Racism in Global Context

Dr. Kristin LozanskiDept. of Sociology

King’s University College

Overview

• Definition of racism• Typologies of racism• Typologies in global context• Solutions

WHAT IS RACISM?

Definition

• “Racism is the generalized and final assigning of value to real or imaginary differences, to the accuser’s benefit and at his victim’s expense, in order to justify the former’s own privileges or aggression” – (Alberto Memmi, 2000 [1982], p.169)

EXAMPLES OF RACISM?

• Public statements about inferiority

Overt racism

• Disguise dislike through acceptable behaviour– “Where are you from?”

Polite racism

• Policies & practices that deliberately exclude minorities

Institutionalized racism

• Unconscious racism• Contradiction in values that

1. support racial equality; &2. resent change to

accommodate others

Subliminal racism

• Practices & procedures with the unintended consequence of excluding minorities

Systemic racism

• I would:– marry or accept as a close relative

– accept as a close friend

– accept as my next-door neighbour

– accept in my school or church

– accept in my community, but not have contact with

– accept as a resident of my country, but not of my community

– not accept even as a resident of my country

Gauging prejudice: “social distance”

• “Privilege exists when one group has something of value that is denied to others simply because of the groups they belong to, rather than because of anything they’ve done or failed to do.” (Johnson, 2001:21)

• Symbolic • Material

Privilege

• I can talk with my mouth full and not have people put this down to my color.

• I am never asked to speak for all the people of my racial group.

• I can worry about racism without being seen as self-interested or self-seeking.

• If my day, week or year is going badly, I need not ask of each negative episode or situation whether it had racial overtones.

Racial Privilege

• I can remain oblivious of the language and customs of persons of color who constitute the world's majority without feeling in my culture any penalty for such oblivion.

• I can assume my colour will not draw additional attention to me when clearing security

• I can expect to travel to the majority of countries in the world and be treated respectfully

Privilege in Global Context

RACISM IN GLOBAL CONTEXTOvert Racism

Uganda – 1972

• Idi Amin– “The Last King of Scotland”– Launched intranational “economic war”• Expulsion of 80 000 Asians & seizure of property

South Africa – 1948-1994

• Apartheid – “the status of being apart”

RACISM IN GLOBAL CONTEXTInstitutionalized Racism

Canada – 1914

• Immigration Act, 1908– Komagata Maru

Australia – 2001-2007

• “Pacific Solution”

RACISM IN GLOBAL CONTEXTSubliminal Racism

Canada – 1985-

• Multiculturalism Act

USA – 2001-

• Security from terrorism– 675 million people on watchlist

RACISM IN GLOBAL CONTEXTSystemic Racism

Canada - 2010

• Changes to Investor & Entrepreneur immigration requirements– $800 000 to $1.6 M– $400 000 to $800 000

• Unintentional?

SOLUTIONS?

• “I don’t see skin colour”– Political correctness

• Colour-blindness = power-evasiveness?

Colour-blindness

• “Model Minority Myth” of Asians

Positive Stereotyping

• Blacks as amazing athletes

Positive Stereotyping

SOLUTIONS

Situating exclusion

• Complex personhood

• Intentions vs. Outcomes

• Context– Historical– Contemporary