I’ll Take My Stand in Dixie-net

The thesis of this article seems to be that “neo-confederate” websites serve as an online gathering place for racists. Tara McPherson believes that such sites cause a virtual Mason-Dixon Line and although they say they do not support racism McPherson believes that they these sites are practicing “covert” racism.

McPherson mostly explains how racist views are passed down through families, mostly in the South, along with anti-feminist ideas. McPherson explains in this article that many of these websites claim to not promote racism and that several even go as far as to ex out of a Klansman’s hood. McPherson also explains how some of these sites outlaw the use of the term “the Civil War” instead using the term “the war between the states” and that the war is the ground on which many of the neo-confederates stand to claim their heritage. She also goes on to tell readers that many show the south as breaking away from the north and becoming its own nation.

The article is not very well organized and rather difficult to follow. In the beginning of this article the author explains how she came across the neo-confederate websites which seems unnecessary and detracts one from the main idea. As for the main points of this reading I felt they were unclear. At some points she is discussing feminist movements and others she is talking about the racist history of the south. McPherson’s argument seems to waffle and she offers no alternates to the present system.

I had a hard time following this article. It was hard to read and even harder to understand the meaning of what the author was trying to say. Also I don’t entirely agree with what I believe the author is trying to say, I don’t think that every neo-confederate website promotes the Mason-Dixon Line and I believe some are honestly trying to show their history and be proud of their heritage. Although I’m sure that some sites do still actively support racist views some are just trying to show their past however dark it may be. I don’t understand what McPherson wants from the south, does she want them to pretend that slavery never existed and that there was no war? Of course not, doing such a thing would be denying a major part of our history and ignoring it would be even worse than admitting the horrible truth. History’s history, there’s no sense in sweeping it under the rug.

McBride why I hate Abercrombie & Fitch

The thesis of this article is that Abercrombie and Fitch are selling young gay white men a lifestyle rather than the clothes they appear to be marketing. McBride’s interest, as he puts it, started while out with friend when he noticed that most of the men at the bar they were at was wearing some kind of clothing with the Abercrombie and Fitch logo on it. He goes on to explain that Abercrombie and Fitch stores and ads all have the same basic look and feel to them and even cites another book that points this out.

The main idea of this article is that Abercrombie and Fitch are not only telling gay men how to dress but also how to act, look, walk, shop, and go about their daily lives. McBride argues that Abercrombie and Fitch is also class motivated and presents the dress code of the company that does not overtly say white or whiteness but certainly promotes it. McBride also touches on the fact that older people are not shown in either the book or in any of the Abercrombie and Fitch ads.

McBride’s article is interesting but it some parts seem unnecessary such as most of the first few pages. In these pages McBride writes about the creators of Abercrombie and Fitch and how the brand became what it is today. This part seemed very drawn out to me, McBride could have explained the history in a few short paragraphs and still gotten his point across. This section I believe detracts from the main Idea of the article. McBride is trying to explain why he hates Abercrombie and Fitch but this section almost seems like he is trying to give a history and explain why the brand is the way it is.

Personally I agree mostly with what McBride says in his article however I do not agree with him that other retailers and brands do not do the same thing. For instance Hot Topic, it is a store that is most marketed to young middle class white rebellious teenagers. I have frequented this store and its website many times and after reading this article I began to realize that I have never seen an African American either in the store (neither shopping nor employee) or in their ads. I think its bias to say that Abercrombie and Fitch do this exclusively.

Takaki-Chapter 12

1. How did this group come to be in the U.S.? How much of this was “by choice” and how much as a result of pressure or force? Identify drivers or motivations for coming to be in the U.S.

The Mexicans came to the United States by choice in order to find a better life for themselves and their families.

2. What is the significance of the title of the chapter?

El Norte is the name that the Mexicans gave to the United States which to them meant endless possibilities.

3. What mechanisms of social construction are discussed in the chapter?

Mexicans were kept in lower jobs.

4. How did these groups resist discrimination and racialization?

Education and trying to advance in the work place.


5. Give one example in the chapter of “race” and one example of “ethnicity.” What is the difference between the two as they are discussed here?

Race would be Latino, and ethnicity would be Mexican.