Introduction
Racialization is essentially the historical and social process of assigning groups and people a social status and racial identity. This process therefore produces a racialized society that is characterized by residential segregation low intermarriage, and socioeconomic inequality. These 3 characteristics of a racialized society are in fact the norm. Creation of social status and social identity comprises a series of the political processes that actually construct ethnic meanings, shape groups and peoples identities, then place them into the positions of dominated and the dominance. It is interesting to note that racialization processes are normally legitimized by ideologies then operate in several institutional arrangements or systems, which are the basis of our society. For example, according to Omi and Winant, “Racialization is an ideological process, a historically specific one.” (Omi and Winant, 5)
The U.S. Congress passed the Chinese Exclusion Act of 1882. This Act was in fact the initial significant law, which restricted immigration into U.S. of a racial working group. In addition, this Act was first in series of executive, judicial, and legislative acts by United States government in late 19th century and early 20th century that set official immigration policies, which various scholars, average citizens, and historians consider as racist. For that reason, early immigrants were racialized through the political processes (Omi and Winant, 5). The Act provided ten year moratorium on the Chinese labor immigration. Moreover, this Act required the non-labors from China who desired to migrate to the United States obtain certification from their home government, which affirmed that they were indeed qualified to migrate.
Since this Act defined excludable as the Chinese who were employed in the mining and unskilled and skilled laborers, not many Chinese were eligible to enter into United States under 1882 law. Those who were residing in the United States also under this Act faced new requirements. They were required to obtain the re-entry certification whenever they left the country. Furthermore, Congress refused Federal and State courts right to award U.S. citizenship to the Chinese resident aliens. In addition, these courts also had legal power of deporting Chinese from United States.
In 1892, this Act expired but was extended for ten years by the Congress through Geary Act. In 1902, through a Congressional action, the Act was made permanent. It added more restrictions as it required every Chinese resident living in United States to acquire a residency certificate to avoid the legal act resulting in deportation (Omi and Winant, 6). However, the Act was at last repealed by the Congress in 1943. From this discussion, it is understandable that this Act reveals that racialization process is legitimized through ideologies and political processes as the Act itself was a product of social and political processes.
Racialization had an impact on the early Chinese Americans politically, socially, and economically (San Francisco State University, 82). Politically, they could not participate in political activities as these rules were made for them without being consulted. In addition, they were barred from exercising their democratic rights as they could not vote. Economically, they were exploited as those who were allowed to live in the U.S were either those working in mining or unskilled and skilled laborers. This means that low quality jobs with meager wages were reserved for them, which demonstrates that they were economically exploited. Furthermore, they met economic barriers on their way, which made it difficult for them to return home. For instance, the following quotation proves that the Chinese Americans were exploited economically. “However, the economic reality caused many to realize that they would not be able to return home financially secure.” (Danico and NG, 10).
Socially, they were not allowed to maintain ties with their fellow Chinese Americans at home they were viewed as potential threats or spies (Danico and NG, 10). In addition, when they tried to acculturate or assimilate in U.S. they were regarded as foreigners and aliens hence this affected them socially. These examples reveal racialization process and outcome as the minority race is the one that suffers.
Works cited
San Francisco State University. (2009). At 40: Asian American studies @ San Francisco State: self-determination, community, student service. San Francisco, CA: Asian American Studies Dept., San Francisco State University
Omi, M., & Winant, H. (1994). Racial formation in the United States: From the 1960s to the 1990s. New York: Routledge
Danico, M. Y., & Ng, F. (2004). Asian American issues. Westport, Conn: Greenwood Press.
