Appendix D

Part I

Define the following terms:

Term Definition
Ethnic group People of the same race or nationality who share a distinctive culture

Anti-Semitism: Hostility toward Jews dates to ancient times, perhaps to the beginning of Jewish history.
Islamophobia: Refers to unfounded fear of and hostility toward Islam.
Xenophobia: Fear and hatred of strangers, or foreigners. Also anything that is strange or foreign.
Persecution: The act or practice of persecuting on the basis of race, religion, gender, sexual orientation, or beliefs that differ from those of the persecutor.
Religious group: A number of people who set or institutionalized system of religious attitudes, beliefs, and practices some form of warship.

Part II

Select at least 1 religious and 1 ethnic/racial group not your own from the list below.

• Religious groups (based on http://religions.pewforum.org/pdf/affiliations-all-traditions.pdf)

o Christianity

• Evangelical Protestant
• Mainline Protestant
• Historically Black Churches
• Roman Catholic
• Latter-Day Saints (Mormons)
• Jehovah’s Witnesses
• Orthodox (Greek, Eastern)

o Judaism (Orthodox, Conservative, or Reform) o Buddhism (Theravada or Mahayana) o Islam (Sunni, Shia, Sufism) o Hinduism

• Racial/Ethnic groups (based on divisions in U.S. Census Bureau documents)

o Asian (Asian descent) o Black (African descent) o Hispanic and Latino (South or Central American descent) o Pacific Islander (Polynesian descent) o White (European descent)

Part III

Answer the following questions in 150 to 250 words each about the religious group you selected:

How does your selected religious group differ from other religious groups (such as in their beliefs, worship practices, or values)?

Jehovah’s Witnesses are similar to Christians but they themselves do not agree with it.

From all the material I have read about Jehovah’s Witnesses I learned that they believe in one

god like most other religions but they do not believe Jesus was a part of god, but rather god’s first

creation. The purpose of putting Jesus on the earth was to create witnesses for god’s existence,

to give an idea for what the model of perfection from god’s eyes to ours. Jesus was also put here

to teach us the truth about god, and to sacrifice his life to release all humans from sins and death.

Jehovah’s Witnesses also disagree that Jesus was crucified on a cross; they believe it was done

on one piece of upright wood. Jehovah’s Witnesses also believe it earning their place in heaven

by telling god’s story to as many people as they can, some devote their whole lives to their

warship and leadership they follow.

What has been the experience of your selected religious group with others that do not share its beliefs or practices?

Most people do not pay much attention to Jehovah’s Witnesses because they come

across as brain washers. My personal experience is to sit and talk to them when they show up at

my door step because I enjoy the spiritual talk even if my beliefs and theirs are not the same, I

often disagree with what they tell me, but we all are entitle for our own believes and faith. Many

people who spot them walking down the street would not even open the door for them because

they do not want to spend time listening to what they have to say. With the years Jehovah’s

Witnesses have created a name for themselves, and it is not a friendly one. Jehovah’s Witnesses

come across as if they looking for people to convert the conversation does not always have to

mean anything, as long that they feel that one is lost spiritually it is a good opportunity for them to

convert people in.

In what ways has the religious group you selected contributed to American culture?

Jehovah’s Witnesses are a big part of the American culture they helped many people to

find meaning to their lives and help them feel safe spiritually. Their community is very small, but

yet they work so hard to “spread the word” their form of affecting the community is mainly

seminars in local halls and almost all towns, and walking door-to-door, hoping to get someone to

listen and maybe help them find the right way to overcome whatever they might be straggling

with. Many people are grateful to Jehovah’s Witnesses as they feel they showed up at their door

step at the perfect moment and saved them from making a mistake. They have a friendly way of

teaching people the high standards of life, and how to live life in a harmless way, and eliminate

bad habits we can easily be blindsided and not realize we hurt our spirit.

Provide specific examples of prejudice or discrimination your selected religious group has experienced.

Jehovah’s Witnesses get this type of behavior from other all the time, who have not

experience at least one time in life the knock on the door, where we look out the window and we

see them stand there, our minds starting to debate rather to open the door or not? What to say to

them, and how to get out of that “talk”. I see my neighbor curse at them all the time. People do

not like to be “disturbed” I believe it is deeper than that, I believe people are at times too scared to

hear the truth. I am not saying what they say will make everyone believe and convert, but

admitting one has a problem and they need helps will obligate them to change. Many people do

not accept change so easily; therefore they will slam the door in Jehovah’s Witnesses faces,

curse at them, some would even go to the extreme of opening the sprinklers (seen someone

doing that). People treat them as if they are not human and as if they cause others to become

evil.

What were the sources of this prejudice or discrimination?

I believe a part of the problem is that children see their parent treat Jehovah’s Witnesses

rudely, and when they grow up they do not give them a chance, it is a “father to son” thought

behavior. Others are insecure about their own beliefs, and they are worried to find out how weak

their own religious beliefs are so they prefer to not expose themselves to anyone else since it

would make them acknowledge their rocky faith. Others do not appreciate the door-to-door

approach, and find it to be imposing and in a way forcing. Many people like to have the freedom

to practice religion when they are ready for it, and do not want to feel pressured by others, and

that is the same reason many people call them brain washers, even though they do not force

themselves on anyone, they just share what they have to offer.

Does what you’ve learned about this religious group help you understand it? In what ways?

Personally I am not a Jehovah’s Witness, but I occasionally enjoy a good talk about god,

I feel that I understand this group well, since I do not try to ignore them. I feel that we all believe in

the same creator, we all support him in our own way, and we all call him differently. I respect the

way Jehovah’s Witnesses support god, and I solute them for taking so much time and effort and

walk door-to-door and try to expose what they believe to other people. What I do understand is

their drive to expose more people to what they already know. I learned to accept that all religions

have different ways to bring people closer, and as long that we all get closer to god this way or

another the outcome is the same since god is for all of us to share, they do not want to harm

anyone, but bring people closer to their creator.

Answer the following questions in 150 to 250 words each about the racial/ethnic group you selected:

How does your selected racial/ethnic group differ from other racial/ethnic groups (such as differences in ancestry, language, or culture)?

African American people share uniqueness in many areas; some of the things I noticed to

be different from others are the style of clothing, speaking, dancing even something simple as

walking, can be different from other groups. With the years, African Americans developed their

own style for everything they do. It is almost a different language but in different avenues, for

example African American has a different dancing style that is hard to follow unless if we pay

close attention, and invest much effort in learning the moves. Some are able to move their body

in ways most of other races never knew possible and with the years learned and mastered. Some

of the foods that more commonly are in African American’s homes, especially during the holiday’s

season are sweet potato pie, colored greens and grits. As a white Jew, who lived with an African

American for some years, I learned all about the foods I would come across or be asked to

prepare. I have to admit, they were all very tasty and fun to cook.

What has been your selected group’s experience with other groups?

African Americans suffer to my belief the most discrimination from all other groups.

African Americans are accused in so many crimes even ones they did not commit, many people

are quick to judge and discriminate against African Americans because they are an easy target.

In most places in the country African American group up in certain towns and try not to mix too

much with other groups of people, as they create a comfort zone for themselves, a place to feel

safe and not be bothered or accused. Other groups of people would try to avoid these areas

thinking they are not safe, because African Americans are grouped in these areas but they do so

for different reasons than what most people think. They suffer much from racial profiling, by the

police and stereotyping by others. I would say too many people would prefer to not associate

themselves with African American’s for all the wrong reasons.

In what ways has the racial/ethnic group you selected contributed to American culture?

African Americans contributed to the American culture by giving the American people a

new eye to look at things from, for example they changed the face of music, and how people view

today’s music style. Many would not call the recent years addition of singers (who are very

talented, and are African American) artists, but they are. They also generate big financial revenue

to the industry, as well as good paying jobs, since more artists come out more jobs are being

filled. As well as in sports, some of the best athletes are African American’s and their success put

America on the map in certain fields of sports, for example Michael Jordan he changed the way

people around the world look at basketball, but also the way people view and think about

American sports, and how good our athletes are. Many athletes around the world would love to

have a chance to play with him, or even see a game he plays.

Identify some specific examples of prejudice or discrimination that your selected group has experienced historically.
African American’s were brought to American to be sold as slaves; they were used for

many purposes without any consideration to their own needs, or feelings. Slavery is always going

to be a sensitive topic where African American’s present. Till this day, some people believe

slavery can come back any day since discrimination have not stopped and African American’s still

are mistreated by other groups. Today they can better defend themselves but back in the day

many did not know how to put a stop to the abuse. They worked very hard for very little if

anything. Some of the women were raped by their masters just because they were weak and

could not defend themselves also because no one would believe anything they would say, so

they would just keep quiet. It was almost “allowed” to treat them like trash, because they were

brought to the USA for that purpose.

What were the sources of this prejudice or discrimination?

The white man back in the day did not want African American’s to grow and have any

type of power, so the easiest way they could accomplish that is to keep them down, mentally and

physically. A way they figured they could pass on the anger was through the parents, they

showed the children, and the children grew up to hate too. Till this day there are organizations

that support the “No Blacks allowed” attitude, and the hate is still passed on from parents to

children. Many people think that African Americans deserved slavery and treat them till this day

as if they are slaves. Even employers today take advantage of African American’s more than

many other groups. I think today many mistreat African American’s because they feel threatened

by them. More white women mix with African man, they take over sports and music, and some of

the best actors out today are African American’s such as Denzel Washington and Will Smith.

Does what you’ve learned about this racial/ethnic group help you understand it? How?

Living with an African American man, and having his children I was exposed to a lot of

history about his people. If it is by spending time with the elderly and hearing stories, or watching

meaningful movies such as “Rosewood” it brought me closer to slavery, and how it made people

feel, and still does. Many people say it was years ago, it is no longer exist, why is it still brought

up, but just like all other groups would not forget about their history so do African American’s

have the right to remember and pass on the history to their children because we cannot forget.

Forgetting is as bad as saying it did not happen at all, and acting as is something so big so

painful did not happen is hurtful for the people who heard stories closer to home than others. I

now know a little more about it and I have great respect for the topic.

Part IV

Answer the following questions in 150 to 250 words each:

How are the prejudice and discrimination experienced by your selected religious group and racial/ethnic group similar?

I feel that they both are similar because most people find a reason to treat both as

outcasts. When one see groups of people walking down the street with books they try to walk on

the other sidewalk hopefully to not be approached by them and needing to listen to their preach.

When an African American group walk down the street people would take similar approach

thinking their lives are in danger, nothing even considering they walking back from the park after

a ball game, or a get together. Both groups are treated as if they will have some type of a negative effect on others. People jump to conclusions about both groups without talking to the

people in any group. They would be prejudged based on their looks and no other factors. People

who discriminate one group, in many cases would discriminate many other groups as well

including racial differences.

How are they different?

They are different because most people would not be scared of Jehovah witness, but

some would involve the element of fear when facing African Americans even when not justified.

They would not be mistreated based on their looks, but based on stereotypical knowledge one

may think they have about each one of the two. The type of discrimination they will both get from

others is different. Jehovah witnesses would get yelled at, or ignored at the door, and African

American’s may get arrested for a crime they did not commit, but they look like someone who did

commit it. Either way they both will be mistreated, just most likely one group more than the other,

Jehovah witnesses would not take it personally where African American’s would, African

American’s are paid less than other groups where Jehovah witnesses not necessarily will involve

it in their place of work, people cannot hid the color of their skin.

Can you draw any conclusions about discrimination from this comparison?

Discrimination is bad all around; there is no point to discriminate against anyone. Some

people are not going to change that, and others just have to learn to live with it. In a country of so

much diversity as the USA it is kind of “normal” to find all types of people along with different

attitudes. We all have to coexist, and we all need to remember that each and every one of us

could go through discrimination sooner or later. There is no better or worse when it comes to

humans, everyone’s blood is red and that is all that matters. If we learn to love each other

unconditionally there will be no need for weapons, security, cops, jail and the rest of the negative

things we have in this world to curve out bad behavior. I do not believe there is a way to stop the

hate in this county because people continuously teaching their children to discriminate and hate

others even if they did not harm anyone.