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REPLY TO EACH POST 100 WORDS IN EACH 1. With the issue of a person’s race and ethnicity quite prevalent as of current, I think it’s interesting to acknowledge how far back this discussion is rooted, a
REPLY TO EACH POST 100 WORDS IN EACH
1. With the issue of a person’s race and ethnicity quite prevalent as of current, I think it’s interesting to acknowledge how far back this discussion is rooted, and how incredible the differences that make a culture or a person’s skin color, is so divisive. Race and ethnicity are real, in the sense that skin color, culture, and personal disposition may be unique to an area, geographical location, or group of people. However, it seems that much of the segregation and taught constructs are due to socially accepted beliefs. For example; I have heard quite frequently that the european/caucasian race is superior because they “civilized” the world (native americans, south americans, africans, etc;). However, this is an example of a socially constructed idea, as the definition of this “civilization” is based on nothing more than the fire-power or technological advances one region of the world had over another. It’s common to see that throughout history, people have segregated themselves by what they have in common, which is usually culture, ethnicity and race; and within clashes, it is the most powerful group that dominates, and can claim the title of superiority. Relating back to the example, I had someone tell me that the Europeans civilized the Aztecs from their inhuman ways of sacrificing humans. While there are so many ridiculous hypocritical contradictions within that statement, I think it displays how socially, one type of people may consider themselves more “civilized” than another, merely based off a physical dominance of power, which goes through all of history; far beyond the obvious example of the European conquests.
2. First, it is a scientifically proven fact that biologically speaking, race is not a “real” thing. While it is true that the levels of melanin that is produced in our skin cells may determine what hue we will carry (as well as hair and eye color), as this week’s reading points out, “less than 0.1 percent of all DNA in our bodies accounts for the physical differences among people that we associate with racial differences” (Barkan, 2010). For the most part, people within a society (for the purpose of this forum post, I am speaking of Americans specifically) determine what a “thing” is by what it appears to be, how we think the thing generally tends to act based on our own personal experience and through the shared experiences of others (socialization). We tend to carry on those shared beliefs and attitudes throughout the course of our lives - unless something significant enough happens to change those core beliefs. This is what makes race fundamentally “real” in our society.
Historically speaking, perceptions and attitudes about race have led to some very tangible “real” consequences for African Americans - not only in terms of race relations but in education and economically as well. The practice of redlining was the denying of access to home loans in certain neighborhoods to black applicants despite their creditworthiness. Instead these applicants were directed to “black” inner city neighborhoods that were thought to be “riskier” in terms of physical safety, cleanliness and overall home value. The neighborhoods were bordered and shaded with red ink on maps (hence the term redlining). This practice meant that no matter how qualified you were, as an African American, to purchase a home and enjoy hard earned upward mobility, someone’s belief on how you would fit in to the neighborhood meant that you were stuck living in neighborhoods that may have perpetuated the views of people outside of those neighborhoods. In historically red-lined areas, to this day, you will see a lack of resources such s grocery stores that sell fresh and healthy food, health care facilities, good schools and other community resources. All of this, sociologically speaking, leads to the very “real” perception of “us vs them”. A lack of understanding and empathy on both sides of the racial divide creates a social structure that, despite laws eradicating the overt practice of redlining, still has keeps people separated, not just geographically but in our attitudes about our culture as well.
