Racism

rac·ism

ˈrāˌsizəm/

noun

1. the belief that all members of each race possess characteristics or abilities specific to that race, especially so as to distinguish it as inferior or superior to another race or races.

   • prejudice, discrimination, or antagonism directed against someone of a different race based on the belief that one's own race is superior.

     
     

     Contrary to popular belief, anyone can be racist. I have heard an abundance of different and inaccurate ideas about racism, many of them saying that "black people cant be racist," or "racism is a social system that requires power." Hearing these incorrect statements has begun to aggravate me, so I'm going to write this blog in attempt to enlighten some people. 

     
     

     First of all, anyone can be racist, and racism does not require power. Racism is a state of mind. No matter what ethnicity you are or how much power you have, you can be racist. There are racist people of all types, and the fact that slave owners were whites hundred of years ago does not mean that white people cant experience racism, or that whites are the only type of people that can be racist. Furthermore, identification by ethnicity is not neccesarily racist. Believe it or not, some people are mentally inept enough to claim that identifying someone's ethnicity is racist. For example, if a professor calls a name belonging to two people, one white and one black, and adds "the black one", after the name, it is not racist because the word "black" is not associated with any negativity. In order for something to be racism, there must be some sort of negativity, segregation, or discrimination associated with someone's ethnicity. 

     
     

     Another large part of racism are stereotypes. While stereotypes almost always involve some form of negativity, not all of them can completely be considered racist. For example, if a study shows that Asians perform better on tests, and someone says "Asians are smart," they shouldn't really be considered racist because what they're saying is backed by evidence. What they're saying isn't negative, either. That being said, stereotypes are extremely unhealthy for society and shouldn't be taken lightly. 

     
     

     Because I don't necessarily have anything else to say, I'd  like to end this blog by reiterating the fact that racism is a state of mind, and anyone can be racist. 

Several of My Favorite Bands Part 2

Today, I will be continuing my list of bands that I recommend. Once again, the intention of this series is to hopefully provide you guys with music that you can enjoy.

She Wants Revenge
She Wants Revenge, an American musical duo, debuted in early 2006 with their album "She Wants Revenge". Currently on hiatus, She Wants Revenge has produced only three albums but has sold over 300,000 records in the United States. She Wants Revenge are categorized as alternative rock, darkwave, post-punk revival, and, sadly, gothic. In my opinion, however, She Wants Revenge does not classify as gothic whatsoever.
Recommended Songs : Tear You Apart, Red Flags and Long Nights, Someone Must Get Hurt, Written In Blood, Racheal, and Monologue.


Fleetwood Mac
Fleetwood Mac are a British rock band that have sold more than one-hundred million records worldwide. Fleetwood Mac formed in London in 1967, and are now one of the best selling bands ever. They fall under the pop-rock and soft rock catagories, as well as blues rock and British blues.
Recommended Songs : Dreams, Rhianon, Stand Back, Edge of Seventeen, Seven Wonders, Silver Springs, Landslide, and Go Your Own Way.

Several of My Favorite Bands Part 1

Today, I will be blogging about some bands that I enjoy and recommend. Hopefully, some of you will listen to and leave with better taste in music.

Arctic Monkeys
Arctic Monkeys is an English indie-rock band consisting of lead vocalist and guitar player Alex Turner, drummer Matt Helders, guitarist Jamie Cook, and bassist Nick O Malley. They have produced five studio albums, been nominated for three grammy awards, and won a Mercury Prize in 2006.
Recommended Songs : 505, Crying Lightning, When The Sun Goes Down, R U Mine, Do I Wanna Know, Fluorescent Adolescent, Knee Socks, Old Yellow Bricks, Why'd You Only Call Me When You're High, and Arabella.

The Neighbourhood
Formed in 2011 and consisting of lead vocalist Jesse Rutherford, bassist Mikey Margott, drummer Brandon Alexander Fried and guitarists Jeremy Freedman and Zach Shane Abels, The Neighbourhood is another one of my favorites. They classify as indie and alternative rock.
Recommended Songs : Let it Go, Female Robbery, Everybody's Watching Me, Sweater Weather, Flawless, Wires, Afraid, and Daddy Issues.

The Gorillaz
The Gorillaz are an English "virtual band" created by Damon Albarn and Jamie Hewlett in 1998. Virtually, the band consists of four animated characters : vocalist and keyboardist 2D, bassist Murdoc Niccals, guitarist Noodle, and drums/percussionist Russel Hobbs. The characters are completely fictional and not based off of anyone in real life. In reality, The Gorillaz is a collaboration of several different artists, and has been classified as alternative rock, hip-hop, electronica, indie, reggae, and pop.
Recommended Songs : El Manana, Feel Good Inc. , Clint Eastwood, On Melancholy Hill, 19-2000, Rhinestone Eyes, Stylo, Empire Ants, Broken,  Tomorrow Comes Today,and Sound Check (Gravity).

The Sand Cat

The Felis Margarita, also known as the Sand Cat, is the only type of cat to inhabit dessert regions. These felines, which can survive in temperatures ranging from twenty-three to one-hundred and twenty-six degrees Fahrenheit, are very small creatures with generally short legs and long tails. Incredibly enough, the heaviest recorded Sand Cat weighed only about seven pounds, which is most likely due to their environment containing very little food. This being said, Sand Cats can survive solely on the liquids ingested in their food for months.

In times other than mating season, Sand Cats live very isolated lives. They inhabit burrows deserted by foxes or porcupines in time of need, and have special hairs on their feet that act as cushions when walking through the hot sands of the dessert. Sand Cats also contain the highest bite force quotient of any cat, at one-hundred and thirty-three. This number is greater than that of the American Black Bear, Lion, and Tiger.

Sand Cats hunt at night, preying primarily on small rodents, including spiny mice, jirds, gerbils, and small hares.

                                                               Images of Sand Cats