The Year 2150 by New Black Ethnographies

THE YEAR

2150

PREFACE Itâ€™s the year 2150. Years ago, many people hoped for a better future. This future is now here and life in the United States has changed dramatically.

New technology has been developed and it has aided the quality of life. Unfortunately, these developments have also infringed upon privacy. Communication is now purely digital. This has led to an increase in government surveillance. Surprisingly, society has learned to adapt and this is now the new normal.

Most of the country is currently powered by renewable energy. This is a result of the resource crisis that occurred in 2045.

Additionally, travel has become severely restricted due to threats of disease and overpopulation. Despite this, the nation is experiencing an era of peace.

The present peace is directly related to a recent cultural shift. Currently, most of the population is biracial and/or multiethnic. This has united many people. They have found solace in their similarities. How has this changed racial identity? The situation is complex and an aspiring anthropologist by the name of Luna Jones was determined to investigate. The following chapters detail her findings. Jones had planned to write a book before she was imprisoned and these are excerpts from her first draft.

CHAPTER 1 My name is Luna Jones and I am a Canadian college student. I traveled to the United States so that I could continue my education and obtain a masters degree. It was a long and difficult process, but I was finally granted temporary residency last September. I have been working hard on a research project ever since.

Race and ethnicity have always been a central component of identity. However, our understanding of these labels have changed over time. Almost everyone that lives in the United States is a descendent of a black or brown person. Yet, racial distinctions still exist. This peculiarity prompted the basis of my project. Eventually, this small research project evolved into an ethnography. My field site was a college campus in NYC. I lived and worked among students for six months. This enabled me to spend a considerable amount of time in their environment. I talked to them about what it means to identify as black at this moment in time. Everyone is a descendent of a black or brown person. I attempted to discern why some people identify as black 2

and why others didnâ€™t. Is it related to skin tone or familial pride? I also attempted to understand the relationship between national identity and personal identity. I made discernments through observations and conversations with different people.

CHAPTER 2 During my first week on campus I spent a lot of time at the library. Itâ€™s located on three separate floors within the main building. There is a large bright space on the first floor that is filled with computers. The second floor acts as a work space. There are large tables in the center of the room and along the wall there are all kinds of devices available for use. This includes a 3D printer. On the third floor there is a large study area filled with tables, chairs and couches. This enables students to gather in groups to discuss homework or project ideas.

I spent most of my time on the third floor of the library. I talked with students and watched as they collaborated to complete creative projects. I am recalling one day in particular. The sound of steady conversation filled the space. I introduced myself to one group of freshman and we began to have a conversation. They talked about their home towns and life growing up. Most of the students are from different parts of New York State. A few live in the city and commute to school. Two girls named Rylee and Miya bonded when they realized that they were both from Maryland. No matter where the place, they each talked about their home with admiration.

We talked some more and I informed the group that I was a graduate student from Canada. This grabbed their attention since not many people travel in or out of the country anymore. I explained how I received my bachelor’s degree in history and how I am now trying to receive my master’s degree in anthropology. I also informed them of the project I am attempting to complete about race and identity. Two students volunteered to help with my research. They agreed to participate in an official interview. I began by asking them to describe their racial identity. The result was interesting. Rylee has a slightly darker skin tone. Yet, she prefers to identify as multiracial. Tom, another student, has a slighter lighter skin tone and identifies as black. Surprisingly, the students have a similar ancestry. Our conversation got cut short, but I have been left with a lot to ponder.

Hometown pride suggests that a shift is occurring within American society. Identity may have a stronger link to place rather than race. However, this does not mean that race isn’t significant. My interview with Rylee and Tom revealed that race is still a vital part of identity. However, our discussion uncovered some interesting things. Some people distance themselves from racial identity. Rylee did not claim to be any one race. Tom had no problem proclaiming that he was black. This is interesting because I learned later that their ancestry is actually very similar. Additionally, their complexions are slightly different. However, this slight difference in skin tone does not seem to influence racial identity.

CHAPTER 3 I’ve had many more conversations with students on campus. Most of my encounters have been very informal, so I decided to switch it up a bit. I set up an official interview with Rylee and

Tom so that I could continue our conversation. I am still trying to understand why they make specific racial distinctions. I met with them in one of the few activity rooms on campus. They gave me permission to record the conversation this time around. The transcript is written bellow.

LUNA: How has college been treating you so far? RYLEE: It’s been pretty good. Most of my classes are holographic. I don’t get out much, but I’ve been learning a lot. TOM: I’m in almost the same situation, but I’m taking one activity course. It’s been great so far. Overall, I feel like I’m in the right place. LUNA: Well it’s good to hear that you’re both showing such a strong interest in your education. LUNA: Let’s talk about your childhood and the things that influenced your decision to attend college. RYLEE: Sure. I can go first. My mother passed away when I was young. I was only six years old. I don’t know much about her. I only have a few fuzzy memories. LUNA: What about your father? RYLEE: He doesn’t talk about her much. It’s too painful. He spends most of his time at work and uses it as a distraction. LUNA: How has this affected you? RYLEE: I ended up investing a lot of time in school. I wanted to come to NYU because this is where my mother went to school. LUNA: Was the application process difficult? RYLEE: Academic scholarships are coveted and rare, but I worked really hard. The college has a fund set aside for low income students. I applied and received a financial award for my grades. LUNA: Well I hope that your success in college is just as rewarding. 6

RYLEE: Thank you. LUNA: How about you Tom? What was your childhood like and what life events lead you here? TOM: Well, family has always been an important part of my life. I have a lot of relatives and we’re all really close. LUNA: How have these family relationships influenced you? TOM: I feel connected to a larger part of history. Story telling is really common at family gatherings. This encouraged me study history here at NYU. LUNA: That’s great. Was the application process difficult? TOM: Well, my grades could have been better, but I was still lucky enough to be accepted. LUNA: I’m glad you were given the opportunity to pursue something that you care about. TOM: Thanks. LUNA: Well, thank you both for sharing. I really appreciate it. RYLLE: It was our pleasure!

TOM: Glad to help.

The scholarship award that Rylee received was based on financial need. This highlights the elimination of scholarships for specific racial or ethnic groups. Academic institutions are not concerned about diversity. Race is not emphasized. However, it still plays a role within the lives of college students. It just manifests differently.

Rylee was raised in a single parent household. This could explain why she does not take ownership of a specific racial identity. She labels herself as multiracial because she feels disconnected from her family heritage and history. Tom’s situation is nearly the opposite. He

was raised in a large family that often celebrated the past. He feels a strong connection to his familial origins. This would explain why he identifies as black.

This manifestation of racial identity is interesting because it is not dictated the standards of society. It is based on preference and personal experience.

CHAPTER 4 My observations and conversations have been successful so far. I have learned a lot about racial identity. This has inspired me and I have decided to expand my research. It is important to acknowledge the existence of different racial distinctions and their relationship to identity. However, I believe that this requires us to go deeper. Race and identity are inevitably intertwined, but how does this influence relationships with others?

My last conversation with Tom and Rylee did not reveal any evidence of existing racism. This is unique to the United States and very unusual. Despite the present peace, I believe that scars of the past have manifested in different ways. My goal is to uncover the possible repercussions of historical racism. I have continued to conduct interviews in an effort to support this theory. Below is a transcript of my second official interview with Rylee. Tom was not present for this discussion.

LUNA: Hello! Nice to see you again. Hope you have been doing well. RYLEE: Nice to see you too! Iâ€™ve been good, thanks for asking. LUNA: So how have classes been going?

RYLEE: Good. It’s been a little bit hectic lately. I had midterms last week, so I’ve been spending a lot of time doing school work. It’s also been difficult because I work a full time job. LUNA: Have you thought about working part-time instead of full-time? RYLEE: It would definitely be more convenient, but it’s not really an option. LUNA: Why is that? RYLEE: I wouldn’t be able to afford my tuition if I only worked part-time. I did receive a scholarship, but the money I received only covers part of the cost. LUNA: Does your father support you financially in any way? RYLEE: He helps as much as he can, but I pay most of my own bills. LUNA: Well, I definitely admire your independence. RYLEE: Thank you! LUNA: Do you think that it would be easier to manage everything if you had more time on your hands? RYLEE: Definitely. There’s just so much to do and the day goes by so fast. LUNA: What would you change about the college to make your life easier? RYLEE: I would love if it was easier to find a job on campus. I spend a lot of time traveling. Also, the weekly required health screenings are really inconvenient. They should set up a facility nearby. LUNA: What are these health screenings for and why are they mandatory? RYLEE: Thousands of people were killed by the virus in 2080. That’s one of the reasons why the government restricted travel. It’s also how my mother died. The vaccines don’t always work. There is a cure, but the virus spreads extremely fast. The screenings help prevent another outbreak.

LUNA: Does everyone need to receive a health screening? RYLEE: No, it is only required for people who live in certain areas. LUNA: I’m surprised at how cautious everyone is. The outbreak happened so long ago. RYLEE: I guess it’s better to be safe. LUNA: That’s true. Well, good luck with everything. I know you’re busy, so I won’t keep you long. Thanks for sharing. RYLEE: No Problem. Have a good day! I did some of my own research after I talked with Rylee. I found myself back at the library. I was provided access to the student database and read a plethora of articles. I discovered that the disease outbreak of 2080 occurred in pre-dominantly black neighborhoods. Additionally, the government quarantined these areas in order to contain the virus. Free healthcare services were provided. Unfortunately, these communities were isolated for years. Surprisingly, the virus was spread intentionally by a violent hate group. Of course, it became illegal to broadcast this information. The public remained unaware of the fact that this virus was a targeted hate crime. The government wants to maintain a particular image and they have been successful so far. They have been secretive about the past because they do not want to disturb the current peace. This information could cause a lot of social unrest. Yet, despite this risk, I still believe that this obstruction of information is problematic. It was really difficult to gain access to official reports. In addition, the facts were buried in mislabeled public documents and the events were described very briefly.

It became clear that Rylee had been directly affected by the racism of the past. Yet, like everyone else, she has remained completely unaware.

CHAPTER 5 I had started to think about the discovery I made just the other day. I am now painfully aware of how secretive all the behind the scenes happenings of the United States government can be. I am an outsider after all. This is why I decided to travel here. I wanted to know more. Even still, I never could have predicted this. Racism doesnâ€™t exist. But at what cost? I have continued to talk to students on campus and I have confirmed that they are unfamiliar with important historical events. Schools and other institutions are not being truthful about the past. Surprisingly, many young people donâ€™t seem to care. When I tell them that thereâ€™s more to the story, they just shrug.

Nevertheless, this is important to me and I have made it my business to investigate the situation further. On one hand, it was helpful that I had access to the necessary resources. The university has many restrictions and they are often inconvenient. Thankfully, this was not an issue for me. Every virtual class requires an authentication code. The code is specific to every student and they are distributed at the beginning of each semester. With my residency, I had been granted an all access pass to virtual classrooms. This was something I requested as a necessity to conduct my research. I wanted to sit in on a history lecture and after some issues with scheduling, I finally got to sit down and I join the virtual environment.

This virtual class environment looked like many others. It mimicked a traditional classroom setting. The familiarity of the space was reassuring. There was a large screen at the front. Rows of desks filled the room. You were able to see the other attendants once they had joined the class, yet not able to interact with them.

I was able to observe for about two full weeks and after a thorough explanation of my research project, the professor was kind enough to share the class materials with me. I was given the syllabus and a list of required readings. These materials and the lectures included a lot of important information. However, some things were overlooked. Different moments in history are given more attention. For example, a lot of early American history is quickly summarized. Colonization is barely talked about during the first lesson. The professor very briefly mentions slavery and the civil rights movement. Unfortunately, the details of these events are excluded. There is no mention of President Caranduâ€™s effort to reform the problem of institutionalized racism in America. President Carandu is responsible for the current era of peace in the United States. Yet, she is not credited for this. Still, the fruits of her labor are celebrated. Class time is primarily dedicated to the study of more recent historical events. However, this detailed study still fails to provide a comprehensive understanding of the past. Violence related to racism is not mentioned. Instead, there is a focus on peace and unity.

My findings confirmed a lot of suspicions. Unfortunately, the disparity between truth and narrative is even more problematic than I could have imagined.

CONCLUSION I feel compelled to share my research with the public, but this could be very risky. I have decided to compile my findings for the time being. My efforts have revealed a few things. I have discovered that racial identity is not pre-determined by social constructs. Instead, it is a choice. I have also uncovered injustice within a society that celebrates unity. The racial discrimination of the past is not acknowledged. This suggests that the present peace is inauthentic. Yet, would

society benefit from the truth? Iâ€™m a historian. Therefore, I believe that everyone should have an understanding of the past. To some extent, it is intrinsic to how we view the present. However, it may also cause a lot of hurt. This will be unfortunate, but the facts should become known.