I recall reading this article, Omi and Winant's Racial Formations with Jeffry in American Pluralism. We discussed how racism is a socially constructed concept that is now etched deep within our society that there is no real plausible way to get rid of it. I feel that 'race' is really a social phenomenon. It's a way for us to separate ourselves (or distinguish ourselves) from one another.
It's incredible to know that even in the 80's, the Louisiana government refused to change Susie Guillory Phipp's racial classification from "black to white". A law from the 70's (which is extremely backward) states that "anyone with at least 1/32 'Negro blood' is constituted as 'black'. Who is to judge one's race except for themselves? Take a look at Brazil. Brazilian racial classification is based on self-classification and is established on physical appearance and not of hereditary traits, leading to self "whitening".
Omi and Winant writes, "Once we understand that race overflows the boundaries of skin color, super-exploitation, social stratification, discrimination and prejudice, cultural domination and cultural resistance... it becomes possible to speak of racial formation." Racial formation, being, the realization that race is a social construct and nothing more... Unfortunately for the world, ignorant people will continue to use race as a biological concept to create false ideas of superiority over certain groups of human beings.
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