Race and concepts of racism have changed from the sixteenth to the twenty-first centuries in various ways. Concepts of race have continually transformed and progressed in various ways. According to Dr Cooke’s lecture, in the early sixteenth century, associations of race surfaced with breed, families and lineages. It was important to trace the bloodlines and tracing genealogy. From then onwards especially in the 19th and 20th centuries, more emphasis on race was more on religious descents than on biology (Dr Cooke, The Historical Roots of ‘Race’). For instance, the works of Carolus Linnaeus and Comte de Buffon on classification of living things suggests the concepts of racism based on lineages and biology. Carolus used a system of nature to classification of animals and plants in different categories or races (Race the Power of an Illusion clip 2). The slave trade influenced most of these changes in the perception of racism. In the sixteenth century, racism surfaced in the slave trade with enforcement of laws. For instance, the formation of The Code Noir of 1685 by the French was a black code that discriminative. The code served as a model for the consequent legislation of slaves under the Spanish and Dutch regimes. The code aimed to increase systemization and bureaucratization (Peabody, and Grinberg 257-259). As such, earlier forms of racism encompassed the use of leadership and military powers to discriminate against others.
According to Dr Cooke’s lecture, in the enlightenment period, race and racism concepts involved the rejection of superstitions and the irrationality of the previous centuries (Dr Cooke, Changing Conceptions of Race in the Era of Enlightenment). Additionally, it involved individual and liberty rights; science and reason applied o study of human and nature affairs. Some of these laws include Jim Crow and Nuremberg’s Laws. According to Dr Cooke lecture, the laws of Jim Crow emphasized that separate individuals were not equal (Dr Cooke, Racialization of Politics & Society). That is; the laws categorized people in different races in terms of color. On the other hand, Nuremberg’s laws did not suggest color but governed interactions between Germans and Jews (The Law for the Protection of German Blood and German Honor). In the mid 20th century, the policy of the National Party of South Africa on color presented the issue of apartheid and races in South Africa. Racism in the consequent centuries involved laws, liberations and freedom movements (Gordon, and Talbot 11-78). For instance, in the late 18th century, there was a proclamation of the people against purchase of freedom slaves in Ecuador. In the standpoint of science in the early 20th century, imperialistic nations felt compelled to justify some of their actions by accounting for their control of other populations or territories. As such, the concepts of racism were consistent with directories of nature.
In conclusion, the understanding of the long-term history of racism can inform policy decisions in various ways. One way in which the history of racism can inform policy decisions today is by acting as a guideline for policy decisions and formations. That is the progress and the transformations of the concepts of racism act as predictor aspects for decision-making. Policy makers today draw upon the historic concepts of race and racism to formulate policies that counter the wrong effects and impacts of historic policies and promote the favorable ones. The historic understanding of racism can inform policy decisions by acting as marking schemes for the existing policies and the intended decisions on policies regarding racism in the society today (Race the Power of an Illusion, Episode 2). Lastly, the issue of freedom and liberty in racism in the later enlightenment periods can provide a basis for the formation of liberalization policies of races.
Bibliography
Dr Cooke, Racialization of Politics & Society
Dr Cooke, Changing Conceptions of Race in the Era of Enlightenment
Dr Cooke, The Historical Roots of ‘Race’
Gordon, Ruth E., and Clive J. Talbot. From Dias to Vorster: Source Material on South African History 1488-1975. Cape Town: Nasou, 1977.
Rice University -- Web Services. "The Law for the Protection of German Blood and German Honor." Accessed November 3, 2014. http://www.owlnet.rice.edu/~rar4619/blood.html.
Peabody, Sea, and Keila Grinberg. "Slavery, Freedom and the Law in Atlantic World." InThe Bedford Series in History and Culture. Boston, MA [etc.]: Bedford Books of St. Martin's Press, 1995.
YouTube. "Race - the Power of an Illusion." Accessed November 3, 2014. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V9YMCKp5myI.
YouTube. "Race the Power of an Illusion clip 2." Accessed November 3, 2014. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GyuKJAG11Cw.
YouTube. "Race the Power of an Illusion, Episode 2." Accessed November 3, 2014. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4UZS8Wb4S5k.
World Book, Inc. "Carolus Linnaeus." In The Natural World. Chicago, IL: World Book, Inc, 2008.
