THE STORY WE TELL ASSIGNMENT – DUE MAY 28, 2021

Please answer the following questions as succinctly as possible.

The Second Episode of Race: The Power of an Illusion is titled, “The Story We Tell.” Based upon the content of the video, what ideas/messages about the founding of the United states are being referred to as stories? Provide one example.

Provide one example of how stories about the biological and social “truths” of race are used to support stories that naturalize the idea that certain groups of people are supposed to be in power, and others are not. Provide 2 examples from the documentary of how these ideas are used to racialize different groups of people. Next, identify one example from a class reading/other video/podcast of your choice.

Provide 1 example of from the documentary that illustrates how the same tactics are used to subjugate different groups of people. Next, provide 1 example from the documentary that illustrates differences in the tactics used to subjugate different groups of people. Next, identify one example of each in a class reading/other video/podcast of your choice.

The documentary presents the racial category of whiteness as a story. How were “whites” categorized prior to the construction of whiteness? How does whiteness come about? Briefly list and describe 2 factors that led to the emergence of whiteness. Next, recall one example from a reading of your choice.

Based on the reading, podcasts and documentary, what evidence is used to refute some of “the stories we tell?” Briefly list and describe 2 examples.

https://mediaspace.american.edu/media/Race+the+power+of+an+illusion+Episode+two+The+story+we+tell/1_k8x1u7kd/97957511