Does this test question contain bias: Racism is institutionalized in America. T/F?

Question

This question was in a sociology test I have taken in junior college. I am noticing more and more statements that are presented as facts that I might disagree with. Is this question fair? Can the answer be proven? The "correct" answer is true by the way.

Answer 1

No...Racism is learned behavior.  The more opportunity everyone experiences as they cooperate to join their effort for the resolution of obstructions, the more race, (which seems to me to more cultural), diminishes as an independent variable.  However, the more insecure an individual feels, the more they seek a supporting cast, and this is reflected as prejudiced.  This nation is the sum of the amalgam of intellectual energy.  Secularism is swiftly declining, and actually is only strongly accepted by those who have chosen to ignore the national social message, which is "education". As long as there are pockets of recalcitrant members of our national population, who choose to defy reality, there will be prejudices.  This value is so superficial, and to me, simply represents denial.

Answer 2

It is a bias opinion.  No opinion can be disproven, it is not fact, but a theory, and no matter what research is done, it will never for 100% truth show either way, new evidence will come out and according to culture it will be widely belived or it will be split opinion or theory until such time it becomes the norm of accepted belief.

If you really want to get right down to do, "facts" are the same, they will be disproven, or holes seen within the accpeted theory which is seen as fact.  This goes for everything.

Answer 3

Yes.

Try putting a question in a test like 'Theft is institutionalized among East European Gypsies. T/F' and see if it feels like there is anything wrong with the question.  Or:

'My neighbours wife, Mrs Doe, is sexually promiscuous. T/F'?

You are making a slur, by presupposing its credibility.

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Answer 4

I supposed it could be an example of bias given that any existence of institutionalized racism would make it a true statement. It is no doubt true, but to what degree, which circumstances and what consequences are really the important issues.  Institutionalized racism could easily be identified against any race, so maybe the instructor is opening this up for discussion?

Open discussion would be a nice thought anyway since that is what education is supposed to be about.

Best of luck..