Ultimately the
idea and concept of race still continues to exist because of superiority. Race is an idea nothing
about the concept of race is back up by any factual evidence. The notion of
having different races and making minority and majority groups entitles the
superior group to continue dominating in power. The process of racialization in
America is what has led to the biracial society that we now have when it comes
to race. Within Micheline Labelle's article Race and Racism: Reflections on the
power of words, it clearly states that race is a product of racist ideology
(p.64). Let’s take a look at America, racist ideologies have a variability of
classifying people into different groups. Enslaved people who were brought over
to the America's were thought of as "less than" and were treated as
such. They were not accounted for as being human but rather as property,
chattel and other dehumanizing ways. The sole purpose of this was to have those
in position of power be able to maintain it and allow certain groups to be
privilege. Now it is believed that America has become a nation that has moved
"beyond race" as described by Bonilla-Silva et al. the ideology of
"colorblind" racism which is a new but more subtle form of racial
ideology.
The idea of race
still persist because from the time it was constructed until today, there are
groups that benefit more because of the category that they fit into. Ultimately
being divided into racial group’s benefits those who are in higher position of
the hierarchy (whites). Race creates space for people to be discriminated
against and to be thought of as less than. Further manifestation of social
disparities and inequality are all caused by this notion that one race is more
dominant and superior over another. When it comes to my own race in
particular I have faced many circumstance which clearly shaped my different
views on the topic. Based on the early lessons that I have been exposed to I
have learned that being a black female in America I do not have the same
privilege of a white female even if we were the same age, from similar SES
backgrounds obtained the same education and etc. The entire idea of
race is built on racist ideology and race has always benefited whites and put
them in a higher position of power. So this idea will always persist because the group who was believed to be dominant hundreds of years ago is still believed to be dominant today.
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| Retrieved from: https://www.emaze.com/@ALCRWLQC/Presentation-Name |
Citations:
Bonilla-Silva, E., Forman, T. A., Lewis, A. E., & Embrick,
D. G. (2003). "IT WASN'T ME!": HOW WILL RACE AND RACISM WORK IN 21st
CENTURY AMERICA. Research In Political Sociology, 12111-134.
Golash-Boza, Tanya
Maria. (2015). Race & Racisms : a critical approach. New York :Oxford
University Press,
Labelle, M. (2016). "RACE" AND RACISM: REFLECTIONS ON THE POWER OF
WORDS. Directions: Research & Policy On Eliminating Racism, 758-70.
This was very concise, nice job.
ReplyDeleteThis was a really interesting post about the racial hierarchies that were implemented in America's past but remain in modern day USA. I appreciated the brief personal explanation of White privilege.
ReplyDeleteYour post meets all of the requirements. While all elements are present, I would just add that the in-text citations should also be present in your Citations at the end of the post. Also, when editing, review some of the grammar/sentence structure. In certain areas, it can be a bit choppy (for example, the first paragraph could benefit from smoother transitions between sentences).
In terms of answering all the prompts, I think the post can be strengthened by more clarity in answering how race formed in America. The question is answered very briefly/vaguely in stating that enslaved people were treated as property and that this was done to implement racial superiority, but more can be said (such as stating outright the connection between enslaved people and race or by detailing a little more the actual process of creating the different racial groups).
The biggest strength of your blog post is answering the question of how and why race still exists today. You clearly lay out examples of modern day racism (the colorblind argument and White privilege), talk about who benefits from them, and make your claim that race will always persist because of the history of who benefits from it. I enjoyed reading this!
I really liked this piece. I thought it was original and direct to the point. You brought up an interesting view of what race is and how it came about. You were also able to add on to this idea of race by explaining your own experience as a black woman living in America. As a black man who has witnessed/ experienced the racial disadvantages I totally feel your point. As my colleague Serena Shields mentioned above I also thought you could perhaps add on to how this class affected your definition of Race. If not have the information given in class strengthened your view of race? This is just something that crossed my mind as I was reading your piece. I thought answering that could bring in a nice closure.
ReplyDeleteOver all you met your requirements and the post was focused and unique.