CRITICAL THINKING CONCEPTS

      CRITICAL THINKING CONCEPTS

            Inquiry

One of the most remarkable phenomena which emerged after the Hurricane Katrina has been the stark variance in the perception of the racism role as depicted through the period of this disaster and its recovery. It is difficult for many people to perceive the events of this catastrophic event through any other prism rather than the racial lens. Roughly, 60 percent of African American and less than 20 percent of European American respondents settle for the idea that the response of the government towards this disaster would have been quite faster if only the most victims had been white. On the other hand, 71 percent of African American and only 32 percent of European American plaintiffs agreed that racial inequality remained a major problem (Adams, et al., 2012).

A regularly cited research commonly titled “Huge racial Divide over Katrina and Its Consequences” as presented by Pew Research Center divulges that 66 % of Black Americans as linked to only 17 percent of the White Americans believes that the government efforts to rescue the victims would be a bit faster if the main race in the circumstance was White as opposed to Black (Adams, et al., 2012).

In reaction to the outcomes, White et al. (2007) points at the reluctance of the white-Americans to realize the event racial insinuations, enlightening the regularly distinctive realities undergone by the White and Black Americans throughout the disaster period (Adams, et al., 2012).

Analysis

Particularly regarding the Hurricane Katrina, a racial-conciliatory viewpoint comes out clearly that both Black and White Americans have more similarities than differences when it comes to insights of discrimination. While acknowledging that differences in regard to perceived discrimination do exist to a certain degree, it is good to highlight that jointly speaking, 1) both races have more related perceptions concerning discrimination than differences, and 2) the alleged and stated gap between them may not match the real differences. The two estimates are centered on statistical surrounding and questionnaire format probably contributing to insight that Black and White Americans vary extensively in regard to injustice and racial discrimination (Adams, et al., 2012).

The first concern is the affinity for both academic research and media to focus on the differences existing between the two races as opposed to areas where the races are in agreement when presenting their statistical verdicts. Media is powered by the approval ratings while speculative research by statistically significant results. While scholars cannot regulate information presentation in the media, the findings from any research should be presented objectively and unbiased with respect to racial issues (Adams, et al., 2012).

Nature of the poll data is another less conspicuous factor which should be investigated in the current research. As it can be seen in the pew data (2005), commonly these surveys use discrete uncertain/ agree and disagree format limiting the answers to just these three options. Though they are easily administered, the responses mostly don’t give actual opinions especially if the respondent perceives some other factors to be an influencing variable. Questions with several options or offering hypothetical situations are preferred as they allow respondents to think thoroughly about the question considering other factors applicable (Adams, et al., 2012).

Synthesis

Generally, people have varied degree of control over their thoughts and much of their cognition occurs unconsciously and potentially in a biased form. Asked to give an explanation or to consider a phenomenon from a complex angle, they are likely to engage in a control processing.

It is therefore important to encourage more representative insights when it comes to racial affairs by pinpointing agreement whenever existing with equal weight in a perspective of representative disagreement. Additionally, even if statistically variations exist, they should not be aired in a manner to overstate them through framing. Magnifying the differences in cases where large degree of pact exists influences an overstated insight of racial conflict (Adams, et al., 2012).

Racism perceptions were not limited only to the past events; they extend to suspicions on future events racism. Many residents of New Orleans neighborhood still express their suspicions on racism in rebuilding the city plans. Particularly, they express their worry that authorities will treat Katrina as a natural force of demolition; expel the former residents from their distraught homes and use the prospect to renovate the city. Subsequent events confirm that the suspicions were justified (Adams, et al., 2012).

Product

In conclusion, the past research is depicted to base its facts in favor of one side, the side which attracts more attention to the readers in order to remain relevant. As a result the outcome is biased and could fuel negative racism in a country. For instance, the Katrina disaster is presented with an exaggerated gap of racism beyond its real extends. As a result it portrays an image of extended discrimination of the Black Americans from the White Americans.

It is therefore a challenge to the recent researchers to ensure that they consider both side of the coin equally and give the facts as collected without favor to any side. This will help to determine the extent of any situation as it is to avoid misleading information which could affect a country negatively.

References

Adams, Glenn, Laurie, Brien, Jessica, & Nelson. (2012). “Perceptions of racism in Hurricane Katrina: A liberation Phychology analysis.” Analyses of social issues and public policy 6.1.