Reflective Paper
You will write a reflective paper that compares and contrasts religious and racial prejudice in the 1920s to religious and racial prejudices in the communities of which you are part. How do your communities contribute to and/or challenge white Protestant hegemony and anti-Black racism, xenophobia, and anti-Semitism?
By focusing on the communities of which you are part, you will have the opportunity to begin to develop the ability to critically examine your own behavior in regards to diversity, equity, and inclusion concepts.
Before you begin writing your paper, you should make a list of your communities. Don’t just think of physical spaces such as the city of Indianapolis, your workplace, your domicile, or your favorite restaurant or religious congregation, but also of your social networks, your state, your nation, or sports team (go STL Cardinals!). In some cases, your membership in these communities is voluntary. In other cases, it may be coerced. Whatever the case, think of the communities that are important to your life.
Be sure to compose a thesis paragraph in which you include a thesis statement about how the religious and racial prejudices of the 1920s are similar to and/or different from those sustained or challenged by the communities of which you are part. Then, explain how you will prove your thesis, briefly outlining the evidence that you will use. Much of this may be personal observation, but it must be specific and detailed. You are welcome to use pseudonyms in order to protect people’s privacy and avoid any defamation. You should include citations of Gordon’s book, however, as you comparing the 1920s to today.