Mid-Year Exam: Racism 101

Before you begin, please fill in your name, school name and ethnicity on the front of your answer booklet. When instructed to do so you may begin to read and answer the questions below. Only write in the spaces provided in the answer booklet. In order to receive full credit it is necessary to show all working. The duration of the examination is one hour, after which you will be instructed to put down your pencil while the answer booklets are collected. [Please note that students of Caucasian/White ethnicity will receive a "Fail" grade regardless of answers.]

QUESTION 1

The President of the United States is called a liar by a member of the opposing party in Congress, because he claims that his health coverage proposal would not cover illegal immigrants while knowing full well that there is absolutely nothing in the bill that could be used to prevent illegal immigrants gaining access (thus allowing him to appear to be "tough" on this issue while doing nothing to offend his liberal supporters). The previous President spent eight years being vilified by Democrats and accused of everything from war crimes to stupidity. Nevertheless it has been suggested that any criticism of the current President must be proof of continuing racism. This is obviously true. Discuss.

QUESTION 2

A white teenager in Belleville is beaten by black teenagers on a crowded school bus as he tries to sit next to one of them. He is beaten once, offers no resistance, and is subsequently taunted and beaten again. Other black teenagers cheer the attack and photograph it with their cell phones. The whole episode is recorded on the BUS VIDEO. The police ask the perpetrators if this was a racist attack and they said it wasn't so obviously that must be true. Plus they're black and the victim was white so it can't be racist can it? Discuss.

QUESTION 3

If a bunch of white Belleville students attacked a black student for sitting next to them on a bus then the attack would definitely be racist. Al Sharpton should immediately organize a march, the school should be picketed, and the parents of the victim should sue the school district for violating their child's civil rights. It's clearly the right thing to do. Discuss.

QUESTION 4

When a black person alleges assault by a white person it's very important to assume from the outset that the white person is guilty and to proceed on that basis, regardless of the facts, or of any regard for due process. Discuss, with special reference to the Tawana Brawley and Duke Lacrosse incidents, which were both clear incidences of the facts interfering with racial justice. [Note that any discussion of the ironic similarity between past lynching of blacks based on a presumption of guilt and the current "media lynching" of white suspects will result in marks being deducted.]

QUESTION 5

There is a clear hierarchy of race in the racism arena. Black or "African-American" people are assumed to be victims of racism but never perpetrators. Those of Hispanic origin can be victims of racism, unless the perpetrators are themselves black, in which case tough luck. People of South Asian ethnicity are not entitled to be viewed as victims of racism except when the perpetrators are white; in all other cases they should themselves be viewed as "white", especially when their grocery stores are being smashed and looted. The same applies to people from the Indian subcontinent, who cannot be victims of racism except by whites, since you're all computer programmers and doctors. Discuss.


This concludes your Racism 101 Examination. If you finish early you may leave your answer booklet on the table and file quietly out of the room. White students last.


Copyright © 2009 Edward Bison