The Web is a place where race "happens," even when you aren't looking for it

This article discusses many different racial issues that exist in today's world. The main point being that racial discrimination exists on the web, just as much as it does in everyday life. Even though you have the ability to post anonymously on the web, doesn't mask the fact that there is still stereotypes, racism, and misrepresentation of minorities. According to this article, the web was designed by and for the upper-middle-class white male user, and is still majorly used by that same group today. Studies show that there has been improvement in gender and racial diversity, but this is primarily because the web started out as having a majority of upper-middle-class white male users, and since there was originally such a small amount of minority users, any increase at all can seem significant.

The reading quotes "the web is indeed a place where race "happens," even when you aren't looking for it." I found this quote to be a good summary of what this reading was all about. It isn't just about the context of what you're reading on web pages or articles on the web, but the forms of linkages and stereotypical advertisements you see every single day on it. In class on Thursday, we discussed audience. During this discussion, it was brought up that when you identify yourself on the Internet as female, male, white, Asian, Hispanic, gay, etc. you are grouped into a certain "category." Once you have been but in your "category" you will receive advertisements and recommendations based on the fact that you said you were male, female, etc. Even if you aren't paying attention to the stereotypes and racial grouping, it is still "happening" on the Internet. Another example of this that was mentioned in the reading was when the writer searched "Holocaust," they were directed to a neo-Nazi website that made it seem like the Holocaust never happened. This is just like the the MLK website we discussed in class that was made by a white supremacy group.

I personally believe that the web almost makes it easier for racial discrimination to happen. It is a place for all kinds of information, and for people to post what they'd like. The problem is, there are so many people out there who are still so close minded, and believe that one race it better than another and are unaccepting and extremely cruel to those who are not like them. The reading mentions that people originally thought "If no one's body is visible while participating in cyberspace, theoretically racism and bigotry cannot exist at that time in that place." I think they couldn't be more wrong.