Theme of Race

The theme of this course is much different than the themes of any other English courses I have taken in the past. I have briefly discussed the theme of race, and also status, in previous English classes, but it has never been the sole topic in which the class revolves. I think it is important to discuss race because it affects our society every day. People are not being treated with the appropriate level of respect just because of their race and/or background. It is not fair for individuals of certain races to have to put up with the racist comments they receive from others. Coming from a mostly white town and going to a high school that was majority white, I feel like discussing this topic will broaden my understanding of racial injustice and prejudice. I am so used to seeing and conversing with people of the same race, that I feel like I have not had the opportunity to meet a lot of people that are different than me. Even though I may not be the target of racial slurs, injustices, or prejudices, I feel that no one should have to deal with that negativity in their lives. I have been fortunate enough to grow up not having to worry about being targeted or insulted for my race or culture, but that does not mean I should not be informed about how others are being treated. I hope to gain insight into different points of view and broaden my horizons on the theme of race.

I hope this topic opens my mind to new ideas and conflicts that I did not previously think about. This theme also feels more relevant than topics I have learned in past English courses, which makes it more interesting to learn about. Learning about a current, real world issue that society is facing seems like a valuable lesson to learn.