AGENDA Review:

Randall Kennedy on Racial Passing

Presentation: Introduction to the “Arguing A Position” EssayAsserting a clear position

New StrategyBrainstorming with FREECASH

In-Class Writing The thesis

WHY DO PEOPLE PASS?1. To Escape Bondage2. To Get Information3. To Pursue

Education4. To Advance

Occupational Ambition

5. To Get Access to Services

6. To Establish Credibility

7. For Safety8. Revenge or Fun

WRITING THE ESSAY: STEP ONE: READ THE PROMPTIn his essay “Racial Segregation,” William Pickens asserts, "If passing for white will get a fellow better accommodations on the train, better seats in the theatre, immunity from insults in public places, and may even save his life from a mob, only idiots would fail to seize the advantages of passing, at least occasionally if not permanently" (3)

Write an essay of four to six pages arguing for or against racial passing. Use support from four of the texts we have read so far, our discussions, and your own insights. Remember to format your essay in MLA style.

I encourage you to read the complete prompt, available on our class website under “Essay Prompts” and “Essay 2.”

STEP TWO: REVIEW THE BASIC FEATURES OF AN ESSAY THAT ARGUES A POSITION.

REVIEW: BASIC FEATURES1.) A Well-Defined Issue: ExplainPosition papers strive to influence readers’ views about contentious issues, yet the writer’s initial task is usually to define the issue for readers.

2.) A Clear Position: AssertThe essay should clearly indicate the writer’s position on the issue.

3.) A Convincing, Well-Reasoned Argument: Convince Writers argue for their positions by offering reasons and supporting them with evidence. Writers also argue against the objections and alternative arguments that audience members might have 4.) An Appropriate Tone: Stay Calm

Find a tone that adequately expresses their feelings without shutting down communication.

STEP THREEBRAINSTORMING WITH FREECASH

Do you agree with Pickens's statement supporting racial passing?

LET’S WARM UP BY BRAINSTORMING FREECASH: A TOOL FOR THINKING

F= Freedom, Fairness, Legality, Human Rights, Social Justice

R = Religion, Morality, Ethics

E = Economics, Monetary Issues, Finances, Expenses

E = Environment (types of environments = natural, rural, urban, workplace, home, school)

C = Convenience, Comfort

A = Appearance, Aesthetics

S = Safety, Security

H = Health, Well Being (types of health = individual, societal, mental, physical, emotional, spiritual)

THE PROMPT: If passing for white will get a fellow better accommodations on the train, better seats in the theatre, immunity from insults in public places, and may even save his life from a mob,” only idiots would fail to seize the advantages of passing, at least occasionally if not permanently.”

Do you agree with Pickens's statement supporting racial passing?If yes, why?If no, why not?

OK, HOW DID YOU FILL OUT THE FREECASH CHART?CATEGORIES Agree with Pickens Disagree with Pickens

FREEDOM/FAIRNESS

Free to express identities

RELIGION/MORALITY

ECONOMICS Limits the economic power of the marginalized community

ENVIRONMENT Causes anger and jealousy in primary group or community.

CONVENIENCE It is convenient to pass to avoid discrimination

APPEARANCE

SAFETY

HEALTH

LIST REASONS TO AGREE WITH PICKENS ON ONE SIDE AND REASONS TO DISAGREE ON THE OTHER.

CATEGORIES Agree with Pickens Disagree with Pickens

FREEDOM

RELIGION/MORALITY

ECONOMICS

ENVIRONMENT

CONVENIENCE

APPEARANCE

SAFETY

HEALTH

OK, HOW DID YOU FILL OUT THE FREECASH CHART?CATEGORIES Agree with Pickens Disagree with Pickens

FREEDOM Free to pursue identities Free from worry of being exposed

RELIGION/MORALITY

When the oppressor is not moral, there is no moral responsibility

Immoral to lie about who you are.

ECONOMICS Free to pursue better job. Can send money back to community.

Limits the economic power of the marginalized community

ENVIRONMENT

Allows passer to move to better neighborhood. Improves kids’ lives.

Causes anger and jealousy in primary group.

CONVENIENCE It is convenient to pass to avoid discrimination

It is very inconvenient to be exposed by family or friend

APPEARANCE More money to families improves communities and reputations.

Reinforces the social construct by upholding racial divisions

SAFETY Passing may save the life of the passer

Passing may put the passer’s life at risk

HEALTH Passers have access to better health services

The stress of passing causes health risks

STEP FOUR: DRAFTING A WORKING THESIS USING YOUR FREECASH BRAINSTORMING IDEAS.

THE PROMPT: If passing for white will get a fellow better accommodations on the train, better seats in the theatre, immunity from insults in public places, and may even save his life from a mob,” only idiots would fail to seize the advantages of passing, at least occasionally if not permanently.”

Do you agree with Pickens's statement supporting racial passing?If yes, why?If no, why not?

WRITING A THESISIn this case, your working thesis will be your position on racial passing and your reasons for your belief: Do you agree with Pickens or not? Why or why not? You may refer to Pickens or not in your thesis.

1. Racial passing is a personal decision, and people should seize the opportunity if they can in order to defeat racism and discrimination.

2. Passing is a selfish act that reinforces hierarchy in society, and it should be avoided despite the opportunities it offers the individual.

You may qualify your thesis, for example, by adding a phrase that acknowledges there are exceptions to your main assertion.

1.For example, if you disagree with Pickens in general but want to acknowledge that there are specific circumstances in which passing is acceptable, you might say something like, “While racial passing for personal safety is a necessary and acceptable behavior, passing in general violates community norms and reinforces the social construct of racism.”

2. If you agree with Pickens but want to acknowledge there are specific circumstances in which passing is unacceptable, you might say something like, “While passing full time violates familial and community connections and should be avoided, part time passing allows a passer to take advantage of the benefits passing can reap, including the opportunities to escape racism and oppression.”

WRITE A WORKING THESIS. REFER TO YOUR ORIGINAL NOTES AND YOUR FREECASH CHART TO DETERMINE REASONS FOR YOUR POSITION. YOU CAN USE THESE AS MODELS OR EXAMPLES:

Racial passing is a personal decision, and people should seize the opportunity if they can in order to defeat racism and discrimination.

Passing is a selfish act that reinforces hierarchy in society, and it should be avoided despite the opportunities it offers the individual.

While racial passing for personal safety is a necessary and acceptable behavior, passing in general violates community norms and reinforces the social construct of racism.While full time passing violates familial and community connections and should be avoided, the wise person will pass part time to take advantage of the benefits it can reap, including the opportunities to escape racism and oppression.

WHO WILL VOLUNTEER TO READ HIS OR HER WORKING THESIS?

While people need freedom, healthcare, and equal opportunity in education and work, the price for passing is too high: people should not pass for economic surplus or convenience at the cost of disenfranchising their primary communities.

While short term passing provides an umbrella from racial rejection and offers an escape from personal harm, long term passing is both mentally and emotionally destructive and reinforces social oppression within the African American community.

Introductions Building good body paragraphs, Counterarguments Conclusions

HOMEWORK

Write: Make a list of reasons that support your thesis. Consider: which of our texts will provide examples that support your reasons. Post #9: Post your working Thesis, your list of reasons, and one example from our texts that supports your reasons. Bring to next class: Your thesis and all of your brainstorming.