Discussion 4.1

Q #1: Do you notice any differences in the way these two readings DIFFERENTIATE between social classes?

Within the United States, social class refers to the amount of factors that are used for the purpose of categorizing individuals into distinctive groups. A few factors include but are not limited to wealth, education, vocations, financial income. Define sorts of social classes include upper, upper middle, middle, working, and lower class. Both 4.1 and 4.2 paragraphs fixate on financial income, with higher income Americans being categorized as middle upper class and those with lower incomes are categorized as lower classes; those with better potential are categorized as middle class. The distinction I noticed is during analyzing 4.1 paragraph, education lead to be another characteristic that is used to define social class and it displays that the extremely wealthy tend to have advanced learning versus those who don’t have higher education certificates are typically lower middle class.

Q 2: Pick the station closest to where you live. Using the concepts from Reading 4.1, what social class tends to live in your neighborhood? Are you surprised (or not) by the answer? Do you feel it is an accurate representation of the people living in your neighborhood

I live in kips Bay, on thirtieth street and third Avenue. The closest train to me runs on the green line on Park Avenue and is the four, five, and six trains. My area is classified as a middle-class region, according to the 4.1 paragraph. Since I live in an area where people live in apartment building and use the train to commute to leisure activities as well as work, it’s not surprising and it is an accurate representation of the people that occupy my neighborhood. There is also an increasingly frequent creation of city bikes on every other block and Avenue. The population of my neighborhood is also a melting pot with many different ethnicities and cultures.

Q #3: Based on Reading 4.2, do you notice a general pattern about social classes in NYC?

The pattern that I have noticed is that many individuals in the city are either upper or upper middle class. However, if you branch out to the more north parts such as Harlem, Washington Heights, Riverdale, or the Bronx, you’ll send a bearing in class since neighborhoods are primarily medium to low income families.

Discussion 3.1

Q 1: The definition of ideology translates to being a set of ideas that almost entirely pertain to politics, policymaking, and economic aspects. An ideology’s goal is to progress the world for a better future. The word holds a theory that is self-explanatory which is to translate and elaborate politics through the integration of differing sides.

To me, ideology radiates a future and the hope of creating a brighter version of it when wanting to exceed expectations for political figures and striving for them to meet their set goals. The core is to execute the qualities that are guaranteed to make a community prosper. An example could be a democrat or a republican. Both of these groups have political freedom which aim to better their nation as a unified whole as well as their communities.

Q 2: Conservative ideology savers the application and use of repetitive and traditionally thought of ideas. This construct has a goal of encouraging change and celebrating progress while keeping and I am not hearing core values. Liberal ideology differences in the sense of its opened opportunity to respect somebody’s ideas as their own and then having a right to do so. It is insinuated that whichever leader that utilizes liberal ideology must advertise in individuals rights as well as exercising democracy.

Q 3: Althusser elaborates on how ideology continues having longevity and environment that is practical and logical. There is zero history as it is quite mysterious which encourages the content of modern ideologies to change if able while the foundation can stay the same.

Discussion 3.2

Q 1: The oppressive state apparatus is a broad concepts utilized to gain control over the people. Consider it a factory producing repression which assist in having the ruling class rain superior over the working class. Policing, prisons, the courts, government branches, etc. helps sustain this process. It is led by A mentally and physically manipulative method which condones violence; please utilize this tactic of keeping people scared and instilling fear to seize control over the minorities.

Q 2: ideological state apparatus was birthed to indicate institutions like family fields, education, churches, media and law. The purpose is to avoid the status quo from shifting and by allowing people “options and the rights to choose.”

Q 3: The repressive state apparatus operates as a unified whole for it to control large quantities of the population by manuevering fear and violence. The ideological sit apparatus utilizes methods not pertaining to violence to further attain their goals.

Q 4:

Repressive state apparatus example listed above.

Discussion 2.2

Q 1: The rhetoric of law and order enables southern racist politicians to extend the longevity of outdated discriminatory policies while undoing their blatant faults. This allows them the ability to thrive post Civil Rights Movement with racist remarks in camouflage all while endorsing rapid racial change instead of learn from their past hatred fueled mistakes. The justice system will continue to interject punitive legislation strictly intended to oppress colored people from utilizing the focal point of crime.

Q 2: If we look at recent societal politics, I find it hard to believe that the Southern strategy truly still has influence. A large aspect that is a recurring theme is that in today’s political climate, communities have the ability to choose black leaders in the form of mayors, governors, Senate, etc. and we had President Obama for two terms which is magical in itself. In the most recent election, Kamala Harris who is not only a person of color but was elected as a black woman of color into being the United States’s Vice President. She made history and gave many people hope for the future.This would have not happened or have been possible if the past southern policies were still in affect. Hypothetically, if these policies were still in play, a slew of things possible today would no longer be possible including transportation, employment opportunities, institutions, and colored people facing prejudice which would be at the forefront of today’s political decision making as well as the public’s.

Discussion 2.1

Q 1: M. Alexander argues how the United States justice system is corrupt and is in desperation for a revival to ensure fairness for the future. She states the drastic increase of people of color’s incarcerations interconnected with a disproportionate amount relegating to second class status; in turn, leading to mass incarceration which is a unfortunate outcome that thrives in racial oppression stemming to slavery.

Q 2: Pertaining to the drug abuse industry’s modernized stats, there has been a vivid spike in reports linked in substantial connections between illegal drug use and non-drug related criminal activity. While this connection has statistically decreased when different factors including socio-economic status, class, age, sex, and ethnicity are regulated, it’s quite clear that this connection between incarceration rates with racial disparities isn’t focusing on drug crime rates. All factors must be taken into account with all focal points.

Q 3: To me, these words shine a light to elaborate on the justice system we see today being puppeteered by people with simply opposing beliefs regarding their ideology about race. Take the population of people of color and contemplate how they have been pinned as the poster people for being magnetized to crime; crime is not limited to people of color, but more so a vast variety of hues, shapes, and names that are a melting pot of diversity.

Introduction- Shay Shulman

Hi there,

My name is Shay Shulman and this is my last semester here at BMCC, as I will be transferring to John Jay this fall with a major in criminology and a minor in psychology. True crime and the mind and it’s operation fascinates me to no end. I very much would like to pursue a career in profiling but any area of helping cases be solved is right up my alley. My grandfather was a New York police officer so growing up watching many forensic-related TV shows definitely sparked my interest from a young age.

-Shay S