The Ambiguity Surrounding Racism - Assignment Example

Race Race is one of the oldest social perceptions used to ify people into different categories within a given society. In the modern world race is controversial especially in relation to its meaning having scored different interpretations across the globe. This can be attributed to the fact that race has evolved over time gaining different definitions. However, race generally cuts across dividing people into groupings with each group having people who share some similarities. More particularly race has been associated with physical features evident to the human eye. Nonetheless, despite there being several different physical traits, racial groupings are seeming based on skin color. As a result of these social division, there emerges a new paradigm, racism, which exerts prejudice and discrimination. Racism is advanced under the assumptions that some races are stronger and more superior to the others. For example, the notion that white people are superior to black people. In a bid to resolve the ambiguity surrounding racism, it is important to delve into an analysis of the history of race based on the works of Lipsitz, Omi and Winant. The illusionary state of race has prompted different standings with considerations of race as either being ideological or an objective condition. However, Omi and Winant differ with both of these considerations simultaneously drawing their own conclusion based on the origins of race. Race has seemingly a rich history and no specific date and time can be allocated to the start of race. For instance, Field’s efforts to place the start of race in the 17th century in the Northern American colonies is met by unending critic since there are prints of race long before. According to Omi and Winant the theory of race must “apply to the contemporary political relationships, increasingly global context, and across historical time” (Omi and Winant, p.5). This implies that the constraints of race re embedded in these three conditions and an effort to evade them would lead to an absurd conclusion. Additionally, changes taking place in issues revolving around race have contributed to greatly in creating a different perspective towards race. In the past race was seemingly inevitable due to the notion that it was a natural condition. Conversely, in the modern day race is perceived as a subordinate to supposedly more concrete material relationships (Omi and Winant, p.7). As such, Omi and Winant argue that the current definition of race may on the verge of extinction paving way to a different view. In this new view race may be regarded as a mere infinite difference among humans rather than a tool of separation and different identities. Conversely, Lipsitz focuses on the racial differences between whites and blacks particularly in America. Conflict of interests between whites and black people has been in existence in America for a long time and even in the modern day. In this context, race is encrypted in a seemingly different kind of illusion, one that seeks to hide racism in entirety. This comes as a result of inversion of the problem where racism is seen as a white problem rather than a black problem. This is to say that racism is not as a result of whites’ behaviors but rather as a result of blacks’ existence in “whites’ residence”, America. This implies that America is meant to be inhabited by whites rather than blacks. As a result of this encryption, solving issues of racism is somewhat difficult since whiteness does not exist. Additionally, Lipsitz argues that “race is a cultural construct with sinister structural causes and consequences” (Lipsitz, p.62). Moreover, Lipsitz acknowledges that the development of race is deeply rooted in its history. In America, racism started from the colonial times and has been facilitated by the unending efforts to invest in white possession. The end result of this investment is the perception that white Americans are superior to black Americans. This possessive investment in whiteness form Lipsitz’s main argument and approach towards racism. Investing in whiteness creates room for victimization and exploitation of all other groups that are not white. For example, “slave trade mainly focused on exploiting blacks and its abolition saw importation of low wage labour from Asia”. Similarly, prevention of “importation form Asia set stage for utilization of low wage labour from Mexico” (Lipsitz, p.62). Although racism is attributed to investment in whiteness, it is relatively hard to bring it to an end due to the fact that the investment is acknowledged. This is to say that racism may be considered a mere façade representing the investment in whiteness. The two reference materials used in this paper in describing and analyzing race are seemingly in agreement. Although both works take different approaches towards race, they agree that race is deeply rooted in its history. However, Omi and Winant argue that the formation of race is intertwined to contemporary political relationships, increasingly global context, and historical time. The contemporary political relationships are directly linked to the postcolonial power influences. This is to say that racial antagonism is advanced on the lines of political interests within the international political sphere. To some extent this is in correspondence with Lipsitz’s argument though from a political perspective. Investment in whiteness has touched on different spheres including political. This is displayed in the colonial period where whites sought to exert dominance in different parts of the world. Increased global context as advanced by Omi and Winant is a reflection of the changing dynamics of racism. For instance globalization has resulted in new forms of racism being extended to different groups such as Latinos and Asians. This can be attributed to the increased interactions leading to the “rise of a “diasporic” model of blackness hence the creation of pan-ethnic communities such as Latinos and Asians in US and UK” (Omi and Winant, p.5). Omi and Winant arguments correspond to Lipsitz’s in that “non-white races are subject to stigmatization and exploitation while simultaneously preserving the value of whiteness” (Lipsitz, p.63). In relation to historical time, race has taken different forms over the years changing from a seemingly natural essence to more concrete material relationship. However, racism is seemingly unending due to the necessity to develop some form of division and category among people. A comparison of the two works of reference, it is clear that although the authors have different approaches, they share the same perspective. Although Lipsitz has mainly focused American context, he seems to have a more detailed and direct approach that is evident even in the modern world. As such Lipsitz work arguably gives better understanding of racism. Nevertheless, racism has no strong foundations and it is a mere social perception created to advance selfish interests. This is because there is scientific proof of superiority based on skin color or any other racial foundation whatsoever. This is to say that all people regardless of social stratifications have equal potential and the only difference is available opportunities. An evaluation on the most prevalent form of racism between black people and white people, it is evident that the capabilities of the two groups are equal. However, just as advanced by Lipsitz, the difference is development ratio that can be attributed to investment in whiteness. Colonization derailed the rate of development in many parts of the world giving the West a better opportunity of development. This implies that presentation of equal opportunities for all racial groups would result into equal development unlike the situation today. In fact, a look at today’s scenario there is increased competition in relation to development with some countries that have a higher percentage being inhabited by non-whites reaching great development levels. As such all people regardless of the racial ties are equal. Conclusively, race does not signify superiority but rather it is a mere social perception seeking to advance discrimination and prejudice. However, race has always been an elusive social perception due to its evolvement with time implying that there is no universal definition of race. The difference in development is attributed to imbalance of resources and opportunities. Additionally, racism is fueled greatly by concentration on one particular race hence giving it an advantage over the years consequently giving the impression that it is superior. Furthermore, there is no scientific proof that a particular race that is superior to the others. Therefore, racism is an illusion and cannot be held responsible for intelligence and general developmental difference. Works Cited Omi, Michael and Howard Winant. “On the Theoretical Status of the Concept of Race”. Lipsitz, George. “The possessive Investment in Whiteness”. Read More