Christopher Amado

Christopher Amado

04/05/2012

Deaths by Race on a City and State Level for Brockton, MA

            It is never easy for someone to deal with a death in the family and unfortunately death is something that comes to all of us. According to the Executive Office for Health and Human Services, death happens a lot more than most people may even realize. There are many various causes of death including but limited to AIDS/HIV. Cancer, chronic lower respiratory disease, diabetes mellitus, heart disease, liver disease, motor vehicle injuries, pneumonia/ influenza, strokes, and suicides.

The EOHHS has revealed that the average deaths per year in my hometown Brockton, MA are typically higher than the deaths for the overall state if compared to a similar population size. What does this mean from the beloved city in which I come from? According to the site for the EOHHS in Brockton, MA alone the area age adjusted rate of death for white people is 855.5 with an 817.2-893.9 95% confidence interval spanning out over the three years of 2006-2008. This was much more than the state age-adjusted average of 709.6 with a 706-713.2 95% confidence interval.

The results were very similar across the board for the other races that where shown except for black/African Americans whose death rates where a little higher on the state age-adjusted rate. African Americans’ area adjusted rate of death in Brockton was 729.9 opposed to the states 822. But the generalization holds true that Brockton averages where a little higher because of the 95% confidence intervals overlapping. Brockton’s being 644.5-815.3 and Massachusetts’s holding a fairly close confidence interval at 802-842. Does this go to show that maybe Brockton, MA may have poorer living conditions or does this show another trend? Is it quite possible that upper class groups that may be predominately white and live in other parts of Massachusetts may have better access to resources such as health care and natural necessities?

These points are given greater thought when the EOHHS also reveals that Hispanics area adjusted rates of death in Brockton are 545.8 with a 383.4-708.1 confidence interval opposed to the state’s  rates of 451.7 but interval of also conflicting numbers, 435.6-467.8. Or how about the Asian ethnic groups that live in the areas as well? They hold an adjusted rate of 443 (229-657 confidence interval) in Brockton but an adjusted rate of 368.1 (351.1-385 confidence interval) across Massachusetts.

So the EOHHS shows that the only race or ethnic group that may have a real age-adjusted rate of death in Brockton which may be higher than the state’s age-adjusted rate is white people. Must a say that Brockton, MA does not have very good living conditions based on its vast majority with very low incomes? If this holds true then this means that many other cities or towns in Massachusetts that are home to minority groups such as African Americans, Hispanics, or Asians may have similar if not worse living conditions and even worse healthcare than Brockton. I feel that this matter may touch up on the undeniable fact that our system is flawed and that racism and discrimination must still play key roles in the treatment and living conditions offered to those of non-white ethnicities. Now this doesn’t mean that all white people have better treatment and living conditions but a majority of them who live in mainly white communities must tip the balance and live longer than those in Brockton which I cannot say for many who live in communities with mainly minorities.

This data just goes to show that something must make a radical change if we wish to see any improvement in racial or ethnic discrimination in our local and state governments. It was very fascinating to find this evidence and then understand the concept that we must all face. This being those good living conditions, good healthcare and even a longer life are forms of white privilege in our community and need to be dealt with for the common good of all who live in our society.

Christopher Amado

03/1/2012

CRMJUS 321L

White Privilege

For years it has been discussed in the minority communities how white people benefit from unearned privileges. These so called privileges can include but are not limited to access to resources, wealth, knowing key people in government, unearned trust with authority figures, and even advancement in jobs faster than others of minority status. Of course none of these privileges are written in stone or blatantly obvious to the public but some may argue that they are everywhere and should be illegal. Three interviews that I conducted with people I know who are also white like I am revealed the opinions of some on the issue of “white privilege.

For the sake of revealing any identities of those interviewed I will just refer to them as subject 1, subject 2, and subject 3. Subject 1 was the first interviewed. After briefly reading an article on white privilege, she stated that she believes that it does exist and is not blatantly obvious in most of society. She explained how she thinks color is an institutionalized concept that is formed in American culture and that in other countries is not even something that is recognized. Just like the issue of racism she believes it is something that can never be dismantled but only worked on to reduce its negative effect on minorities.

Subject 2 had a very similar response on the issue. He stated that there are many different social privileges that may come with being white including a stereotype that you are well behaved and educated because you are white. He stated, “People think more highly of you because of your skin color and you usually don’t have to prove that you are educated or smart because it is naturally assumed in society which is not the case for most minorities.” He also thinks that more people are most suspicious of activities conducted by minorities because some of them are sometimes seen as mischievous.

Subject 3 was the last person interviewed and she had the most to say on the matter. Unlike the other two people interviewed she did not believe white privilege to be real. Instead she believed it to be a concept made up to create excuses and sympathy for those who do not try hard in life. She believes that most children have equal opportunities these days and that it is up to them to create their future. Not only did she contest the concept of white privilege but she promoted the idea that minorities actually have more privileges than white children to better their future. To back up her argument she used college scholarships like the Negro College Fund and government funded programs like food stamps and section 8 which many minorities who have low incomes may take advantage of. She believes that success in people is not measured by their privileges in society but their motivation to do everything in their power to be successful. She used her son as an example. He is a teenager of Hispanic descent who because of his ethnicity received more government grants and scholarships to attend college. “Is it not true that the government tries to provide more aid to minorities than white children?” she stated. One hundred years ago it was definitely an issue but now she thinks that children are less racist than their parents or grandparents. They afford the same leisure to their peers no matter color or ethnicity.

I agree with the points made by all three of the people I interviewed and even possibly may have come to the conclusion that the concept of white privilege may be a made up concept or a concept developed deep in the subconscious of its offenders. Either way it seems to be something that is not consciously practiced and may just be a direct form of racism that people of this day and age are already attempting to filter out of their own heads.

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Made my new blog after dealing with a site wide glitch. it wouldn’t allow me to log on! But thank god it is fixed now! Time to study!