critical reflection project

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Major parts

Orient the reader

Identify the focus/purpose of the book

Outline the scope of your paper

Topic sentence 1

Discuses the theme (theme 1) with supporting details

Concluding sentence

Topic sentence 2

Discuses the theme (theme 2) with supporting details

Concluding sentence

Conclude by restating the thesis, summarizing the argument, and making application

Address the themes from biblical point of view

Paragraphs

Outline

Introduction

Body

Conclusion

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Introduction (Example)

I am a White privileged, American, who is loved, and who is attending the college of her dreams. I live with three younger siblings who do not fit that description. We live in the same house; they are American, loved, attending an amazing high school, privileged, but what is missing? The answer is the color of their skin; I am White and they are Black. My three youngest siblings are adopted from various parts of the United States as well as Africa, and their lives are worlds apart from mine; yet, we live feet apart. I am never afraid to walk home from school or get arrested by the cops, and yet I will be walking home with my 6’0, line man sized, African American little brother and people will cross to the other side of the street. Whole families have crossed in the middle of the road to avoid passing next to us. I know for a fact most of my friends do not worry about their little brother coming home safe because he has the build of the boys you hear about on television being beaten to death—because he has the skin color of the boys on television.

The New York Times best seller, “The New Jim Crow: Mass Incarceration in the Age of Colorblindness” by Michelle Alexander works to give an explanation for the phenomenon that has been splashed across the news left and right. This movement is known as the “Black Lives Matter” movement that has the purpose of fighting back against the racism in our society: the human rights and dignity many people of color feel they are denied. There is a problem in our society that needs to be addressed because lives are on the line; and, I feel that the Black Lives Matter movement is not effectively or gracefully working to solve this problem as God intended. My purpose for this paper is to argue that our society is not seeing the new racism that is running rampant; that God did not intend for any sort of racism; and, finally conclude with our society should be called into action, especially the believers. For this paper, it will be broken up into three different sections: Michelle Alexander’s book, the corresponding Bible passages, and concluded with the application section.

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Body (example)

“The New Jim Crow: Mass Incarceration in the Age of Colorblindness” is a book by Michelle Alexander, whose main argument is “that mass incarceration is, metaphorically, the New Jim Crow.” Some background to explain this statement is Jim Crow laws were a set of laws that barred African Americans from having the same rights as their White counterparts, such as different school systems for White and Black children or Black drinking fountains that are lesser than White drinking fountains.

Michelle Alexander also notes how racism is no longer cookie cutter and that is why America cannot see the problem she claims is so clearly laid out before them. “As a society, our collective understanding of racism has been powerfully influenced by the shocking image of the Jim Crow era and the struggle for civil rights. When we think of racism we think of Governor Wallace of Alabama blocking the school house door; we think of water hoses, lynching’s, racial epithets, and ‘white only’ signs” (183).

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Analysis/reflection (Example)

I see it in my day to day life much more than other people. Most of my friends have never had to sit down at their kitchen table with their families and go over how you talk to police. We have discussed how you always address one as “sir” or “ma’am,” and under no circumstances, no matter what they say, do you talk back. We have discussed how you ask to notify your parents immediately because you have White parents, and that fact alone could keep you out of trouble. We have struggled with racism: someone telling my younger, Black siblings, that they don’t need to graduate from high school or that they won’t because their “White family can take care of them.” That is racism. It is real. There should not be fear in my household solely based on the idea that my younger siblings happen to have a different skin color. That fact alone, the mere fact that our skin color doesn’t match, should not be grounds nor justification for different treatment.

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A Biblical View

Close your eyes and imagine. Imagine that you have a child; the pride and joy of your life. Now, open your eyes and imagine him being beaten. Open your eyes and watch him die. This is the reality that some parents have to go through, and personally I cannot imagine this reality. This scenario is what God went through – “For God so loved the world that He sent His one and only Son, so that whoever believes in him shall not perish and have everlasting life” (John 3:16). The Bible is very clear that a) God loves all, b) God sees no distinction in his people, and c) God finds worth in each and every one of his creations. The Bible is the world’s greatest love story after all – Jesus died for you, knowing that you might not love him back; that is true love.

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Conclusion

“The New Jim Crow: Mass Incarceration in the Age of Colorblindness” by Michelle Alexander works to give an explanation for the current movement, “Black Lives Matter.” This movement attempts to fight against the racism in our society: the human rights and dignity many people of color are denied. Alexander sees the obvious result in the mass incarceration of African American males. However, without the spread of the Gospel and the understanding that all people, all races, all colors, are made in God's image and are worth His Son dying on the cross, I believe total change is not possible. God call us to love because He loved and how He loved. There is no racism in God's book. Therefore, God calls his people (Christians) to spread His good news and to love; love unconditionally (without a distinction between color and races) and to work for equality alongside the “Black Lives Matter” movement. Just as God conquered sin, death, pain and suffering with love – racism can be conquered with love.

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Application

The change that needs to happen is for the Gospel to be spread because, with the Gospel, the views of God are found. These include love and the idea of worth in each and every God’s creation. God calls us not to look at the outward appearance but what is on the inside. This view is the extreme opposite of racism: an idea that your skin color could define you as inferior, or on the flip side, superior to someone else of a different skin color. Also, God calls us to love, and believing anyone is lower than you or lesser than you, is not love. Love makes no distinction in appearance. And, this movement is based on that very difference. Love is a force that can conquer all; after all, God conquered sin and evil in its entirety with love.

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