REVISION The Structuring of the Inferior Race by Briah Foster

Source: 

The enslavement of Africans in the New World began when the Portuguese began trading with West Africans. The forced migration of the enslaved started in 1619 in Jamestown, Virginia. Africans were brought over to Virginia to aid in the production of cash crops such as tobacco. African slaves were a cheaper and productive labor source than indentured servants (source). The bringing of Africans over created a biracial society. But, in order for the slave holders and owners to keep control, they had to construct a mechanism that would do so. “the Portuguese saw the West Africans' religion and appearance as reasons for their inferiority…. The Portuguese became the main purveyors of the racial ideology upon which both New World colonization and slavery were based”  (Roberts, 929).  The inferiority of the enslaved focused primarily on the color of one's skin. This notion stemmed from the perspective of people of a fairer skin tone than the Africans. The color white has always been associated with pure and innocent, whereas black has been associated with evil and unknown. The superiority of the white race then led to a caste system which would uphold the standards in which the enslaved were treated. The treatment of the enslaved was inhumane; they were viewed as property instead of human beings. They endured violent whippings, starvation and worked from sun up to sundown. The idea of race is a socially constructed tool to create and enforce a hierarchy.

Since reading various readings on the forced migration of enslaved Africans, my understanding of race has changed and has more depth. Before my understanding of race was simply self-identity. When someone asks me, “what am I?” I automatically say black. But I never thought about the idea of race being socially constructed to emphasize differences in skin tone. I’ve realized that race has no true meaning nor does it have any importance. “Most race-crits hold that race is not real and objective but that ideas of race nevertheless exert great social power…. If race is a social construction—something we choose to believe in…. what are the mechanisms of that social construction and what keeps them in place? Social constructionists examine how scripts, narratives, stories, and habits enable society to continue to believe that something important” (Delgado, 503).The word race was given importance to keep an entire group of people inferior. The emphasis on black and white were great enough that for generations we have been using the very tool that was create.

The idea of race persists because we are still dealing with differences in the value of black and white. Black Americans, are still dealing with inhumane treatment from people, who believe they are superior. The association of black as evil and unknown is still present today. For instance, there are more black males incarcerated than any other race. According, to Michelle Alexander a professor and civil rights advocate stated there are more black males incarcerated than were enslaved. The disenfranchisement of black communities reinforce racialization. The comparisons between black and white is what enslavement thrived off it is still showing its dominance centuries later.

References

Roberts, Kevin D. "Race and Colonialism in the Americas." Encyclopedia of Western Colonialism since 1450. Ed. Thomas Benjamin. Vol. 3. Detroit: Macmillan Reference USA, 2007. 929-933. Gale Virtual Reference Library. Web. 27 Sept. 2016.

Delgado, Richard, and Jean Stefancic. "Critical Race Theory." New Dictionary of the History of Ideas. Ed. Maryanne Cline Horowitz. Vol. 2. Detroit: Charles Scribner's Sons, 2005. 501-507. Gale Virtual Reference Library. Web. 27 Sept. 2016.

History.com Staff. "Slavery in America." History.com. A&E Television Networks, 2009. Web. 27 Sept. 2016.

CHILDRESS, SARAH. "A System of Racial and Social Control." PBS. PBS, 29 Apr. 2014. Web. 27 Sept. 2016.

Revision: Race in America

Ivelisse Sosa                                                                            Due: Oct. 17, 2016

https://news.usc.edu/files/2015/12/heroescolor_WEB-824x549.jpg

Sen. Blanche K. Bruce, Frederick Douglass and Sen. Hiram Revels, from left (Image/Library of Congress)

                                        

            Race and its ideology has been a foundation that has helped build present-day America. In 18^th century America, while building the newfound land there was an increase in demand for labor. Africa was known for its farms, and cattle-breeders, and industries, which were exactly what Europeans needed. The impact of the amount of slaves imported and the development brought four waves of immigration. Race had to establish the identity of each group in America. With each wave of migration the European race had to be dissected further which narrows its race more specifically. Those who came from Africa, their race was labeled as African or “slave” and not dissected further.  Through the African Slave trade, “slaves” came from all different parts of Arica yet their race identifies with skin color.

            Slavery had already existed in Africa before Europeans came to get the help they needed for the vast amount of labor in America. In Africa, people where enslaved through war or crime. Once discovered the Europeans could supply weapons the trades were more inclined to trade those enslaved to Europeans. This African diaspora causes the identity of “slaves” to be lost. Those enslaved that were brought to America as property, had to be identified from the new migrants to America. The most distinguishable difference was the color of ones skin. Laws were emplaced to protect peoples “property” whom were all black. In 1662, Virginia legalized enslavement of black Africans.

            Laws enforce to the public, a rule to be upheld by the community. They create a lifestyle and are created to protect the community. If a law is passed it is expected that the community adhere to it. Laws are not easy to remove. As time passes laws establish a culture. Laws are tweaked and new laws are then creating molding the culture further.

            America refines its laws further and further due to either being more specific or in reaction to revolts and war. As time passes the color of ones skin still identifies one from Africa, an African who was brought to America for labor. The association of ones color to identify a race becomes a norm.

            The culture that the laws created took around 300 years of development, to undo and 300 years of development in a society is going to take time. Race has persisted because of the laws passed. Even after slavery was abolished in America the culture that was created lived. Groups mix and created new races and identities. Each new person born, no matter what group they identify with still a human nonetheless.

Work Cited:

Alyson Cole. (2015). Indiana Magazine of History, 111(2), 211-213. doi:1. Retrieved from http://www.jstor.org/stable/10.5378/indimagahist.111.2.0211 doi:1

FREY, W. (2015). Diversity Explosion: How New Racial Demographics are Remaking America. Brookings Institution Press. Retrieved from http://www.jstor.org/stable/10.7864/j.ctt6wpc40

Omi, M. (2007, January). Rethinking the Language of Race and Racism. Asian American Law Journal, 8(7), 1-9. Retrieved from http://scholarship.law.berkeley.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=1072&context=aalj

Smeadley, A. (2003). Origin of the Idea of Race. Retrieved October 01, 2016, from http://www.pbs.org/race/000_About/002_04-background-02-09.htm

Waves of Immigration. Retrieved October 01, 2016, from https://www.preceden.com/timelines/29989-waves-of-immigration-in-america

REVISION: 1492, Columbus Brought Race to The New World Too

Samson Sosanya                                                                                                          October 3rd, 2016

1492, Columbus Brought Race to The New World Too

           Is race simply a way of identifying the color of an individual or is it a negative notation used to belittle a group of individuals? To myself, race is a form of identity for a group of people based on their physical features and their culture. In class, it was suggested that race was not naturally occurring. Throughout time, race has been identified through racialization. From the moment Europeans stepped foot into Hispaniola (modern day Haiti and Dominican Republic), till now, race has been used to separate groups of people by class and power to make a group feel superior or inferior to another.

            When Columbus arrived in Hispaniola, he saw an advantage and wealth that would benefit the Spaniards. The only things in his way were people who were indigenous to the “new found” land. In a diary entry Columbus wrote, “.... They do not bear arms, and do not know them, for I showed them a sword, they took it by the edge and cut themselves out of ignorance. They have no iron... . They would make fine servants.... With fifty men we could subjugate them all and make them do whatever we want (http://www.historyisaweapon.com/defcon1/zinncol1.html ).” The new people that Columbus encountered look nothing like his own. Columbus saw phenotypic differences that differed himself from the native, such as their brownish red skin and broader foreheads. To him, they were less technologically advanced and ignorant. Europeans saw these people as primitive due to their use of stone for warfare and cloth for apparel.  Columbus’ ideals created a separation between the groups of people. This leads to a useless distinction called “race”.

The reason I would call the word “race”, useless is the negativity behind it. I have always thought of race as a simple way to identify groups just based on how they look. “… race is commonly and popularly defined in terms of biological traits—phenotypic differences in skin color, hair texture, and other physical attributes ( https://www.nap.edu/read/9599/chapter/9 ).” The quote relates to a newer way I view race, but in a slightly negative aspect. These phenotypic differences create boundaries between groups, which relate to Columbus and his actions. Not only does race give physical boundaries, but also mental ones.

“Special code- words (such as welfare mothers) may be used, and the readers are able to interpret these words in terms of minorities and the problems attributed to them (van Dijk page 39).” Race creates room for stereotypes based on differences. These stereotypes create further separation between groups by derogatory diction. Today, race is a word used to differentiate whites and blacks. Black people shunned by whites in various ways due to the same mentality that Columbus had.

The idea that “African Americans have yet to achieve parity with whites in terms of income (Thomas, 2015, Abstract, para.1)” is why the idea of race persists. Whites tend to be leaders in economic positions and take control of the ignorance blacks have for certain subjects, for their own benefits. For example, there have been countless times where white business executives in the music industry have taken in musical artists of color, and raped their talents for their own profits. Executives draw them into these absurd deals that subliminally benefit their company. It relates to the savaged mentality of Columbus taking advantage of the colored people of Hispaniola.

 Photo by Storm Bear from towncalleddobson.com

 Found the photo interesting because it appeared as if the indigenous people were oblivious to the fact that the Europeans were trying to take everything from ... Including their lives.

References

Scholarly Articles

Lemke, J. L. (1999). Teun A. van Dijk (ed.), Discourse as structure and process. (Discourse studies: A   multidisciplinary introduction, 1.) London (UK) & Thousand Oaks (CA): Sage, 1997. Pp. xii, 356. Hb $75.00, pb $27.50. Language in Society, 28(1), 98-101. doi:10.1017/s0047404599231041

Thomas, M., & Moye, R. (2015). Race, Class, and Gender and the Impact of Racial Segregation on Black-White Income Inequality. Sociology of Race and Ethnicity, 1(4), 490-502. doi:10.1177/2332649215581665

In-text Sources

Omi, M. A. (2001). America Becoming: Racial Trends and Their Consequences. Washington, D.C.: National Academy Press.

Zinn, H. (2009). History Is A Weapon an excerpt from A People's History of The United States. Retrieved from http://www.historyisaweapon.com/defcon1/zinncol1.html

Photo Source
Bear, S. (2008). Native American Netroots. Retrieved from http://nativeamericannetroots.net/diary/tag/cartoons

Revision: Race is an Idea

They made us into a race. We made ourselves into a people” These lines quoted by Coates when describing race in America. Race and classification of others into categorical groups did not always exist. In fact, race is something that has been socially constructed. Within the America’s the rise of racial groups came based on science and the need to classify others, European taxonomy is a prime example of that. Francois Bernier who proposed the first taxonomy, created a system that divided human beings into 4 different groups based on physical traits such as hair texture and skin color (Golash-Boza, p.22). This unknowingly would mark the beginning of classification within America.

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. There were laws passed such as the slave codes which kept these individuals from running away and doing certain things.Also acts were passed within the different colonies stating that reading and writing by enslaved people was illegal, harsh beatings and treatments of the enslaved individuals were also justified by laws. The sole purpose of this was to have those in position of power be able to maintain it and continue with the oppression that the enslaved faced. 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.

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.

REVISION: Burning the Chains From Our Mind

Seid Salih

Blst 101

Over the years there have been much written, much discussed on the subject of race. Race has been used as one of the most effective tools in weakening the unity of all the people and directly benefiting the White or “pure” social group. When trying to comprehend the idea of Race in the American history one must understand the process of racialization. This is a well-established political and economic system specifically targeting and forcing dark skin men to do the dirty work for those group seen as “pure”. This system bases on creating perception for individuals based on visible aspects. However, when creating the biracial society, the color of a man was only the beginning. The system precisely used religion as well as culture to stir up the pot of a biracial society and strip the freedom of the black men.

            It is true that slavery has existed in many of the great civilizations. It is understandable to think that one would enslave another powerless person. It is who we are as a human being. We tend to look for our advantages in circumstance. It is easy to see how having an enslaved person doing work for us, for free, could be a tempting idea. What differentiate the biracial society created in areas like Barbados, Virginia, and Maryland was the fact that it dehumanized the entire Black social group for years to come. This capitalism society demanded for black slave workers. knowing humans by nature wouldn’t submit to such system, the creation of laws such as slave codes were critical in controlling the enslaved. Places like Barbados went as far as saying that the enslaved were just property and nothing more. (P. 63). Of course, there had to be some sort of justification to why this system is being implemented to cover up its evil means. The justification varied but, centered around the idea Africans weren’t “civilized” and “pagans”.

           

 This system ” first introduced a race-based classification of humans, which established a framework for analyzing race and racial differences for the next hundred years.” American Anthropological Association . Most of the work of creating a framework for racialization was done in the Trans-Atlantic slave trade era. We still do feel the effect of this system today in 2016. Our arms and legs may not be chained the same as the enslaved were in the 18^th century. Yet, I wonder how free we truly are or if we even know what it means to be “free”.

            It is obvious those enslaved in the 18^th century were not “free”. That was the extremist way of mentally as well as physically imprisoning a specific social group for years. In fact, when the enslaved were “Freed” founded institutions to provide for their spiritual and physical needs in search of freedom.Historical Overview . I have always been intrigued with the idea of being “free” yet I still don’t have a concrete definition of what freedom is. Some relate freedom to making their own decisions, some are happy when they are freed from social obligation. I think the kid wearing old and ripped shorts and running after his goats with the biggest smile on seems freer than most.

I chose this picture because Bob Marley in my view is one of the most freed people i have come to know. I totally relate to his philosophy, and admire his simple way of living. 

The picture is a collection of the Retro Rebirth. June 24, 2010

BOB MARLEY – JAH SOCCER HEAD

Reference

Andres, K. (2016). Source Analysis of 'The Barbados Slave Code of 1661' Retrieved October 03, 2016, from https://medium.com/@kennethandres/source-analysis-of-the-barbados-slave-code-of-1661

Boston, N., & Hallam, J. (n.d.). Freedom & Emancipation. Retrieved October 02, 2016, from http://www.pbs.org/wnet/slavery/experience/freedom/history.html

Scott, W. R., & Shade, W. G. (2000). Upon these shores: Themes in the African American experience, 1600 to the present. Psychology Press, 65.