Concept 1: Prejudice

a. Prejudice is any irrational or nonlogical idea towards people in a particular group.

In the film, many white people had irrational ideas towards immigrants, even after
slavery. These irrational fears and ideas caused neighborhood divides and
spread white suburban life throughout the United States.
b. The film illustrated this idea in many different ways, but particularly in explaining
the urbanization in the last century. Red-lining caused permanent separations
between white and black people, and favored white communities in the economy.

Concept 2: Stereotypes
a. Stereotypes are bad generalizations or when people accuse certain behaviors or
personalities within a specific group of people.
b. The film showcased this idea through citizenship rights granted to only white
people. Many of the court cases tried to prove that immigrants and especially
black people were not capable and educated enough to vote properly. Many
immigrants were educated and did not fit the stereotype that others in their
community might have held.

Concept 3: Institutional Discrimination

a. Institutional Discrimination is when the government puts racist laws and policies
into place.
b. Institutional discrimination was represented tremendously throughout the film.
The immigration laws such as the Johnson-Reed Immigration Act banned Asian
immigration until 1965, which hypocritically dismissed American values of
diversity, freedom, and the “Melting Pot”. Citizenship laws did not allow blacks in
the United States to vote or be a part of the jury. Housing acts like the Urban
Renewal took away housing from 90% of the population.

Concept 4: Colorblind Theory

a. This theory that was mentioned in the film states that if people ignore racism,
then racism will not exist.
b. The Colorblind Theory was highly prevalent in segregation within neighborhoods.
Many white people thought that simply ignoring the demand for black housing
within certain regions or part of the community was the best way to handle the
situation. Many black people were forced to live in urban environments, and
when they tried to live in suburban areas, blockbusting occurred.

How does the film illustrate race socially as a construct?

The film illustrates race socially as a construct particularly in citizenship laws. People
could simply cross state borders and be defined as a different race. In Virginia, you had
to be less than 1/16th black to be granted citizenship whereas in Florida, you only
needed to be less than 1/8th black. This shows that race was more about skin color and
appearance than actual heritage, culture, religion, socio-economic class, personality,
etc.
What are 2 ways the film shows how those specific social constructions affect
people’s lives?

Two ways the film shows how those specific social constructions affect people’s lives
were in citizenship and housing. In citizenship, race rules were not binary, but more
socially constructed. Citizenship depended heavily on where you were from and your
physical appearance. The rules shifted from court case to case. In the rise of housing
after World War II, the rules also shifted. White people were focused on how someone’s
skin color would affect their neighborhood’s overall appearance and economic value.
These social constructions that tell us that darker skin is inherently dangerous, evil, etc.
affected many people in the past and still many people today. Today, the average black
family has 1/8th the networth of a white family, and social construction definitely plays a
significant role in those statistics.