Hello Everyone,
Thank you for such an amazing class
conversation. The topic of race can be
an issue that makes for uncomfortable conversation. Many topics in regards to social justice are
uncomfortable topics. Baker brings light
to an issue that plagues many individuals race, but more importantly, the specific
bind that exist about race in terms of social policy. The bind attempts to create an equal playing
field, but runs the risk of ignoring the struggles of the particular groups of
people.
Baker puts race into the context of
history through mentioning the pseudoscience that reinforces the idea that some
races are more superior to others. He
gives examples of the biological and genetics “evidence” to support this claim.
Baker mentions the racial realignment of particular races in our nation’s
history. Some races come with a certain
privilege while other races do not receive those privileges. The realignment of race exemplifies the social
construction. Is there a way to share privilege
without giving something up? Is there a
way to realign the racial categories to give privilege?
I have a couple of additional questions:
Are we in a post racial society where race is not an issue?
Who is benefiting from the
particular bind in relation to color blindness initiatives and policies?
Is it possible to live in an age
with the absence of color?
What can we do in order to create a color
blind society if we do not have one?
Best,
J.T.
14 comments:
Thanks for the great week Jared!
As pointed out by Baker, the current condition of racial dynamics in our culture is actually the perverse realization of King jr.'s "Dream." We live in a society where it is frowned upon to explicitly judge someone by the color of their skin; however, as Leena succinctly said, we now erroneously ignore the context which has shaped a group's reality and identity. This is a fatal error because race is still a huge issue but one in which it's not okay to openly speak about. As you said Jared, it makes most uncomfortable. In the era of supposed colorblindness, we use examples of black exceptionalism to enforce the idea of racial equality despite the existence of overt racial disparity ("now that we have a black president, anything is possible for black people"). Moreover, these examples ignore socialecconomic disparities and, if success is not achieved by an individual, emphasize the individual's character as flawed rather than recognizing the obvious hurdles they face. If we no longer recognize the disadvantages minority/ethnic groups faced historically and attribute failure to personal character flaws rather than overwhelming external forces which influence their lives daily, we open the door to regression in terms of the civil rights movement and thus closing the door of opportunity to these groups.
In order to stop the reversal of the civil rights movement, programs such as affirmative action must not be downsized but expanded. Moreover, we must address the root causes of racial inequality: income inequality, unequal educational opportunities, lack of access to professional networks, and all the others that we discussed in class. Dancing around the issues only shrouds the true problem, and exacerbates it.
I encourage everyone to follow up with this topic by reading Michelle Alexander's book (the excerpts assigned for my week)!
Thanks for a great class Jaraed! Bravo Anthony! Well said.
It is very difficult to have a color-blind society. The ones who wield the power and have the clout belong to the dominant race who are not willing to give up any of their power yet maintain a pretense of inclusion and desegregation. Those who benefit from the color-blind bind are the dominant race, the whites.
We have been conditioned to live in a racially divided world for so long that I think only INTENSE retraining can alter our mindset and give us hope of living in a color-blind society where race does not matter. Children would have to be trained at a very young age and adults retrained. I once met a student at John Jay who was raised in an Asian country. I don't remember the name of the country though but Jaraed's last two questions brings her back to my memory. We were participating in a workshop on race etc. When we were asked to place ourselves in the racial or ethnic group that we identify with, she stood alone. When asked why, she said in the society that she was raised, there is no racial and ethnical division. So you see, it is possible but training has to start at conception :)
To play devil's advocate, I pose this hypothetical. Do you think we would have the same issues of racial, socio-economic and other disparities if the dominant race was blacks or hispanics or any other race? I think the answer is yes, because people in positions of authority generally do not want to share with those that are different. In all honesty, sometimes they don't even want to share with those of their race. The way the system is designed, there must be an oppressor and an oppressed. How do we fix that? I honestly don't know but I think it begins (as I said before) with re-training/re-conditioning. How many of us are willing to be re-conditioned/re-trained? How many are willing to honestly view ALL people as EQUAL as laid out in the U.S. Constitution?
Thank you Jared for a very interesting class!
As you mentioned in class before Jared, privilege is not something tangible that we can give out to everybody. So to answer your first question, there is no way to share something that bares solely in the minds of individuals who actually believe in the theory of groups having privilege over other groups. I understand the theory behind race and gender privilege but there are so many different ways privilege can be expressed that the theory is kind of pointless on a larger scale. Yes we can say that men have privilege over women or that whites have privilege over blacks but in what facet are we even talking about their privilege? For example, I as a black man have privilege over a white man in benefiting from affirmative action and a black woman has more privilege over me as a black man in benefiting from affirmative action as she counts for “double the minority” when fulfilling a quota for a company. So in that sense do minority women have their own form of privilege that they can share with me in applying for a job? I think I just confused myself on that one -___-
Do we live in a post racial society? Well if we have to ask through a conversation like this then no. Ideally, because race relations have progressed past the era of blatant race segregation, one would believe we are in a post racial society (especially because of Obama). But the ways in which we still find incidents that are racially charged, like the Trayvon Martin case, it is hard to say that we have completely moved on from being a racial society. No one will honestly ever benefit or be equal in a society where extra help is needed to bring one group of people up. Someone will always feel like they are not getting the treatment they deserve whether they are losing opportunity or being exploited with a given opportunity. To conclude, there will never be a color blind society and there will never be a society without discrimination of any kind. It is natural to want to separate yourself and/or identify with a specific group of people in society. With that in mind, there will always be a dominant, more desired and oppressive class promoting themselves and negatively influencing a lesser group.
Thank you Jaraed for your post!
As I have read so far, I think many of us would agree that America has not achieved a reached a point in society where race is not an issue. However, I believe it is very important to acknowledge the progress made over the past several decades. We cannot and should not take away all that has been achieved by our fearless leaders and advocates striving for equality. (I recommend watching The Butler - I think it beautifully illustrates the story of one man and his struggle during the Civil Rights movement, Vietnam war, and other events as it relates to American society - http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1327773/).
As we discussed in class, those who benefit from color blind initiatives and policies are the White majority. In essence, they simply "wash their hands clean" and pretend equality exists for all. However, we know that is clearly not the case.
In terms of achieving a colorblind society, as Simonne expressed above, the power of education and training would have to be the foundation of such initiative. Equally as important, the willingness to change would have to be exhibited by everyone in the US. This is where the problem lies, in my opinion. Though policies such as affirmative action exist, they do not expand and duplicate because there remain people in society that are against these policies and make claims to reverse-racism. Without the pair (education and a willingness to change), I am afraid American society will be unable to move towards a color-blind society (which in part, may be a good thing for now).
- Ana P.
This:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eBCUkdd57qc
It is the "Star-bellied Sneetches" clip.
I don't want to say too much until the students have posted, but do want to suggest this: what we talk about when we're talking about "race" is that people (and their bodies) have been "racialized." That is, they have undergone and continue to undergo or experience a process in which they are imagined as of a qualitatively distinct group based on some inherent biological/genetic/"natural" difference.
When you get a chance, please check out The Race Project: a public education program developed by the American Anthropological Association:
http://www.aaanet.org/resources/A-Public-Education-Program.cfm
Ah, great conversation going on here.
I can think of little else to add to Anthony’s comment, well done.
To answer your questions specifically, I think, as Spencer pointed out in class, that the idea of sharing privilege reinforces the racial inequities we seek to rid society of. They say that the hand that gives will always want to be above the hand that receives. In terms of realigning racial categories, I do not see how that is feasible, especially since the contemporary racial problems are a product of a long long history of hate, violence and oppression. Perhaps, you are calling on us to rewrite history—I admire the ambition. On the question of whether or not race is an issue, I honestly think that race in itself is not an issue, but racism. I value differences, they are important. While racial categorization does not have taxonomical accuracy, we are nonetheless because of or perhaps in spite of history forced to define ourselves in racial terms. The issue of race and differences, however, become problematic when differences become a basis for discrimination. And on that note, it is safe to conclude that we are not in a post-racial society, unfortunately.
I skip to your final question.
Why should we crave a color blind society? I love colors. As an alternative, why don’t we strive to create a beautiful collage out of the various colors that our world is endowed with?
See you all on Thursday, and thanks Jaraed!
Thank you for the great blog and class Jaraed!
There are so many great questions you have posed in this blog and I would like to do my best to go through them all. 1) I agree with Spencer; you were right in class when you said that privilege is not something that we can literally share with others. I do however believe that through policies like affirmative action the privilege gap that separates whites from the rest of society can be narrowed. 2) We are most definitely not in a post-racial society. We will only truly be in a post-racial society when it is no longer necessary to ask this very question. 3) I do not believe it is possible to live in the absence of color, and as James so eloquently stated, that is not necessarily a bad thing. It is this exact aim, for the absence of color, that has essentially created the bind that Baker’s article discusses. We should not strive for a society in which we live in the absence of color because to live without color, as we discussed in class, would disregard the differences between us, and essentially discount the struggles that a large part of our population has historically faced because of the color of their skin. 4) It is because of my answer to number three that I believe we should not try to create a colorblind society. As I mentioned in class, it is extremely important (especially for those with privilege) to acknowledge the differences among different racial groups and to be aware of the privileges that some groups hold over others. To be colorblind in the society that humankind has forged throughout our history, although it may seem like a pleasant thought, is nothing but ignorant. It is only through recognition that we live in a society of color, and that each color has a different implication on the life of the individual, that we can begin to make positive change based on the implications that are inherently tied to color.
Thanks for a great class, Jaread!
You ask if "there is a way to share privilege without giving something up," but I would argue that this question is irrelevant. While I recognize the "struggle" (not really) for those of privilege to give up their privilege, it is something that must be done, and is the only way that we can ever move towards a post-racial society.
Yet, this is difficult because "privilege" is not tangible, and as Spencer has mentioned, we are privileged in some respect. However, some privilege is more determining than others.
The first step towards the reparation of our institutionalized inequities is for every human being to assess his/her privilege and complicity in this racial-inequality. If we are all honest with ourselves and recognize the determining impact our race and socioeconomic status have on our success, we could better understand how these things could, in turn, work against ones favor, and rather than providing opportunities, act as crippling qualities. While this may seem like an obvious task that most of the Verons have engaged in before, this is not the case for most Americans. Because they don't understand the power of privilege, many people sincerely believe that some races are naturally superior to others.
The problem then is the next step. How do we reverse this institutionalized racism? As I mentioned in class, the bind is that, although these racial groups are factitious social constructions, they have had real consequences and have materialized into significant inequalities. For this reason, striving for a “color-blind” society may not be the right strategy. At least not now. We are not ready, as a society, to adopt “color-blind” approaches because they will deliberately ignore the realities of the groups. As long as these inequal realities persist, they should be addressed appropriately. While efforts such as affirmative action may only be temporary fixes, they are necessary, but should be coupled with stronger efforts to reach the root causes, as Anthony said. Maybe then, we can claim to not see color, because only then will color not have real-life implications
Thank you so much for the great class lesson Jared!
Everyone has prejudice thoughts. It's impossible to avoid within any society. The goal of everyone in order to live in an age where race is not an issue is by addressing how a society could live without those prejudice feelings forming into actions or decisions. In order to live in a society where race is not an issue is by also addressing institutionalized racism (having a society that would need to have an unbiased government) and, even more so, around ethnic history. Racism starts because of ethnic/racial instability; if a society has no history of that, then they will most likely not be racist.
Here's a great opportunity to hear anthropologist Agustin Fuentes debate Nicholas Wade, a reporter for the science section of the NY times whose new book is being released this week, and which I mentioned in seminar. To listen and participate in this online webinar, you do need to sign up electronically. You call in to listen to the debate. Here's the link: http://blog.aaanet.org/2014/04/29/new-webinar-a-discussion-on-genes-race-and-human-history/
Great class! There is so much that can be said about this subject, and reading everyone's replies to your blog makes me excited to have this conversation!
First, I want to address Spencer's comment about privilege and how a black man (or woman) might have more privilege than a white man? I was a little confused about this, and want to ask you to clarify this, please! :) The reason I'm asking is because I'm reading it as the idea that affirmative action gives minority groups privilege over whites, and I don't believe this is true (its also what people say that bothers me when speaking about affirmative action). It isn't that the people who affirmative action seeks to benefit are somehow privileged from this action, because the simple fact that we need to have this action is showing that the people benefiting in fact, have no privilege! (That was wordy, I hope everyone understands me!) I think the main issue with how affirmative action has been framed is exactly this: the idea that it is giving one group the upper hand at the cost of another without ever contextualizing the reasons WHY one group is benefiting from this action. There is no privilege in having to have been GIVEN opportunity through legislature (and not through "natural" society).
Second, to address Jaraed's questions: I recently posted on my Facebook a quote wonderfully said by a Black female blogger in response to "post-racial America" in light of the scandal that is surrounding Donald Sterling (LA Clippers very own racist!) and I would like to share it here (you know how I love my quotes!):
"America is a lot more concerned with appearing post-racial than actually being post-racial. Time and time again racist acts are ignored and swept under the rug. But every once in awhile a white person will be publicly dragged for saying something very racist.
That’s the unspoken rule in American race relations: you can be racist but don’t sound racist. You can treat people of color horribly, but you can’t verbally express that you want to treat them horribly. That is crossing the line in America. This isn’t 1965 anymore.
So every once in awhile a high profile white person forgets that we’re in “post-racial” America and that saying racist things is not okay and they become the white guilt scapegoat for the season. The white liberals condemn them and the white conservatives halfheartedly defend them on the basis of “free speech” and whatever other excuse. And white America sighs and says, look, we’re not racist!" (Found here: http://oneblackgirlmanywords.blogspot.com/2014/04/donald-sterling-problem-or-american.html#more)
In response to your question about being colorblind and "creating a color blind society," I quite frankly, like James, do not WANT a colorblind society. I think that by ignoring the differences in people, we thus invalidate lived experiences and identities that are developed BECAUSE of our very differences! Also, being "colorblind" requires us to be "hush hush" about our differences, and then places a taboo on discussions about race and ethnicity that need to be had. The more that we embrace our differences and the less that we demonize our differences, the more we develop positive self-image and the less we see young people hate themselves. To recognize differences is to learn more about them, understand how they contribute to your awareness about your self, society, and relationships in order to positively contribute to society. AKA THERE IS SO MUCH I CAN SAY ABOUT COLORBLINDNESS! :)
Much love!
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