Question one
Racism is an aspect that has become part and parcel of our daily lives today. People view the world regarding the aspect of race. Racism is what differentiates the people into categories: Black, white, Asian, and others. The way people view and take each other is what affects the various aspects of their daily lives, that is, the job place, kind of friends, schools to attend, as well as money people makes. All these aspects are affected by the one social construction that is the race.
The power of illusion documentary series shows how racism has gone a greater extent in most of our cultures in today’s society. Part three of the series demonstrates the institutionalization of race as well as the marginalization of the various ethnic groups during the 20th century in the American society. The speaker in 9 Teds Talk comes out clearly to share some of her experiences concerning the aspect of the racism. At some point before delivering her speech, some her friends advised her not to discuss the topic of the race claiming that it might go to the extent of ending her career. She clearly shows the far-reaching effect of racism in the United States is being felt daily by the minority. Out of the thousands of the publicly traded companies in the United States only two as a matter of fact are chaired by the black women, the speaker being one of them (Hobson, 2014). To her there it is not a matter of questioning the existence of institutionalized discrimination in the country. She remembers in her early stages of life when she would go to a party on arriving home her mother would ask her how she was treated.
According to Omi and Winant, Racial Formation comprises the forces that determine the various content as well as the importance of the various racial categories.
Question two
Race is a social construction that is real in our society and has serious consequences. In America, the whites are the dominant group while the non-whites are the minority. If you are black consequently because of your complexity, you are inferior to the white person. The minority groups are always alienated and subordinated by the dominant group especially when it comes to issues dealing with power and privileges. Minorities are often characterized by the unfair treatment, alienation, and widespread classification regarding race, ethnic groupings, religious groupings, and gender difference. The social construction of race in America today has great influence on the power and privileges that the America people are exposed the minority being affected adversely. They are subordinate when it comes to the aspects of power and privileges. After watching 9 Ted talks, the speaker clearly demonstrates clearly how the aspect of the social construction of race in America when it comes to the issue of power. Out of the thousands of publicly traded companies in the United States only just two of them are chaired by the black women. This shows how the minority are significantly sidelined when it comes to aspects of being given positions of power. She stresses on the subject of racial diversity in the different corporation. The aspect of racial diversification can be a hard, awkward, and uncomfortable to many.
Omi and Winant (1986) in their article demonstrate the view of the social constructs including slavery. The non-whites were regarded as inferiors and were subordinates to the whites (Omi et al, 1994). Under such conditions, they were made subjects and worked under instructions enjoying little or even no privileges at all.
Question three
Social institutions comprise all aspects ranging from parenting, formal and informal institution, and culture aspect. Social institutions play a very significant role in the social construction of race. Our social institution solely relies on the aspects culture, religion as well as the historic achievements. All these aspects play a very critical part in the creation of the race differences. Very few people do and have the desire to explore and know what is contained in other people's culture. What the majority do is just to deploy their pre-conceived notion of how the other people are and should be. People do not want to acknowledge and embrace each other’s difference.
Majority of the social institution in the world today and not only in the United States do not respect the aspect of diversity. The minority are always alienated and discriminated in nearly all aspects. The speaker in 9 Ted talk talks of these two aspects color blind and color brave. Color blind is what is making the people see others regarding their race, ethnicity, religion, and color. Color brave is the aspect of seeing the best in somebody irrespective of their originality or color.
Children learn from what they see their parents doing. Children brought up by parents who despise people of other cultures there will be higher chances that they children will also develop negative attitude towards other people. Racism is a social construct that is nurtured slowly and greatly determined by the social institutions that are put in place. Children learn from what they see their parents doing.
Community’s norms and values also play a very critical role in the construction of race as a social construct. Norms and values do greatly influence the behavior of a person. Therefore such aspects despising others based on color can be as a result of the level and rigidity of the community’s norms and values.
References
Hobson, M. (2014, March). Color blind or color brave? [Video file]. Retrieved from
http://ted.com/playlists/250/talks_to_help_you_understand_r
Omi, M., & Winant, H. (1994). Racial formation in United States (2nd ed.). Retrieved from http://homepage.smc.edu/delpiccolo_guido/Soc34/Soc34readings/omiandwinant.pdf
The power of illusion. (2003). Newsreel.org. Race
