WHAT IS RACE?
Question: How has your theme shaped American history in the past 40+ years (1970-2014)?
Thesis: For the past 40 years racism is fading with more scientific evidence and knowledge about race, whilst the past minorities start becoming Americas majority. Although there may seem as if there could be high optimism for America's future regarding the complete disappearance of race, there are still issues regarding racism today. For example, Arab Americans still get screened at airport security due to racial profiling, that began after 9/11 events. Although the amount of racism in America may be dissipating with more factual and societal knowledge, there are still problems in our society today.
Thesis: For the past 40 years racism is fading with more scientific evidence and knowledge about race, whilst the past minorities start becoming Americas majority. Although there may seem as if there could be high optimism for America's future regarding the complete disappearance of race, there are still issues regarding racism today. For example, Arab Americans still get screened at airport security due to racial profiling, that began after 9/11 events. Although the amount of racism in America may be dissipating with more factual and societal knowledge, there are still problems in our society today.
Why focus on government, science & society rather than individual ethnic groups? Government, science and society are all groups that intertwine with each other when it comes to understanding the concept of race/racism. In order to have a broader understanding of racism as a whole, there needs to be an understanding of how society acts, what the government reactions are, as well as what scientific evidence tells humans about race and racism. All 3 concepts blended together create an understanding of race and racism as a whole.
Racism: Racism also known as racialism is prejudice and discrimination against a different race on the based on the superiority of the other individuals race.
Race: Groups of people who have similar or different biological traits between them. These traits (such as skin color) are socially significant and therefore cause people to treat each other differently.
Ethnicity: Belonging to a social group that has the same region of birth, cultural or traditional values.
Race: Groups of people who have similar or different biological traits between them. These traits (such as skin color) are socially significant and therefore cause people to treat each other differently.
Ethnicity: Belonging to a social group that has the same region of birth, cultural or traditional values.
Watch the video clip below to understand the difference between race and ethnicity clearer.
Ethnicity vs. Race
Ethnicity - Cultural/ancestral background - shared cultural traits
Race - Based on physical appearance - shared biological traits
When a group of people categorize themselves in an ethnic group, they are categorizing themselves in a group where they share the same cultural background. On the other hand when individuals categorize themselves in a race, they are categorizing themselves based on the color of their skin, or any other physical traits. There has always been confusion between these 2 terms and what the divide between them is.
Overall when people categorize themselves into a racial category, they are identifying themselves by how they feel in terms of belonging, or where they feel society thinks they belong.
Ethnicity - Cultural/ancestral background - shared cultural traits
Race - Based on physical appearance - shared biological traits
When a group of people categorize themselves in an ethnic group, they are categorizing themselves in a group where they share the same cultural background. On the other hand when individuals categorize themselves in a race, they are categorizing themselves based on the color of their skin, or any other physical traits. There has always been confusion between these 2 terms and what the divide between them is.
Overall when people categorize themselves into a racial category, they are identifying themselves by how they feel in terms of belonging, or where they feel society thinks they belong.
Image Citations:
V i r á g. "black & white." We Heart It. N.p., n.d. Web. 22 May 2014.
<http://weheartit.com/entry/115843492/
search?context_&context_user=vvasas11&query=racism>.
Video Citations:
Laurambrody. Race and Ethnicity. YouTube. N.p., 27 Oct. 2010. Web. 22 May 2014.
<https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aDz3BJDPXHA#t=45>.
V i r á g. "black & white." We Heart It. N.p., n.d. Web. 22 May 2014.
<http://weheartit.com/entry/115843492/
search?context_&context_user=vvasas11&query=racism>.
Video Citations:
Laurambrody. Race and Ethnicity. YouTube. N.p., 27 Oct. 2010. Web. 22 May 2014.
<https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aDz3BJDPXHA#t=45>.