R.E.D.+Focus+Questions

1. Define race, ethnicity, and diversity? RACE:A local geographic or global human population distinguished as a more or less distinct group by genetically transmitted physical characteristics.

ETHNICITY: Of or relating to a sizable group of people sharing a common and distinctive racial, national, religious, linguistic, or cultural heritage. Being a member of a particular ethnic group, especially belonging to a national group by heritage or culture but residing outside its national boundaries.

DIVERSITY: The fact or quality of being diverse; difference.

2. What was the racial and ethnic makeup of the United States in the 1800's? There were many African American slaves, owned by white farmers. There were also Italians, Bits', Scots', Jews, many other Europeans, and Native American Indians. As well as the Spanish, and many people from Middle America.

3. What racial and ethnic movement (in terms of geography) was there during this period and what were the causes? 1) In the United States? All slaves in the area of the Confederate states that were not under direct control of the United States were declared free by the Emancipation Proclamation. Then by the passage of the 13 amendment on December 18, 1865 slavery was abolished. Despite this America was not freed from racism or its discriminatory practices with the existence of Jim Crow laws. Once blacks were allowed to vote, poll taxes, acts of terror, and discriminatory laws kept African Americans separate, particularly in the south. Many laws were created to prevent African American migration to the Northwest. Although Slavery was criminalized in Oregon Territories, a lash law was enacted that required all slaves to be whipped twice annually, this was enacted in June of 1844. Then an exclusion law was passed keeping Africans from entering the territory in 1847. Anti Semitism also was huge in America. in the 1800's and 1900's tens of thousands of Ashkenazi Jews were escaping "programs" in eastern Europe. They board upon boats and sailed toward a new life in America, arriving first at Ellis Island, New York. 2) Between countries and continents? There was much colonization going on in the 1800's. The Europeans began to colonize parts of Africa looking for gold and other riches the great big continent had to offer. The Jews residing in all European countries began hiding and boarding ships headed for America. In Europe More than 50 people immigrated to other countries like, Canada, the U.S., Algeria, and Siberia. As well as Chile, Argentina, Uruguay, South Africa, Australia, and New Zealand. In the 1830's to 1915 30 to 40 million Indians, and 15 million Chinese Left their countries for jobs in mines and on plantations in European colonies and Latin American colonies.

4. Describe the relationship between different racial and ethnic groups: 1. In the North:Blacks in the North were all free. They accounted for about 250,000 of the population. Even though they were free most states would not allow the entrance of runaway slaves. The blacks were especially hated by the pick-and-shovel Irish because the two often fought over jobs. The people in the North hated the actual black people but not the race. 2. In the South:In the South the blacks were treated worse then domestic animals. Most of the black population in the South were slave and worked on huge plantation farms. A large majority of the slaves lived in harsh conditions and worked in even worse. Although slavery was permitted in the South there were about 250000 free blacks. These free blacks were almost a third race. They had no rights: they couldn’t vote, have certain occupations and were forbidden to testify in a white court. 3. Pre-Civil War:Before the Civil War the racial makeup in the United States was whites and blacks. In the South slavery was permitted, on the other hand the North prohibited slavery. Blacks were highly looked down upon in both the North and South. 4. Post-Civil War:After the Civil War the slaves were freed. Even though they were freed the blacks were still highly discriminated and treated unjustly. The blacks as you know were separated from the whites all the way until the civil rights movements and Martin Luther King Jr. 5. Under Romanticism:The blacks during romanticism were not looked upon. This is because blacks were not educated and there are no records of black people significantly contributing from this era. Britain was obsessed with the Caucasian race and left out the blacks. 6. Under Transcendentalism:5. In transcendentalism the blacks found themselves excluded. One black that did contribute to transcendentalism was W.E.B. Dubois. He was the first black philosopher in America.

5. What elements of the countries racial and ethnic makeup are present in Moby Dick? One of the elements racial and ethnic makeup present in Moby Dick is the crew. There is a cannibal for an island in the Mediterranean, Queequig. There is also and Indian, whom we encounter in the scene where the crew is below deck eating and drinking. Then there is Pip, the little African American boy who probably is a slave of the ship, who goes around and plays music for the crew. Towards the end of the movie, you see how nice Captain Ahab is to Pip, which simulates the Americans putting their differences aside from the African Americans during the 1800's. You also get a sense of the ethnic makeup before they get ready to set sail. The town is a majority white with few other races mixed in.

6. How do these elements contribute to the plot and structure of the novel? It contributes to the plot by having different types of ethnicities and they can all learn from each other. Also it shows how in the end all ethnicities will put all their differences aside, and come together to capture their main goal, killing Moby Dick, even thoguh their goal is cut short when the entire crew is killed.

7. What historic parallels in regards to race and ethnicity are present in the novel? The historic parallels in regards to race and ethnicity that are present in the novel include the civil war and slavery in early America. The people back then are much like the ones in the novel that judge Queequeg because he is a savage and has tattoos on his face and darker skin. Much like the people in the US who made the people with darker colored skin slaves and thought they weren’t as smart.

8. How do these elements of race and ethnicity help to create the underlying class warfare that the story of Moby Dick describes? The elements of race and ethnicity help to create the underlying class that the story of Moby Dick describes because the nonwhite people are below the white people. Captain Ahab is white and so are the rest of the captains who have authority over the harpooners who are either savages or Indians. For example they eat after the captains and told what to do. Another person who is of lower class is Pip, a black cabin boy. He is used for entertainment until later in the book when he goes crazy.