RACE & RACISM

 RACE AND RACISM

INTRODUCTION

There aren’t too many Peoples who want to claim to be racist, and most people would like to believe they are “colorblind” when it comes to matters of race. But race and racism are integral and inescapable parts of our culture and social history. Race consciousness is key to how we learn to perceive ourselves and the people around us (even if we don’t always want to admit it); just think of how we describe people—“an young Asian woman, about five foot ; a short white man in his forties, wearing a leather shoes”. In these identifying descriptions, race, along with gender, is essential, especially if it is other than white. It shows how difficult and how complex the definitions of race and racism can be. The issues surrounding the definitions of race and racism are themselves a product of racism’s long and conflicted history in our society. Any discussion of race and racism probably should begin with definitions of the concepts involved.

 RACE & RACISM

Race is a socially constructed artifact that categorizes people based on visual differences which are imputed to indicate invisible differences. These categorizations are over time which reflects their social rather than physical basis. Its significance arises out of the meanings we as societies assign to it, and the way we structure race in our societies. 

Racism can be defined simply as any policy, belief, attitude, action or inaction, which subordinates individuals or groups based on their race. Taking into consideration the social and historical perspective, Paula Rothenberg offers this more pointed—and useful--definition of racism: 

"Racism involves the subordination of people of color by white people. While individual persons of color may well discriminate against a white person or another person of color because of their race, this does not qualify as racism according to our definition because that person of color cannot depend upon all the institutions of society to enforce or extend his or her personal dislike. Nor can he or she call upon the force of history to reflect and enforce that prejudice. History provides us with a long record of white people holding and using power and privilege over people of color to subordinate them, not the reverse." (Paula Rothenberg. Defining Racism and Sexism)

Breaking down race

You may have needed to fill out a census form or application and mark your race. But, what is race really? Race or racial identity simply describes the physical features that a group of persons might have in common. This can include but aren't limited to:

• Skin color
• Facial structure
• Eye color
• Hair color
• other physical characteristics

For example, a person with white skin might consider themselves part of the white racial category, while someone with darker skin might consider themselves black or African American. This isn't a hard and fast rule, however. Racial identity can vary based on your global location. For instance, a person may consider themselves black or African American in America, but they may view themselves as a different racial category in a different country, depending on that country's racial constructs. Race is also dependent on your upbringing. 

For example, someone with predominantly Asian physical features could consider themselves Native American if they were raised in a Native American community or have a Native American parent.

Examples of Race

While racial identity is variable when it comes to governments, it is typically broken down by biological region of origin or skin color. A few examples of racial identifiers or categories:

• White or Caucasian - British, French, German, etc.
• Black, African American or Colored People - Kenyan, Nigerian, Somalian, biracial, etc.
• American Indian or Alaska Native - Iroquois, Cherokee, Navajo, Haida, etc. 
• Latino or Hispanic - Cuban, Mexican, Puerto Rican, etc. 
• Asian - Japanese, Korean, Chinese, Cambodian, etc.
• Pacific Islander or Hawaiian - Samoan, Tongan, Maori, Tahitian, etc.

While these categories can be broken up by descent, they can also be broken down by physical characteristics as well. For example, a person who identifies as "white" might do so based on skin color regardless of ancestral history.  

The idea of race has a complex history. This powerful social construction has a tremendous impact on individuals’ lives because it is often employed to establish and maintain privilege and power dynamics. Access to resources and opportunities are often distributed along racial lines. Underlying this is the belief that certain racial groups are superior to others. Racism can be manifested through beliefs, policies, attitudes, and actions. Racism comes in several forms.