LM2 Critical Response Paper: Mexican Americans and Race

LM2 Critical Response Paper: Mexican Americans and Race
Assignment Guidelines: You will provide a critical response to the following two part question. Do not provide a summary of the film or reading but rather your own critical response to the specific questions below.
Part I: Raoul Peck’s documentary “I Am Not Your Negro” does an excellent job of explaining black/white race relations, which ultimately defines how all minorities are racialized in the United States. Using the documentary, provide one quote from Baldwin that discusses his views on black/white race relations and explain what Baldwin is trying to express through that specific quote. Don’t just provide the quote–EXPLAIN what Baldwin is saying in this quote!
In order to critically analyze the quote you provide, ask yourself the following: What is he saying about the history of black /white race relations in the U.S.? What role does class play in race relations? How is he treated as a black man in the U.S.? How are people of color marginalized in the U.S.? Why is it important for the dominant group to maintain power in the U.S., even to this day?
Part II: Use Neil Foley’s article “Becoming Hispanic: Mexican American and Whiteness,” to explain the manner in which Mexican Americans used black/white race relations to position themselves as “worthy” citizens of the United States. In other words, what did they do to make themselves acceptable to white America? What role does “Whiteness” play for middle-class Mexican Americans in Foley’s article?
Your paper should be 2-3 pages on length, 12pt. font, double-spaced. Edit carefully for grammatical, spelling, and punctuation errors before submitting because I will count off for such errors!
This assignment will be checked for plagiarism so DO NOT cut and paste anything from the internet! This paper must be written in your own words. If you “quote” a source, you must cite it. In-text citations are acceptable, i.e. (Foley, 52)
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