Sociologist Michael Omi and Howard Winant put forth the concept of racial project which can be said to involve the instantaneous interpretation of social dynamics and relocation of social resources. Racial project links the meanings people attach to race to the structural experiences of race which can happen both at the macro and micro levels (Michael & Howard, 1994). In the United States, the experience of racism by the blacks can be understood currently and historically as a racial project which is characterized by suspicion and distrust. The U.S census have takes race as a fundamental characteristic of the national population. This is evident from the inclusion of race as a variable in the census from 1790 to present. The race issue has been a major determinant to the way the government and the society and other people perceive a person from a particular race or ethnic group.
According to Omi and Howard, race is a concept which signifies and symbolizes social conflicts and interests by referring to different types of human bodies. However, the concept of race must be understood as an unstable and ‘decentered’ complex of social meanings constantly being transformed by political struggle. It is important to view race as an element of social construction instead of seeing it as an irregularity within it; it is a dimension of human representation rather than an illusion (Michael & Howard, 1994). The society to a greater extent makes us classify people according to race by labeling them. This is particularly evident when we expect a person from a particular race or ethnicity to act or behave in a particular manner. This racial classification and perception which is also incorporated in the government policies has a great influence in the economical, social and political liberty.
The racial description of 1790 to present has been a major setback for the success of some racial groups. This is due to the legislation description that describes one to be from a particular race. The assumption that a particular race is superior to another as it was depicted earlier on has been a major obstacle for the inferior race redemption (Melissa, 2000). The blacks who have been viewed as slaves from time in memorial and even indicated so in the first phase of the U.S national census has limited their economic, social and political success. The concept of free black was not a full citizenship right for the blacks as this did not guarantee their enjoyment and entitlement to the same rights as the whites. This is because the blacks were deemed inferior and unfit for republican life on the ground of race. This has had a long lasting economic impact on the blacks as it is witnessed today as the blacks make up the largest number of citizens living in the ghettos where they are characterized by poverty and crime compared to the whites who have enjoyed the privileges of full citizenship and today their status is well-above the blacks.
The legal system and the government are in the forefront of implementing the racial gap. Looking at the example given by Omi and Howard on Susie Guillory Phipps, we see the role of the constitution in maintaining the racial gap in the United States. The state law that declared anyone with at least 1/ 32nd Negro blood to be black shows to what extent the government is involved in the racial scandal (Michael & Howard, 1994). This implies that at the center of discrimination, political, social and economic handicap of the black people is the government policies and law. These laws and policies ensure that the racial gap is maintained with the interest of the ruling race at heart. This shows that American government is racial and does not recognize the blacks and / or the mulattos as American citizens in the same capacity as the native white Americans. This is based on the long lived theory of the existence of innately and permanently superior and inferior races with the people of black origin dominating the later.
The America census has been previously used by scientists who wanted to prove how the mulattos were a weak hybrid with short life span and infertile. The earlier census were categorical in the inclusion of once race and stating if one was a mulatto- that is a hybrid of the black and white parent. Scientists claimed that the mulattos were infertile and lived a shorter life. All this was carried out in order to show that the white and blacks were different racial species (Melissa, 2000). The mulatto category however was useful in the racial theorizing which by 1930 the definition of non-white categories became consistent with legal definition of non-white racial membership. All this racial views, definitions and their influence on the government policies formulation and debate has a direct influence on the resource distribution. The government biasness on racial bases is a key determinant to the position one holds in the society socially, economically and politically. This discrimination by far is a negative power that has been inflicted on the perceived inferior race thus they are forgotten and inadequately involved in government policy formulation. Consequently, this is reflected in their social status and well-being. It is therefore clear that there is a big racial gap between the races.
As opposed to the historical racial discrimination in the U.S government, the French government has been in the forefront in fighting such discrimination. As a result, the French citizens enjoy equal rights regardless of the race or ethnicity (Vernellia, 2011). Whereas the citizens in both countries view the minority race as prone top crime, the French government unlike the U.S.A has put constitutional measures that aim at protecting the minorities. In so doing, all citizens in France, including the minorities, are fully protected by the constitution. Contrary to this is the exposure of the minorities in the U.S where the constitution has been used as a tool of discrimination and the government formulating policies that are not all inclusive.
Since 1789 Declaration of the Rights of Man, France has been developing laws and policies that are aimed at eliminating racial discrimination. This was empowered by the Penal code enacted in 1994 which was against any racial discriminatory act or practice. This includes the neither prohibition of data that distinguishes origin, religion or race (Vernellia, 2011). The French constitution on Article 2 eliminates even the idea of minorities therefore promoting the idea of equality in all racial or ethnic groups. In so doing, the French citizens enjoy equal rights and protection by the government as opposed to the minorities in the United States. As a result, no one is left out in the social, political and/ or economical liberty since the political and legal environment permit and protect one’s activities and therefore offers a better arena in achieving success.
Works Cited
Melissa Nobles: "History Counts: A Comparative Analysis of Racial/Color Categorization in US and Brazilian Censuses." American Journal of Public Health Vol, 90.11 (2000)
Michael Omi & Howard Winant: "Racial Formation in the United States from the 1960s to the 1990s." Inequality Reader: Contemporary & Foundational Readings in Race, Class, & Gender. Perseus Books Group, 1994. Print.
Vernellia R. Randall: "Racial Discrimination: The Record of France." Auto redirect to main site: The University of Dayton, 2011. Web 17 Dec. 2013. <http://academic.udayton.edu/race/06hrights/georegions/Europe/France01.htm>.
