TOW #1 - When Whites Just Don't Get It, Part 2

When Whites Just Don't Get It, Part 2 is an editorial piece written by Nicholas Kristof. Kristof is a New York Times columnist whose work appears twice a week in the paper. He has won several Pulitzer Prizes for his writing which focuses on societal issues around the world. In this particular piece he commentates on the issue of racism in America. He talks about the crude assumptions made by white Americans regarding those who are colored. Stereotypes such as they are criminals, they have no self worth, they don't try in school therefore their lives go nowhere etc. But Kristof hits these comments head on with statistics and factual evidence that these are simply as I said before, stereotypes. He explains that the stereotypical struggle that black Americans tend to face sprouts from prejudice and cruelty that was evident since the beginning of time. This text is directed at white America to show them that their assumptions are incorrect and cruel. Considering that Kristof is a white American he clearly isn't siding with his own race. He is playing an impartial role to inform those who are at fault of what they are doing wrong. He does this effectively by using comments made by his readers to prove his point. Most of his readers comment in defense of white Americans making it clear where they come from. Kristof takes this to his advantage by proving them wrong with facts. He uses statistics, numbers, and real world examples to prove his point that white Americans are so caught up with in their own ethnocentric minds that they become unaware of the stereotypical remarks they make and the effects these accusations have on others. Kristof effectively proves his point that we all need to be cautious of the accusations we make in terms of others. We tend to make preconceived assumptions out of ignorance rather than making factual statements. Kristof wants white Americans to be aware of their faults and make sure that they take responsibility for themselves instead of putting all blame on a race that has never ceased to be persecuted.

http://www.nytimes.com/2014/09/07/opinion/sunday/nicholas-kristof-when-whites-just-dont-get-it-part-2.html?ref=opinion