% of people living have been diagnosed with the disease it is thought that there are much more people living with the disease undiagnosed and untreated then there is that are diagnosed.

            In The United States there is much more blacks and Hispanics living and diagnosed with HIV or AIDS then whites. Though whites’ makes up 72.4% of the total population of the United States they only make up 17.66% of the total population of HIV and AIDS victims in the U.S. Blacks making up 12.6% of the population are unfairly making up 59.88% of the HIV and AIDS population. Finally, Hispanics make up 16.3% of the U.S population and 19.8% of the HIV and AIDS population.

            Massachusetts also over represents blacks and Hispanics that have HIV or AIDS compared to how many make up the population. New Bedford, Ma which more blacks and Hispanics reside in have a much more people living with HIV or AIDS than Hudson, Ma. Though in New Bedford, Ma there is more whites living with the disease compared to the amount og white living in the area, white are underrepresented.  

            There is a greater amount of people living with the disease within the minority racial groups. One explanation would go back to poverty. Blacks and Hispanics having a disadvantage to whites because of white privilege leave many to live in low income areas. These areas are filled with people that cannot get a job and turn to an alternative way to make money. Drug dealers are prevalent, so that means drug users are to. Though there are many drug users and dealers in richer areas the kinds of drugs used are less likely to transmit diseases. There are many heroine users that share needles and that is how the diseases are easily transmitted.

            In some places in Massachusetts including New Bedford, Ma they have a needle exchange program. This program allows drug users to exchange their old used needles for new disinfected ones. There are many who oppose this program. This program is saving the lives of many because not only are the drug users affected by tainted needles. These users are getting the diseases and then bring it home to their wives, husband or anyone they may sleep with. Women can also pass the disease along to their children in childbirth. This program stops the awful cycle at the being, it is a great thing. HIV and AIDS are fatal diseases that have a way of affected many lives.

 *information from infoplease.com/ipa/a0104525

                              Quickfacts.census.gov/gfd/states

                              City-data.com/poverty/poverty-new-bedford-ma

There is a clear pattern that shows differences between the races throughout our country, our state, and small towns and cities within our state. The U.S percentage of blacks below the poverty line at 27.4% is almost three times bigger than the percentage of white below the poverty line at 9.9%.  Though blacks only make up 12.6% of the total population while whites make 72.4% of the U.S population. In Massachusetts while whites making up 80.4% of the population have on 7.6% below the poverty line, blacks making up 6.6% of the population have 30.6% below the poverty line. It seems this pattern goes on within the towns and cities. Blacks are much over represented below the poverty line then their share of the population. Though it was hard to find much data on Native Americans the data I did find shows that many of the reservations where their people reside are deeply poverty stricken.

What could the causes be for such unfairness? There is clearly something wrong here. Those who do not believe that there is such thing as white privilege needs to just look at the statistics that makes up our community.  Minorities do not have as great as a chance as whites do at success and wealth. Inner cities where the base of where poverty is seems to be overwhelming resided by minorities. It is just a cycle of poverty being concentrated into current races and in certain places without any recognition of this it will never change.

Kirsten Olean

            I interviewed three people asking them about white privilege. Two of the three interviewees already knew what white privilege was and I had to explain it to the third. All three agreed that white privilege does exist. All three of the people I interviewed happen to be white.

            They all had different views on how to stop white privilege from happening. One blatantly said that she has no idea how to go about stopping white privilege and since not subjected to it herself has never put much though into it. Another though agreed that white privilege existed, she also believes that there is black privilege because some laws and policies force hiring of minorities. Finally the last interviewee thinks that people need to be educated on the existence of white privilege and how its presents oppress people. He believes that it continues to go on because many people are ignorant to it and ignorant to their advantages and the things they do that bring others down.

            I think white privilege does exist and that is taking place every day and most of the time it’s undetected. I think black privilege is irrelevant because whites are the ones that have the power when it comes to race. I think the laws and policies that force companies to hire minorities are necessary. White privilege puts white at such an advantage we unknowingly, most of the time, take for granted. I also think that people need to be educated about white privilege, especially whites that have it, and just the acknowledgement and understanding of it can help put a stop to it and begin greater equality.

Kirsten Olean

2/17/11

            Native Americans as a whole have been widely oppressed in the United States of America. Since “Columbus discovered America” they have been dominated by the “the founders”, the European. Though the Native Americans have the most ties to the land historically and culturally they have been struggling to hold on. The Native population was almost wiped out by massacre and by the Europeans bringing over diseases their immune systems were not equipped to handle. The surviving natives were pushed from their lands, which they concerned a part of them. They were thought of as scavenges and less than humans.

            As the country progressed the young Native Americans were forced from their homes to boarding school were their culture was lost and were forced to “act white.” Native Americans were forced to assimilate into white culture or they would have a hard time surviving. They were punished for speaking their language or even dressing certain ways. Now as a country we view Indians in a certain way. TV and Movies portray the cowboys and Indians, that all Indian wore feather, rode horses, and had bow and arrows. That is just not the case; there are many different tribes around the country that have many different aspects to them. We generalize and do not recognize their cultures. American easily forgets we are the immigrants to the Native Americans yet we continuously oppress them as if they did not belong.

            Education on American History continues to teach that America has a great history and is not showing the brutal treatment of the Native Americans. We celebrate Columbus Day every October and yet do not take in to account that we are celebrating a man who massacred and oppressed people. We do not learn that side of our own history.

            Many groups have been organized to support Native Americans and their tribes. There are many urban centers that are there just to support Native Americans in the area. There are actives from all different tribes trying to get their stories out and message across. Most are just looking for recognition and understanding. There are federally acknowledged tribes that are able to protect their own laws and own lands. Many are taking progressive roles making movies or websites in support of their tribes. There are many tribes where there land is being compromised for the benefits of businesses, and it is not right.

            The United Nations have written a declaration that is in support of all indigenous nations throughout the world called “Minimum Standards:” The UN Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples. The document is urging all nations to listen to the indigenous voices and see their views on many things such as environmental issues since they are the ones that have the most ties to land and understand it the most. There is still a long way to go in Native American Rights but there has been significant steps that have been taking in the right direction.

Sources :

“Minimum Standards:” The UN Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples

http://www.narf.org/

http://academic.udayton.edu/race/02rights/Soverign02.htm

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