Elena Lazarova
Race is defined by some of the dictionaries as a group of people related by common descent or heredity. Surprisingly race is a new terminology in our vocabularies. Years ago people were not divided based on their origin and skin color. However, in a certain period in history race became something that defined us as humans or less then humans. Before the creation of slavery, it was considered that all man were equal. In order to use people as slaves the white man invented the terminology," less than a human being" for the African descent people who were brought to the new land and forced to be slaves. Race then became power for some and misery for others. Race then was a factor that could determine people's life to the point where someone could decide who is human and who is not.
Unfortunately, discrimination based on race continued even after the Civil War, when slavery was officially banned. Racism still existed. In the beginning of the 20th century segregation was a huge part of people's everyday life.Blacks and Whites had to go to different restaurants, attend different schools and use different bathrooms. Mainly in the South part of the United States people organized strikes with slogans like, " Stop race mixing ! ".During the 1960's institutional discrimination took the lead. The system was build like that so loans were given mostly to white families.They could purchase houses in the rich Suburbia or the green lining area. While blacks were forced to settle down in the red lining area, where the region was poor, taxes were low and education system was not that developed. Back then race determined who could have the chance to live the American Dream, which during this time period meant living in the Suburbia, and who could not.
Nowadays, race seems to be less meaningful than it used to be. However, the key word is "seems". Racism is not directly shown but is existing under the radar. Some people are still part of anti-racial organizations that provoke only hatred and anger. Historian Robin Kelley said, " Racism is not about how you look;it is about how people assign meaning to how you look". The story of race is complex and may challenge how we think about race and humans. The main question is,"What is race" ? Are we really so different" ? Race is just an illusion created by the human kind. People always wanted to be different, that is why people created race.So we can de different and unique. Unfortunately, that provoked moments in our history that we should be ashamed of. Race is something that define us, whether we like it or not. Race is an assigned status that nobody could change. All we could change is our own perception about race. "What is race" ? Race is just one word that has no power, until the moment we decide to make it powerfull.
Race is defined by some of the dictionaries as a group of people related by common descent or heredity. Surprisingly race is a new terminology in our vocabularies. Years ago people were not divided based on their origin and skin color. However, in a certain period in history race became something that defined us as humans or less then humans. Before the creation of slavery, it was considered that all man were equal. In order to use people as slaves the white man invented the terminology," less than a human being" for the African descent people who were brought to the new land and forced to be slaves. Race then became power for some and misery for others. Race then was a factor that could determine people's life to the point where someone could decide who is human and who is not.
Unfortunately, discrimination based on race continued even after the Civil War, when slavery was officially banned. Racism still existed. In the beginning of the 20th century segregation was a huge part of people's everyday life.Blacks and Whites had to go to different restaurants, attend different schools and use different bathrooms. Mainly in the South part of the United States people organized strikes with slogans like, " Stop race mixing ! ".During the 1960's institutional discrimination took the lead. The system was build like that so loans were given mostly to white families.They could purchase houses in the rich Suburbia or the green lining area. While blacks were forced to settle down in the red lining area, where the region was poor, taxes were low and education system was not that developed. Back then race determined who could have the chance to live the American Dream, which during this time period meant living in the Suburbia, and who could not.
Nowadays, race seems to be less meaningful than it used to be. However, the key word is "seems". Racism is not directly shown but is existing under the radar. Some people are still part of anti-racial organizations that provoke only hatred and anger. Historian Robin Kelley said, " Racism is not about how you look;it is about how people assign meaning to how you look". The story of race is complex and may challenge how we think about race and humans. The main question is,"What is race" ? Are we really so different" ? Race is just an illusion created by the human kind. People always wanted to be different, that is why people created race.So we can de different and unique. Unfortunately, that provoked moments in our history that we should be ashamed of. Race is something that define us, whether we like it or not. Race is an assigned status that nobody could change. All we could change is our own perception about race. "What is race" ? Race is just one word that has no power, until the moment we decide to make it powerfull.
Jennifer V, I totally agree with you in term of race and on how race is just one word that has no power until someone decides to make it powerful. Race should be seen as someone status and color because like you said race make us all look different rather than everyone just being one race its cool that we have a varied of type of race. Sometime people view race and decided to be ignorant and judgemental about others when we are all humans being, and some people just take race to a whole nothing level such as, being racist. In the past many school were segregated, restaurants ,and bathroom were also segregated which is really sad. Race shouldn't be discriminated ,but people still continue to be racist.I also agree when you said race defines who we are whether we like it or not. Overall great blog I really enjoyed reading it.
ReplyDeleteRyan Laverty
ReplyDeleteI recently read a book on racial segregation called Levittown by David Kushner. It told the story of two families dealing with discrimination in Levittown, a suburb of Philadelphia. At the end the author notes a scary fact. Levittown is still mostly white and not truly integrated. But the author does go on to note that the suburb is falling apart due to drugs and motorcycle gangs brought by its white suburbanite residents.