Duck Dynasty and Quackery

The article ‘Duck Dynasty’ and Quackery by Charles M. Blow, was published in the New York Times on December 20, 2013.

• Read it and answer the following nine questions.
• Express your points clearly and in the same order as the questions so that I do not have to search through paragraphs for you answers.
• You must submit your assignment as a Microsoft Word.doc or .docx file.

1. What are two conclusions you take away from the article? Enumerate them (e.g. First and Second). Do not summarize the article – these are your “take-aways.”

2. Does the author believe that Robertson’s position (that he had not personally witnessed mistreatment of black workers and that they were happy) contributes to human suffering? Give one or two specific citations from the article to support your answer.

3. Consider how the denial of racism and the role of institutional racism (e.g., in the justice system, public education, and the economy) contributes to human suffering today.

4. The author addresses both Robertson’s denial of racism and discrimination and race relations historically. Explain which one social perspective best fits his approach to these issues?

• Functional Structural which addresses how the phenomenon contributes to social integration or stability,
• Social Conflict which addresses how the phenomenon generates social conflict as one group endeavors to maintain power over the other,
• or Symbolic Interaction which addresses how the phenomenon creates individuals’ reality through social interaction.