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Tommy Zhang
English 100-04

JOURNAL ENTRY #1: For the next few days, listen to and think
carefully about the language around you - in your classroom, dorm,
on the subway or on the street. Is any of it prejudicial? Explain the
ways in which you think the language you heard is or is not
prejudicial. Cite specific examples (no names, of course). Have you
ever, before this, noticed the language used by the people around you? Did
you hear anything disturbing or upsetting or anything that Basmajian would
consider reflective in any way of the "language of oppression?"

Its hard not to notice prejudice once you are aware of it, but for most of us, it seems that
weve adapted to drown out the abstract idea of oppressive language. Take for example, you are
on the street and you hear two black men say whats up my nigga to one another. You wouldnt
pay any attention to it right? It is normal for people to use language that is very prejudicial but
we conceive it as far less than it is worth. Another example Im of Asian American descent and
I am often presumed to be good at mathematics by those around me. Although I do achieve good
marks in math courses, I do not relate any of that success to my race. I work hard when it comes
to the subject and wish people will start to realize that race isnt a factor when it comes to a
persons success.
As I was writing this journal entry, I had an epiphany. The majority of the population can
relate a persons success in a certain subject to their racial origin. But Ive come to the realization
that it is not true. Lets say we use the stereotype that all black people are good at basketball, I
hope I do not offend anyone with this. We can agree that a good percent of the black population

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is very good at the sport, but what happens when you give a ball to a black person who never
played before in his/her life? They would obviously not be as talented as someone who has had
experience with the game. No matter how much we want to say that certain skills come packaged
together with a persons race, it is not true. Albeit, a majority of this stereotype has some truth to
it being that the culture surround people of certain races has great influences on what they do and
how they do it. Also Ive noticed another thing, it is obvious that in America today, the average
white male has more chances than any other group to succeed.
As I observe more and more about the truths of adult life, Ive noticed that many minority
groups, for example Muslim and Indians are very hard-working and are achieving success in
large ever-increasing numbers. I also see that many white people tend to party excessively, not
saying that all white people do, but some tend to stray from their education. I have not seen
where this trend will take us yet but as I get older I will definitely find out which of the people I
know become successful or not and whether I can relate their success to their hard-work or race.