In the age of the First Black President of America, racial rhetoric and hatred is running rampant on the Internet and spewed out of the mouths of politicians for political gain. However, what most people do not realize is that race is a socially constructed ideology. Race and subsequent racism was created by White Europeans and Americans in order to justify the enslavement of millions of people for profit. When people feel guilty about an action they committed, they will often try to find ways to justifying their reasons. This is what Europeans and Americans did when they decided to explain away the actions of human bondage by declaring Africans subhuman. In doing this, they changed the interpretation of history itself. A land where complex civilizations had existed for centuries was reduced to the “Dark Continent” and its people declared savages. All in the name of profit for the status quo and conversion the “natives” to Christianity. The history of Africa was rewritten to make Whites the conquerors that “civilized” the natives.
Although the concept of ‘race’ as a description of the physical differences that exists amongst people probably dates back to the dawn of the human species, most scholars agree that it was primarily through European colonization in the 16th to the 19th century that ‘race’ as a physical description emerged. It was when European colonizers, whose aim was mainly to seek out valuable primary products such as sugar, tin, rubber and human labor, came into contact with populations who looked different from them that racism became a dominant force in Western society. In order to maintain control of these populations, they were defined as inferior human beings primarily because of their different cultural practices as well as their not being White, the desired and ‘normal’ skin color. However, pushing such people to the margins did not stop European and American white men from having sex with the local women producing several hues of brown folks all around the world. Thus, race as a biological factor was constructed in racism and became a major factor in racial discrimination. This ideology spread rapidly throughout Europe and beyond, spreading the doctrine of alleged racial inferiority.
This ideology of racial dictatorship and hierarchy quickly took root in American society by the signing of a famous document, “The United States Constitution.” This document clearly states, ‘We the People of the United States.’ The question proposed from this statement is: who exactly are “the People?” It certainly was not the enslaved Africans because they were considered to be three fifths of a human being. In addition to the Constitution, the Declaration of Independence also posed many questions of racism. The Declaration of Independence was written to sever ties to a country in which people were denied their rights. However, the Constitution denied a group of people their right to pursue life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness because of their skin color. It is obvious to see that the Constitution laid the framework for which a segregated, racial society was formed in America.
Enslaved Africans were just as human as the White men whose rights were secured through the signing of the Constitution, but their rights did not matter. Because they did not have any rights, they were forced to live in a society in which the government officials did not represent them. Equality and justice was not for all, just for wealthy, land-owning White men. The practice of discriminating on the basis of skin color was born and would be legal until the 1960s. Even in the new millennium, racial inequalities still plague America and until this country can admit the wrongs done to enslaved Africans, Native Americans and their ancestors, we will never be truly free.
The Social Construction of Race in Western Society,
Graeme
26 Feb 2012Ironic that in a story about race, the first line says “Black President”. Uummmm, hasn’t Obama got one black, and one white parent? So he’s half’n’half if anything. Seems that anyone that isn’t a pure Aryan, is not one of us, and so can’t have “white” mentioned in his ethnicity. WHY is Barack called “black”, when he quite clearly isn’t?
Moton
26 Feb 2012Race is a social construct and, btw…Barack is black. He self-identifies as a black man and that’s really all that matters. Just as gender is a social construct: If I identify as a man but you think of me as a woman, that’s really my business.
Monica
26 Feb 2012Eh,I think it’s a social construct. It started during the time of colonization, and beginning narrative of anthropology gives hints at that.
Also,whenever I hear the term “aryan”, I cringe. The term Aryan was first used in differentiating folks in various parts of India. Heck,it’s still used.
The aryan that white supremacists think of are proto-aryans. The nazis, not big history buffs, took the term to mean “I am pure Nordic stock!” and “these Slavs and other folks are NOT pure.”. Now,almost anyone of any white European background can say “I’m an aryan”. Even folks who have a huge amount of Irish in them. Which is laughable because the Irish were seen(at times) lower than a black person.
When it comes to “me”, I refer to myself as “gumbo”. My family background spans from the marshy bogs of Ireland to the mountains of California. If I were to be honest,I’d have to check “all”.
But there isn’t room for that. It’s as if you can only pick out one thing about your family background and run with it. I’m not okay with that one bit.
As for personality qualities in race, I’ve noticed only two types of people:
-those who have had proper “home training”
And
-those I would not even entrust with a blind goldfish.
I have quirks about myself which have landed me in hot water. One is my willingness to learn from other cultures. Another is my rabid love of learning.
I say it lands me in hot water, because I’ll get the “you’re not black” spiel. Or my favorite: “stop trying to be white!”. It’s annoying. Very,very annoying. As if the desire to better oneself is particular to one race! Harrumph.
My mom is the same way. Granted,she’s more fanatical over gadgets and medicine breakthroughs…but she still hears it.
I’m not thrilled that in 2012 that we have to explain who we are. It’s a pain.
But that’s how it is. So I just “deal” with the quagmire that is race. I’m black, but not black enough. I only fit in with nerds,geeks,and gamers. Im “me”.
I’m falling asleep mid-type,so here is hoping I made sense!
Daniel
26 Feb 2012There is no such thing as race. There is only one race and that’s the human race.
Zerachiel van Mark
26 Feb 2012My very controversial opinion: Yes, I do believe that race is a real thing and that its quite possible that a large percentage of a certain have qualities which it fares better or worse than others. I don’t believe though that if you’re a member of a race, you’ll automatically have ALL the stereotypical characteristics of that race and I hell don’t believe that having a certain qualification makes that person superior over other. I still endorse the idea that its the individual and her/his unique abilities and thoughts that makes a person special.
Margo
26 Feb 2012Race will always be an issue as long as ignorancy is a along side it. And if you are not a of the Negro race then you will never know the bigotry we endure on a daily basis. To hell with the word Black because we are not Black we come in all wonderful shades of Brown. When is the day going to come when we are called the race of Brown people. Because that’s what we are brown and beautiful i wouldnt want to be any other color. And as for my President i look at his accomplishments and not his race!