NCJ Number
17095
Date Published
1972
Length
0 pages
Annotation
FILM EXPLORES PATTERNS OF RACIAL, ETHNIC, AND RELIGIOUS PREJUDICE AND DISCUSSES THE MEANINGS OF TERMS SUCH AS ETHNIC AND MINORITY.
Abstract
THROUGH THE USE OF A SERIES OF VIGNETTES SHOWING DAILY EVENTS, TYPICAL COMMENTS, AND ATTITUDES WHICH PERPETUATE DISCRIMINATION, THE PREJUDICE FILM SHOWS THAT PREJUDICE OFTEN STEMS FROM CARELESSNESS OR IGNORANCE. AN HISTORICAL ANALYSIS OF PREJUDICE IN THE UNITED STATES INDICATES THAT PREJUDICE BEGAN WITH THE SETTLERS AND WAS DIRECTED FIRST AGAINST THE INDIANS AND THEN AGAINST AFRICANS FORCED INTO SLAVERY. PREJUDICE EXISTED DURING THE DAYS OF IMMIGRATION, LARGELY BECAUSE DIFFERENT GROUPS OF PEOPLE STUCK TOGETHER AND DID NOT TRY TO GET TO KNOW OR UNDERSTAND OTHERS. ETHNIC MEANS COMMON BACKGROUND AND USUALLY SIGNIFIES A GROUP LIVING SEPARATELY, WHILE MINORITY IMPLIES A FEWER NUMBER IN A CERTAIN GROUP WHEN COMPARED WITH ANOTHER GROUP. IT IS STATED IN THE FILM THAT PREJUDICE CAN BE EXPRESSED THROUGH VOCAL MEANS, AVOIDANCE, DISCRIMINATION, VIOLENCE, AND MURDER. EXAMPLES OF EACH ARE PRESENTED. DISCUSSION ALSO CENTERS ON CONTEMPORARY FORMS OF PREJUDICE IN OUR SOCIETY SUCH AS IN DEFINING THE ROLE OF WOMEN. CONSIDERATION OF THE FUTURE OF PREJUDICE SHOWS THAT WE ARE BECOMING MORE AWARE OF THE PROBLEM, AND WE NOW NEED TO TRANSFORM THIS AWARENESS INTO POSITIVE ACTIONS. (SNI ABSTRACT)