Race and Racism Final

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Anthropology

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Apr 3, 2024

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Race & Racism Final Camara Phyllis Jones presents a framework for understanding racism on three levels. Select an example from current events or from a film or issue we've discussed in class and discuss how Jones' definition and model of the levels of racism can be used to analyze that case? During this semester we were assigned the reading “color – blind racism in pandemic times by Eduardo Bonilla- Silva. This article examined how the frameworks of color-blind racism influenced many different aspects of our lives during the pandemic. Camara Phyllis framework is composed of three levels of racism: institutionalized/ systemic, personally meditated and internalized racism. Personally meditated racism refers to the interpersonal interactions and behaviors between individuals that perpetuate racial prejudice and discrimination. It involves the actions, attitudes, and beliefs of individuals that contribute to unequal treatment based on race. “Americans has skyrocketed to about 30% of the working class and, for workers of color, an even higher proportion. “(Bonilla- Silva 2020) The statistics are not what show the personal meditated racism but it is the lack of resources given to people of color in the working class while the pandemic was happening. Also, during 2019 President Trump labeled corona as the “Chinese Virus”. This public label acted as a cloud that people of Asian descent carried over them, this caused Asians to be verbally harassed, harassed online, socially excluded and even cause many to lose their job due to discrimination in the workplace. “Whiteness in the United States has been historically constituted not only as a form of property but also as the capacity to possess.” (Goldstein 2014) This statement to me is the background basis of why the actions of most white people seem to give off a authoritative complex because of the many times in history where white people have been the owners and never the property. Another level explained in Camara Phyllis framework is Systemic Racism, which refers to the institutional practices, norms and policies that carry on the racial inequalities in today’s society. For example, mass incarceration, black Americans currently make up 38% of the incarcerated population while only making up 12% of the US population. (Prison Policy 2023) The disproportionate representation of colored people is heavily based on discretion used by those in power apart of the justice system. Their discretion often times reinforces existing disparities contributing to the overall problem rather than the solution, which is why the mass incarceration rates of people of color is a great example of systemic racism. Another current event is the recent Florida law that was passed, which approved a new set of standards for how black history will be taught in public schools. The new law came about after Governor Ron DeSantis passed new legislation that prohibits schools suggesting that anyone is privileged or oppressed based on their race or skin color. This new law has been very controversial and has upset many people. Although this may in some way help rid the idea of “white privilege” it’s also erases such a big part of history. One of the main arguments of this law is the famous saying “history that is not learnt is deemed to repeat itself “, and that is the overall fear. Teaching kids in school that black people benefited from slavery sets the black community back hundreds of years. Once this law is in full effect the future of our society will be somewhat unpredictable when it comes to the perception of people of color.

The last level of framework explained by Phyllis is Internalized racism which is when people begin to believe the negative stigmas placed upon them, she stated that “It is involved in accepting humanity including one’s spectrum of dreams, ones right to self- determination, and ones range of allowable self-expression. In the reading assignment “It’s the skin you’re in” African American women talk about their experiences with racism. In the article many of the women accepted the fact that because they were black, they wouldn’t get the proper care because of the color of their skin. Accepting their “fate” is a great example of internalized racism because many women have just come to terms with this idea and believe it for themselves and their children. Chapter 16 heavily specifies how are adverse childhood experiences and overall upbringing effects our health so internalizing negative stigmas only contribute more to our demise. Provide a critique of the biological basis of the race concept, drawing on evidence and examples presented in the lectures, readings, and films from the first part of the course . Race is a social construct without biological basis. Throughout history, individuals in the scientific community created artificial categories and manipulated information to assert the superiority of their own racial group. Such pseudoscientific efforts were often exploited to justify slavery and promote the false belief that certain races required guidance from others deemed superior. The concept of race falls short in accurately describing human biological diversity, with some mistakenly associating it solely with skin color. I believe that, it proves to be an poor way of explaining the richness of human differences. Chapter 7 of Goodman et al. states clearly: the idea of race doesn't hold up scientifically. Instead, it's more about social and cultural factors than actual biology. Racial categories often reflect social and political beliefs, not real biological distinctions. Using race this way can lead to unfair stereotypes and beliefs, showing why it's not a reliable concept. The chapter suggests a better way to understand human variation is through evolution. Evolutionary processes can explain both the differences and similarities between human populations. Instead of thinking of Europeans and Asians as separate "races," it's more accurate to see them as distinct groups within a larger African ancestral population (Goodman, Chapter 7). This tells us that trying to identify biological differences in humans based on race isn't really scientifically accurate. In our society, there's a history of looking for differences in looks and behavior between racial groups, like skin color, height, and facial features. But because race doesn't reliably indicate these differences, focusing on it can be misleading. People adapt to their environments through evolution – for example, those in sunny areas developed darker skin. Even though human genetics are complex, those who argue for a biological basis for race believe that racial hierarchies can't be supported by studying these adaptations. As we learn more about how evolution shapes diversity, it becomes clear that race isn't a good way to describe biological differences. Relying on physical characteristics, it fails to capture the complexity of our genetic composition. Each day, we witness the remarkable uniqueness of individuals. A compelling illustration comes from the documentary "Race: The Power of Illusion: The Differences Between Us," where high school students conducted a DNA experiment. The surprising outcome revealed

more genetic similarities between individuals, then we initially thought. The most substantial genetic differences exist within populations situated in Africa, rather than between what are commonly referred to as distinct races. The documentary highlights Kirl's DNA, initially expected to align with the Balkans, unexpectedly showed connections to Africa and Iceland. This emphasizes that a focus solely on genetic distinctions overlooks environmental influences and epigenetic factors, which significantly impact how genes operate. The experiment serves as a powerful reminder that discussions centered on race do not effectively capture the true genetic diversity among us. It emphasizes our shared African ancestry and the considerable variation in our genes based on our geographical origins. Contemporary race scholars agree that race and racism are not experienced or perceived in the same way by all people. How do our experiences of race and racism differ and what factors contribute to those differing experiences? Contemporary race scholars emphasize that people don't experience or perceive race and racism in the same way. Our individual encounters with race and racism differ due to a combination of personal experiences, social environments, and historical factors. Firstly, personal experiences play a crucial role in shaping how individuals perceive and experience race and racism. For example, someone growing up in a racially diverse and inclusive community might have different perspectives compared to a person raised in a more segregated environment. Positive or negative encounters with people from different racial backgrounds can greatly influence one's understanding of race. Personally, growing up my perspective of people who didn’t look like me was heavily influenced by how people treated me and the words they spoke. I would use those experiences to categorize every other person who looked similar to them. Secondly, family background and upbringing contribute significantly to differing experiences of race. Families pass down values, beliefs, and cultural practices that can shape an individual's worldview. A person raised in a family that promotes inclusivity and understanding of diverse cultures may have a more positive perspective on race, while someone with a family history of discrimination may develop a more guarded outlook. Furthermore, educational experiences play a role in shaping our understanding of race and racism. Schools can either reinforce stereotypes and biases or foster an environment that promotes diversity and equity. Individuals who receive education that encourages critical thinking about race are likely to have a better understanding, whereas those exposed to biased teachings may perpetuate harmful stereotypes. Media and representation also significantly influence our perceptions of race. Positive and diverse portrayals of different racial and ethnic groups can challenge stereotypes and contribute to a more inclusive society. On the other hand, negative or stereotypical representations in the media can reinforce biases and contribute to discriminatory attitudes. Additionally, historical factors contribute to differing experiences of race and racism. Historical events, such as colonization, slavery, and systemic discrimination, have lasting impacts on communities. People from historically marginalized groups may experience racism differently due to the historical context that has shaped their communities' socioeconomic status, opportunities, and overall well- being. For example, slavery has had a long-lasting effect of the black community shaping how

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we view the world and how it seems the world may be viewing us, this starts a whirlwind of emotions and will often times trigger internalized racism. In conclusion, our experiences of race and racism vary due to a combination of personal experiences, family background, education, media influence, and historical factors. Understanding and acknowledging these differences is crucial for promoting empathy, dismantling stereotypes, and working towards a more equitable and inclusive society. It's through having hard conversations, education, and a commitment to challenging systemic inequalities that we will get on step closer to a world where everyone's experience of race is respected and valued. After the election of Barack Obama, many suggested that America had become a “post- racial” nation. Identify the theories and evidence that challenge this view. The notion of a "post-racial" America gained traction after the election of Barack Obama as the first Black President in 2008. However, several theories and evidence challenge the idea that the United States has entered a post-racial era. One theory that disputes the notion of a post-racial America is the persistence of structural and institutional racism. Despite Obama's historic election, racial disparities persist in various aspects of American society, including housing, education, employment, and criminal justice. These disparities reflect deeply embedded structural inequalities that continue to disadvantage certain racial and ethnic groups. For instance, studies have shown that Black individuals still face higher rates of unemployment, lower wages, and disproportionate representation in the criminal justice system compared to their white counterparts. Another theory challenging the post-racial narrative is the concept of colorblind racism. This theory argues that the idea of not seeing or acknowledging race can perpetuate inequality. Instead of addressing systemic racism, colorblindness may lead to the neglect of policies and initiatives aimed at dismantling discriminatory structures. By ignoring race, society risks overlooking the historical and ongoing inequalities that disproportionately affect marginalized communities. In the reading “The sweet Enhancement of Color-Blind Racism in Obamerica” the author talks about color blind frames one specifically being abstract liberalism which states “whites can be appear “reasonable” and even “moral” while opposing all practical approaches to deal with de facto racial inequality.” This statement unveils the many layers of color-blind racism and why it showed so relevant after Obamas reelection. The rise of racial incidents and hate crimes serves as empirical evidence challenging the post- racial narrative. Instances of police brutality against Black individuals, as highlighted by high- profile cases like those of Trayvon Martin, and George Floyd, underscore the continued existence of racial bias and violence. The emergence of white supremacist rallies and incidents, such as the 2017 Charlottesville rally, further indicates that overt expressions of racism persist in contemporary America. As highlighted in Chapter 17's conclusion, the surge in hate crimes and incidents of anti-Semitism subsequent to Barack Obama's presidency underscores the persistent existence of white nationalism and white supremacy in the United States.

The racial wealth gap is another compelling piece of evidence contradicting the post-racial idea. Despite progress, there remains a substantial disparity in wealth accumulation between racial groups. Historical injustices such as redlining, which denied Black communities access to housing loans, contribute to this gap. The lack of generational wealth due to past discriminatory practices continues to hinder economic opportunities for certain racial and ethnic groups. Additionally, scholarly research and studies consistently reveal racial disparities in areas such as healthcare and education. Disproportionate access to quality healthcare and educational resources highlights that systemic inequalities persist, challenging the idea of a post-racial society. Lecture 16.4 presents alarming statistics, revealing 187 protests specifically targeting Black individuals, 32 gatherings associated with white nationalists, 280 events marked by anti- immigrant sentiments, and 95 instances of anti-LGBT sentiments. These findings point to the enduring prevalence of racial and ethnic prejudices, necessitating continued attention and efforts to combat such forms of discrimination. In conclusion, the theories of structural and institutional racism, colorblind racism, along with empirical evidence such as racial incidents, the wealth gap, and disparities in healthcare and education, strongly challenge the notion that America has become a post-racial nation. While progress has been made, acknowledging and addressing these persistent inequalities is essential for fostering genuine racial equality and justice. On my honor, I have neither given nor received unauthorized aid in doing this assignment.

Reference Page Chavez, N. (2023, July 20). Florida Board of Education approves New Black History standards that critics call “a big step backward.” CNN. https://www.cnn.com/2023/07/20/us/florida-black-history-education-standards-reaj/ index.html California Newsreel. (2003). Race: The Power of Illusion: The Differences Between Us [Documentary series]. California Newsreel. Phyllis C, ( August,2000) Levels of Racism: A Theoretic Framework and a Gardener’s Tale Wanger P, Sawyer W, (2023, March,14) Mass Incarceration: The Whole Pie 2023 https://www.prisonpolicy.org/reports/pie2023.html Class Material Used: - Bonilla- Silva 2020 Color Blind Racism In Pandemic Times - Lecture 16.4 - Chapter 17 - Goodman, Chapter 7 Introduction Race: Race Human Biological Variation - Goldstein 2014 Possessive Investment: Indian Removals and the Affective Entitlements of Whiteness

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Race and Racism Final

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