Color of Fear

Watch the following 3 short youtube videos and answer the questions below each clip.  Your answers are your opinion and subjective.  You will be evaluated on following directions and effort.  I suggest at least 2-3 sentences per questions.

The video clips come from The Color of Fear.  The Color of Fear (1994) is an insightful, groundbreaking film about the state of race relations in America as seen through the eyes of eight North American men of Asian, European, Latino and African descent. In a series of intelligent, emotional and dramatic confrontations the men reveal the pain and scars that racism has caused them. What emerges is a deeper sense of understanding and trust. This is the dialogue most of us fear, but hope will happen sometime in our lifetime.

1.  JUST BE AMERICAN

Link (Links to an external site.)Links to an external site.
CLIP1:  Tensions begin to build as the term American is discussed in greater depth.

1. Why do you think David C. (main white gentleman) gets excited or is troubled when people of color say “they are something other than just Americans?”
2. What are your thoughts on hyphenated Americans (African-American, Asian-American, Mexican-American, etc.)?
3. Can you be an American and still hyphenate your identity?
4. Do you agree with David C.’s comments about ‘clinging’ being the problem preventing people of color from becoming American?
5. What other problems besides clinging might pose obstacles to people of color in becoming American?
6. David C. also states: “Why can’t people of color just be individuals and go out and make a place for themselves?” Comment on this.

2.  WHAT IT MEANS TO BE AMERICAN

Link (Links to an external site.)Links to an external site.

CLIP 2: Victor (African American gentleman in purple shirt) comments on the frustration felt by people of color while attempting to educate White people about racism and then being ‘cross-examined’ and having their experience discredited or invalidated.  Victor then becomes more emotional, impatient, and passionate about whiteness as the American ideal.

1. What do you think Victor means when he refers to a “silent consciousness about what it means to be American that he senses coming from Whites?”
2. What does Victor mean when he says: ‘racism is essentially a White problem?’
3. Is there a difference between Black people being racists towards Whites and White people being racist towards Blacks?  Explain.
4. Victor claims that ‘American’ and ‘White’ and ‘human’ have become synonyms.’  What does he mean by this?  If it’s true, how does this affect White people?  How does it affect people of color?
5. How does the statement, “Why can’t we just treat each other as human beings?” negate the experience and sense of identity of people of color?
6. What was Victor trying to express when he said: ‘I’m unpalatable to you?’
7. How did you feel when Victor’s emotions were very high?  Could you identify with these emotions?  Do you find them frightening and offensive?  Do you think Victor is being violent?

3. RED GROUND

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-vAbpJW_xEc (Links to an external site.)Links to an external site.

CLIP 3:  David C. denies the existence of a White identity and accuses Victor of blocking his own progress.  Victor accuses David C. of being embed in a “blame the victim” mindset, and for failing to acknowledge that his family land was stolen from murdered or displaced Indians, that it is, in fact, “Red Ground.”

1. David C. says, “I never consider myself as part of an ethnic group.”  Does this claim match your experience?  Do you think this is a meaningful statement?  Why or why not
2. Comment on David C.’s accusations of Victor blocking his own progress.
3. What does it mean to blame the victim?  Is David C. blaming the victim?
4. Who is Victor most afraid of?  Why?
5. How did you respond to Victor saying “You’re standing on Red Ground?”
6. What did Victor mean when he said “mystify the whole process?”