Explain the concept of racial common sense and how it shapes racist practices.

In a 5 to 6-page essay, answer the question below. Your answers should specifically address the essay prompt. Responses should develop a clear and coherent argument and marshal evidence from both lecture and reading material to support your central claim. Make sure that you draw from the Hall reading as part of your textual evidence. In addition, make sure that your papers do not simply summarize these materials, but that you critically evaluate the sources and arguments. Use specific examples to substantiate your claims whenever appropriate.

In Racism on Trial, Ian Haney Lopez explains, through his analysis of the criminal prosecution of Chicano activists during the late 1960s, how racism towards Mexicans was still prevalent, despite declining forms of overt racism, because racial beliefs and practices operated within the sphere of racial common sense. Explain the concept of racial common sense and how it shapes racist practices. Also, use at least ONE specific example drawn from the course OR from your everyday lives to illustrate the concept.

(Hint: pay close attention to chapter 5 of Ian Haney Lopezs Racism on Trial, especially pages 109-113 and 118-122, and slides 37-49 of lecture 3. In fact, I retrace Haneys argument and provide some examples. Also, there are plenty of great examples to illustrate the concept of racial common sense drawn from the class materials. But, as stated above, you can use an example from your own experience to illustrate the concept. I want to encourage you to think how this idea of racial common sense applies to your everyday reality, not just as it may appear in a history text or a work of social theory).

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