Race is something that is biologically inherited but the constructs that go along with it are socially constructed. Science can be used to put people in different groups, in different societies race is looked at differently because of the social standings and the make up of that society. Part of the way that society breaks people into groups is by exploitation. When one group of peoples feels that they are superior to another and enough of them believe it they can make things happen. Exploitation and oppression are very powerful tools when it comes to breaking down people’s spirit. In the reading Race Formation it goes through the development of racial classifications have come about through out the years. It first started with scientific classifications then it moved to political classifications. Classifications based solely on a facial feature or gene is incorrect because of the diversity within the population of people as a whole.
Friday, May 16, 2008
Racial Formation
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3 comments:
Darryl,
Thank you for your insights!
I'm curious about:
"Part of the way that society breaks people into groups is by exploitation."
I agree. How do you see exploitation as a multi-tiered methodology of creating and maintaining a class system?
You mention 'types' and 'classification' in this reading response, and I'm curious about how you see typing and roles, assigned to specifically raced groups, being used by colonizers/settler societies to class oppressed groups ?
How is class used to maintain control of labor forces?
Why is classification important in your understanding of oppression?
thanks,
Margo Tamez
I like how you mentioned the various ways that the social hierarchy system was created, one of which was through science. This reminds me of that video we watched in class called "Race: The Power of Illusion" which feartured views of scientist who were trying to prove that Africans were inferior to Europeans. The video also mentioned how scientist would analyze skull sizes and body features to determine human intelligence.
"When one group of peoples feels that they are superior to another and enough of them believe it they can make things happen."
Superiority was a concept that justified the killings and seizures of land from native people. It determined who would have the right to vote, own land, and even be considered a 'man'. Events like the World Fairs contributed to this concept because it portrayed other races as inferior, thus should be conquered and enlightened.
This insert not only applies betwen the majority to the minoroty, but also toward the different groups that make up the minority. Example: a heterosexual Latino man could think he is better than a bi-sexual Latino man. This could cut some people off from the already small community. Another example is how the different ethnic minorities have prejudices against other ethnic minorities, like the treatment of Japanese Americans during WWII. Instead of showing support to the Japanese Americans, other Asian Americans would wear badges and post signs relaying that they were not Japanese.
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