Sociology 4949: Worksheet--"Matters of Race: Race Is/Race Ain't" (2003)

1. Describe the circumstances in which the King/Drew Hospital was founded?

2. What are the demographic changes that have taken place in South Central Los Angeles since that time?

3. How has race discrimination become an issue at King/Drew?

4. How well do you see King/Drew dealing with issues of race discrimination? What kind of evidence supports the idea that important progress has been made? What points to continuing problems?

Sociology 4949: Groups--"Matters of Race: Race Is/Race Ain't"

1. Most students in my classes at UMD are offended by the idea that only whites can be racist. How could such a claim be supported? What are the implications for relations between Blacks and other minorities at King/Drew Hospital?

2.Why does Jane Lazarre, a white woman who grew up in Greenwich Village, New York City, conclude that her son will never be white in America, and what is the emotional impact of that realization?

3. What about the Korean woman reacting to what she says is a frequent comment from whites: "Oh you speak English so well." She sees this as implying that she doesn't really belong in the United States? Can you understand why she would feel this way? What do you think?

4. We often hear the contention that the ideal society would be a color-blind society. The affirmative action director at King/Drew argues against that perspective. Why? What do you think about this idea?