Reality of Race

 

            In America, basically everyone is classified in terms of race in a way.  We are all familiar with terms such as Caucasian, African-American, Hispanic, Asian and etc.  Most Americans think of these terms as biological classifications; meaning that all people of a certain race share a common similarity on the D.N.A. that is different and sets the race apart from other races.  However, recent scientific studies show that “there’s no scientific basis for our idea of race as a taxonomy of human biological difference.” (Naomi Zack, Thinking About Race, Chpt 1/page 10).  This means that humans are not divided into different genetic groups, and whatever we think of race is basically collection of wrong concepts, and if it has no biological meaning, then it means that we simply got too carried away with physical differences that we mistook ourselves into believing it was real.  The big question is, if it has been thoroughly proven that race is not a biological concept, why do we still classify ourselves in terms of race and why don’t we get rid of it altogether?

History shows us that dividing ourselves in races only brought animosity and negative outcomes.  So if we got rid of “race”, it seems like we are rid from the root of some problems.  The problem is that, though race is not biological concept, the system of classifying people into races, was a powerful tool used by dominant groups to make sure they were in positions of power.  Naomi Zack says “the reality is more than a matter of difference in the sense of variety, because some racial groups are dominant over others” (Thinking About Race, Chpt 2/Page 18).  This meaning that race as a taxonomical concept was not made up simply to classify people who have similar physical features apart from individuals with different features; but rather built to make sure that the dominant groups were classified in a different way than the dominated groups, and the domination would be justified by creating a vertical racial system[1].  If race as a concept were to be put away or forgotten, the dominant groups (in America those would be the people the system classify as “Whites”) would run the risk of loosing all their power and dominance. 

Another reason why the concept of race isn’t forgotten, has also to do with the fact that race plays a role in a person’s self-identification, culture and sense of belonging.  In America, African blacks were forced to come and work as slaves, and their descendants suffered the fate of being discriminated on the basis of their skin color and hair texture.  So because of this, they share a common past and a common experience[2]; thus making them part of the group called African-Americans.  To tell an Afrocentric, who is constantly aware of the struggles suffered by African-Americans, that race doesn’t exist, would be somewhat insulting in a way because it would imply (though not on purpose) that the struggles they suffered as a group were meaninglessly put upon them.  In the subconscious the afrocentric would be thinking that if race doesn’t exist than his people wouldn’t have to suffer based on race, if only they did a better job in not complying with the system that classifies them as different.  Doing a better job in it would be the opposite of seeing themselves as African-Americans and classifying themselves as a group apart by being proud of their race.

 

 

As for whites who don’t are not in powerful positions in society, they “seem unaffected by race. They grow up, work, raise families, retire… without having anything important to contend with on the grounds of race” (Thinking About Race, Chpt 2).  To these people, whether the concept of race stays or not, it won’t play a big role in their lives if at all, because race doesn’t do give them any privileges or disadvantages.  Many we think of as whites now refer to themselves racially as Irish, Italian, Polish, German instead of referring to themselves as Caucasian as a way of showing the unimportance of race in their lives and a way to be proud of whatever country their ancestors might have come from (not that it will give any advantage).

Race may very well not exist, but the outcomes of the creation of this concept are undeniably real and evident.  So to the people that suffered due to racial classification a vertical racial system, race plays a big part in their lives and their sense of belonging.  As long as people think of themselves in terms of race, then race will be as real as if it were a biological concept.

           

 

Kaleo Silva

Hum 127
Prof. Bowen
10/11/2007

 

 


[1] Vertical racial system (Charles Mills, Blackness Visible/Chpt 3) means a system in a society where race plays a role in terms of domination and submissiveness.  In this system a Race that is deemed superior has control over another race deemed inferior.  Whereas a horizontal racial system classifies people into races simply for the sake of grouping people of common physical features.

 

[2] Experience meaning “racial experience”, Charles Mills defines this mostly as what it’s like to live as a certain race in a vertical racial system.  In America a black experience would be associated with racial oppression whereas White experience is associated with racial privileges.