Part 1 I interviewed one of my close friends about what he believes drives people to murder. One interesting thing that he brought up is the concept of young men growing up in gang environments - where people have to protect their territory and learn how to fend for themselves. There, the culture of gang violence is rampant, and so people often thing that it is the normal thing to do. Killing people is a means to assert masculinity and authority, as well as fitting in with the gang. I believe this is similar to differential association, as that theory purports that criminal behavior is learned, mostly through interacting with others. Young people learn from older gang members they look up to, in order to think that violence is the norm.
Another person I interviewed was one of my older neighbors, who thinks that people murder because the other person has something they want. They told me of a time when they were mugged at gunpoint, which scared him to death, but as soon as he gave them his wallet, they took the money and ran. Many people murder because they want someone's money, or want the person they are with, or want the pain to stop in some way. I believe this is similar to control theory, where behavior is caused by what someone wants at a given time; if someone has the chance to commit a crime if it means that they will get something they want, some people might actually do that.
Part 2
According to Uniform Crime Reports, Chicago's crime rates are still high and getting higher. In 2010, there were 436 murders, 1,1359 criminal sexual assaults, 14,205 robberies, 5,033 instances of aggravated assault, 74,561 thefts, 19,016 motor vehicle thefts, and more (Chicago Police Crime Summary, 2010). All of these are slightly down from 2009's figures, but this number has been increasing in the past couple of years. While violent crime as a whole is down, murders (particularly shooting deaths) have increased slightly. The vast majority of this crime is due to gang violence, as the West and South Sides of the city still experience a great deal of impoverishment and segregation from the rest of the city.
In order to combat these crimes, there are Neighborhood Watch organizations in place, and Chicago Police still remain a huge factor in fighting crime. Public initiatives to curb gang violence, such as the CeaseFire program (now called Cure Violence) and other pilot programs to discourage youth gang violence, are also in place. Their primary motivation is to treat gun violence like a disease and treat it at the source; this is done through identifying and detecting potential gun violence environments and individuals, reducing risk to others, providing intervention and interruption of potential gunmen, and facilitating the changing of norms and behavior of people in the city. Cure Violence activists will work with social support systems and beyond that, going to neighborhoods with at-risk youth on their own to focus resources and reduce instances of violence through social intervention.
Part 3 The ABC show Modern Family depicts the trials and tribulations of the extended Pritchett family. While the majority of the family itself consists of upper class white heterosexuals, the show is also noted for its substantial and nuanced portrayal of gays and Hispanics. While the show itself sometimes panders to stereotypical behavior and attributes many of its more cartoonish elements to these minority characters, they are never treated with disrespect or scorn, and the characters themselves are portrayed as positive, loving people. Gloria, the wife, is much younger than her husband, and the implication is that she had a very hard, poor life before marrying Jay, money potentially being a factor in her choosing him for a husband. She is thin, beautiful and very aggressive, speaking in a thick Latino accent and refusing to be pushed around by Jay. This assertiveness is sometimes portrayed as overbearing aggression, which fits in with the Latina stereotype that they are very pushy and confrontational. Her accent is also used to comedic effect, her overemphasis of certain words and syllables leading to either misunderstandings or comedic line readings.
Manny exhibits many traits stereotypical of what is culturally accepted about Latino children. He is overweight, and is very dedicated to his mother. He also carries the same kind of quirky ethnic eccentricities that are played up by the writers and producers to be humorous. His poor background is especially referenced in "Aunt Mommy," as he and Gloria share a running game from their impoverished past about collecting one hundred heads-up pennies in order to buy a lottery ticket. Gloria explains this story as she also explains her past as a cab driver, with Manny riding in the passenger seat. All of these small tidbits lead up to a portrayal of Latinos as poor, lower-class, and eccentrically energetic and flamboyant with their culture and actions.
Part 4 There are quite a few strange rules that have been in place in various states that are humorous to read, but there are likely reasons for them existing in the first place. For example, the state of Arkansas has a law on the books stating that it is illegal to mispronounce the name of the state itself. This may have come from a stodgy Congressman who, concerned about tourism, put the law on the books to prevent people from mispronouncing the name and thus affecting the state's reputation/sense of state pride in others. It is likely not enforced because it is difficult to enforce, as well as the potential societal damage mispronouncing the state's name being relatively small.
In Illinois, there is another law that states that a car must be driven using the steering wheel. There may likely be a good explanation for this law; it is possible that some auto accidents have occurred because of people attempting to use other implements to operate dilapidated cars that had no steering wheel. This is a danger to others on the road, and so it would make sense to make a law preventing that. However, it is likely rare enough of an occasion that it is hardly ever recognized, let alone enforced.
One more in Utah states that daylight must be visible between a couple who is dancing. Utah, being a predominantly conservative and Mormon state, may have that rule in place as an indecency law; if a couple is dancing with their bodies together, fundamentalists might see that as sinful. However, due to the relaxed sensibilities of modern society, it may simply be ignored due to its unreasonableness and difficulty to enforce.
Part 5
In the case of African-Americans, their history in America cements their status as a minority group, according to Wagley and Harris' list of five characteristics of minority groups. First, they are routinely given unequal treatment and less power over their lives due to institutionalized racism and discrimination. Secondly, they have distinguishing physical traits, such as their dark skin, more pronounced facial features and so on. Thirdly, they do not get to voluntarily abandon the moniker 'African-American'. They are uniquely aware of their subordinate role in American society, culturally, financially and politically. Finally, there is also a high rate of in-group marriage, as many African-American communities are segregated in population from whites and other ethnic groups in America. All of these factors come together to categorize African-Americans as a minority group.
One of the four objectives that African-Americans attempt to obtain is equal political, economic and social power in American society. This is accomplished through private and public initiatives to uplift African-Americans and offset the centuries of oppression and institutionalized racism they must combat. One of these measures is affirmative action, which creates better opportunities for blacks to become gainfully employed and achieve economic success (Butto et al., 2006). Politically, African-Americans are also given agency through the all-black Congressional Black Caucus, which is an organization that consists of only black members of the US Congress (Hearn, 2007). Because of these and other initiatives, African-Americans are beginning to close the inequality gap that has existed because of constant social setbacks stemming from the history of slavery.
Works Cited
Butto, James; Moore, Kelli N; Rienzo, Barbara A. (2006)."Supporting Diversity Works: African American Male and Female Employment in Six Florida Cities". Western Journal of Black Studies.
Hearn, Josephine (2007-01-23)."Black Caucus: Whites Not Allowed". Politico.com.
