When you think of race what is the first attribute that comes to mind For
me it use to be skin color. After going into further analysis on race I began
to understand that there are many attributes that contribute to race other
than skin color. A man named Robert Miles has a book in which he explains
why he puts "race" in quotations. Miles makes the argument that race is
not an object by itself but that there are many factors that can contribute
to ones race. Miles believes that there is a social construction for race
which requires and explanation. Miles talks about the process of
"racialization", in which race is formed by specific economic, political and
ideological relations.
During one of my University classes we looked at how "racialization" is
a process and a revolving circle. In this circle biological ideals of race lead
preconceived notions to cultural ideas of race, which leads to people
believing "race" is fixed to certain bodies (skin color/shape of skull) and
eventually social exclusion/material inequality. As a result of this revolving
circle the white British/Europeans were able to control the public's view on
people from different "races" (Africans, Natives). The view of the Africans,
Indians and even Irish was negative thus they were seen as inferior to the
brilliant Europeans, as a result the inferior struggled with poverty,
inequalities and lack of freedom. The Europeans compared pictures of the
Irish, African's and Europeans, in which there were some clear distinctions
in facial features and skin pigment. It is important to point out that these
differences were often over exaggerated. Due to these distinctions the
Europeans justified that they were the elite/superior and the other "races"
were inferior. If we continued that biased judgment on "race" today
anyone who did not look like a typical European would be viewed as
inferior and isolated into discrimination.
We cannot make a class system through the judgment of someone's
biological make up. One example we see today is our police force; if they
only relied on arresting people with dark skin then there would be a
countless number of innocent people going to jail while a "typical white
Canadian" could commit crimes and bring no attention. A common term
related to when police officers judge someone based on their skin color is
DWB (Driving While Black) this term has been coined after an increase in
racial profiling. The police force has taken much heat over the controversy
of a preconceived notion based on someones skin color.You cannot know
someone's race just though biology it is important to look deeper into
their social, political and ideological functions of race.
Races do not exist in isolation or in any objective reality, but are part
of the social and political life of nations. You cannot know someone or
judge someone solely on the pigment of their skin or what they look like.
Whoever it is whatever their skin color it is more important to realize you
don't know someone until you know their actions, culture, ideology and
social values.