Race : The End Product Of Self Gratification

The idea of race is understood by many as the difference in the color of one’s skin. In most parts of the world it is perceived that the “white race” is pure and the “black race” is stained. In America as discussed in class, race was not naturally occurring and the idea of race came to be through the process of racialization. This post will focus on the birth of racialization in America, and its effect on West Africa (Nigeria)and the next generation. Racialization in America started during the slave trade mainly because European Christians and their wanted to manipulate, or sabotage the capabilities of another ethnic group (Africans) they felt as though they were superior to others based on their skin color, way of life and religion. 

 As described in the book (UTS, p86) “Christian Europeans tended to see political and religious, not physical differences as the key division among mankind”. The idea of race was created for status mechanism; it was set up by self-gratifying Europeans Christians and farm owners to separate humans in a hierarchy simply by the color of their skin during the Trans-Atlantic Slave Trade. Africans on the other hand have not really seen themselves as one united group. Instead the different tribes and powerful empires fought to gain power over the next. This denial and division made it easier for Europeans to easily convince African Kings and elders to sell enslaved Africans. Reflecting on the lectures and reading in class, will it be fair to conclude that racism won’t exist if the Europeans and African leaders never traded slaves for provisions? I beg to differ.

 Me and you were born into a world that believes that race exists, they are structured in a hierarchy and that some races are far better than the other. Growing up in Lagos, Nigeria, even though I was not thought to understand race, I just believed without clarification that being white meant that you are better than I am in every aspect of life . Now i know better but how about the millions of people just like me that still isn't educated on this topic?. According to Robert Wald Sussman, “Racism is part of our everyday lives”,” racism, is so embedded in our culture and has been an integral part of our worldview for so long that many of us assume that it just might be true” (Robert Wald S., p. 2).

Today the idea of race still persists and in my opinion would never change because such idea is now embedded in our mentalities. Unfortunately, the idea has lived on to my generation and without a doubt would live on to the next generation. In conclusion, its keen to understand that The idea of Race has affected West Africa in the most devastating way possible. Today in West Africa, it seems as though we are continuing the idea of race, an average African sees himself as inferior to a “white male” based on skin color and what the media shows. They are perceived to be better off because they assume they are perfect and of no blemish and in America today we see people being judged based on religion and skin color. As seen on television, Africa is too often painted negatively. Racism is an ever revolving door with contributors all over the world.

I chose this picture because it shows how race is still affecting the public today. 

Work cited

Sussman, Robert W. "Myth of Human Racism." Introduction. The Myth of Race: The Troubling Persistence of an Unscientific Idea. page 2.

Scott, William R., and William G. Shade. "Africans in Eighteenth Centiury North America." Upon These Shores: Themes in the African American Experience, 1600 to the Present. New York: Routledge, 2000. N. pag 86.

Sussman, Robert Wald. "Why Are We Divided by Race When There Is No Such Thing?" Newsweek. Newsweek, 05 Mar. 2016. Web. 01 Oct. 2016. <http://www.newsweek.com/there-no-such-thing-race-283123>.