Race and RacismDiversity- Mr. Lerner

What is Race?

When examining the issue of racism, the most important thing to remember is that race is a social construction.

We’ll examine exactly what this means by looking at 10 important facts about “race”

Fact 1: Race is a Modern Idea

Ancient societies did not divide people by physical attributes like skin color or facial features (“racial” attributes)

People were divided by things like religion, social class, and sometimes even language

Fact 2: Race Has No Genetic Basis

NOT ONE characteristic, trait, or gene distinguishes all members of one so-called “race” from another so-called “race”

What this means is that by simply examining one’s DNA, you would NOT be able to determine his/her “race”

Fact 3: Slavery Predates Race

Throughout history societies have enslaved people often as the result of war and other factors – NOT because of physical characteristics or a belief in the inherent inferiority of a group of people

A unique set of circumstances in the U.S. led to the enslavement of people based on physical characteristics

Fact 4: Freedom and Race were Born Together

When the U.S. was founded the concept of equality was a new and radical idea

Since the U.S. economy was based largely on slavery, “race” was a convenient way to justify why the rights of the enslaved were to be denied

This allowed slavery, based on race, to continue and thrive

Fact 5: “Race” Justified Social Inequalities as Natural

As the concept of race evolved, it was used to justify (in addition to slavery), the extermination of Native Americans, the exclusion of Asian immigrants, and taking Mexican lands

“Racial” practices were institutionalized in government practices as well as the law

Fact 6: Human Subspecies Do Not Exist

Unlike many animals, the human species has not been around long enough (or isolated enough) to evolve into separate subspecies or “races”

Despite surface differences, we are the most similar of all speciesDid you know that fruit flies have

more genetic variation than humans do?

Fact 7: Skin Color is Only Skin Deep

Most traits are inherited independently of one another

The genes for skin color, for example, have nothing to do with the genes for hair texture, eye shape, blood type, musical talent, or athletic ability This should debunk the ridiculous

stereotype that all Black people look alike, can play basketball, and can dance.

Fact 8: Most Variation is Within and NOT Among “Racial” Groups

Of the small amount of total human genetic variation, 85% of it exists within any local population (be it Italians, Chinese, Koreans, Africans, etc.)

Two random Koreans, for example, are likely to be as genetically different than a Korean and Italian

Fact 9: Race is Not Biological, But Racism is Real

Though biologically race doesn’t exist, race is still a powerful idea that gives people different access to opportunities and resources

Our government and society have created advantages for being white – this affects everyone whether we are aware of it or not

Fact 10: Colorblindness Will Not End Racism

Pretending that race doesn’t exist is not the same thing as creating equality

Race and racism are more than individual stereotypes and prejudices

To combat racism, we need to identify and remedy attitudes (individual and social) and policies that advantage some groups at the expense of others

No Race, But Racism?

Now that we’ve established some key assumptions about race, it’s time to think about racism, and how it operates.

Beverly Tatum’s “Defining Racism: Can We Talk?”.

Can Black People Be Racist?

Hacker (as did Tatum) discusses the issue of whether or not Black people can be racist.

It is argued that while Black people (and other People of Color) can act in prejudiced ways, they can’t truly be racist because of their position as an oppressed group.

Think about racism as prejudice + power

Can Black People Be Racist?

Tatum expounds on this idea in an article in an essay entitled “Talking About Race, Learning About Racism, “…a distinction must be made between the negative racial attitudes held by individuals of color and white individuals, because it is only the attitudes of whites that routinely carry with them the social power inherent in the systematic cultural reinforcement and institutionalization of those racial prejudices…The distinction is important, however, to identify the power differential between members of dominant and subordinate groups”.

What is Racism?

Before we expand our definition of

racism further, let’s look at what racism isn’t.

What Racism Isn’t

Racism Should Not Be Confused With:Prejudice: A prejudice is a negative attitude toward a group and anyone perceived to be a member of that group; a predisposition to negative behavior toward members of a group

Bigotry: Hatred of a group an members of that group

Bias: A preference or inclination favorable or unfavorable that inhibits impartial judgment

Stereotype: A negative (or sometime positive) trait or traits associated with a certain group and any members of that group.

Racism: A Breakdown

We are clear about what differentiates racism from other terms, we will break racism into three types:

IndividualCulturalInstitutional

Individual Racism

Individual racism is defined as prejudiced attitudes and behavior against others demonstrated whenever someone responds by saying or doing something degrading or harmful about people of another race.

Example: A white person calling a Black person a nigger

Cultural Racism

Cultural racism is defined as societal recognition and promotion of activities and contributions of one racial group in preference to others within a multiracial society; the superimposition of history and traditions of one racial group over other racial groups.

Example: Teaching history to emphasize the contributions of Europeans over other groups.

Institutional Racism

Institutional racism is arguably the most damaging form of racism that exists. Institutional racism is defined as established laws, customs and practices in a society that allow systemic discrimination between people or groups based on skin color.

Example: Housing discrimination

Institutional Racism: Additional

Examples Discriminatory lending practices (car

dealerships, mortgages, etc.) Education (segregated schools) Employment (discriminatory hiring practices) Politics (under representation of People of Color

in all realms of government) Criminal justice system (the fact that Black

people are often given harsher penalties than whites for similar crimes)