Introduction
Race and ethnicity are aspects of the human identity that have long been complicated and multifaceted. This essay examines the ideas of race and ethnicity while stressing how they are socially constructed and differ. Additionally, it explores the viewpoints of Ronald Takaki, Toni Morrison, and Rose Borunda, all of whom offer insightful analyses of the development of racial and ethnic relations in the United States. The article concludes by discussing the creation of coalitions between anti-racist White and Black citizens as a potent weapon against institutional racism and exploring historical examples of such alliances.
The Concepts of Race and Ethnicity
Societal notions like race and ethnicity shape our perceptions of identity and belonging. I define race as the social classification people receive based on physical characteristics, such as skin tone, facial features, and hair texture. It is critical to understand that race is a construct molded by society’s ideas, conventions, and power dynamics rather than an innate biological trait. The fact that race differs between cultures and historical eras proves how race is socially constructed.
Furthermore, physical characteristics and DNA are not the only factors determining race. Instead, it results from society’s values, expectations, and power relations. Throughout history, the idea of race has been used to group and distinguish people based on perceived physical traits such as skin color, hair texture, and facial features. On a biological level, race is not determined by these physical characteristics.
On the other hand, ethnicity is concerned with the cultural or national affiliations and practices that people identify with. It includes a shared heritage, language, customs, and religion. Unlike race, ethnicity is more malleable and can be adopted or changed throughout a person’s life.
When we consider how racial classifications have evolved through time and differ across various countries, it becomes clear that race is a social construction. For instance, American racial categories have changed dramatically due to social and political situations. Further demonstrating the arbitrary nature of racial categorization based on genetic differences is the finding that racial groups exhibit more genetic variability within them than between them in genetic research.
Race and Ethnic Relations in the United States
Ronald Takaki’s View
The history of racial and ethnic relations in the US is greatly illuminated by scholars like Toni Morrison, Ronald Takaki, and Borunda. Takaki’s work emphasizes marginalized groups’ perspectives and shows how racism has influenced American culture. He addresses the historical hardships endured by many ethnic and racial groupings in “A Different Mirror: A History of Multicultural America.” Takaki states, “I believe our education system as a whole has not integrated histories of all people, just the Eurocentric view itself and the White-centered view of others” (Takaki, 1993, p.5). Takaki’s book is inspired by the history of American ethnic communities, whose opinions and stories have long since been lost.
Given that democracy is a hallmark of American culture, the majority of white people have benefited from traditional history. A white American perspective also illustrates the investigated experience of the ethnic populations included in the framework. Takaki, who offers a diverse perspective on the cultural history of Americans from African Americans, Native Americans, and Asian Americans, critiques this issue in his speech.
Toni Morrison’s Perspective
American author Toni Morrison was a Nobel Prize and Pulitzer Prize winner. She gained popularity for writing about slavery and African Americans. In the book “Playing in the Dark,” she says that “the distinguishing features of the not-Americans were their slave status, their social status, and their color” (Morrison, 1996). Morrison realized that there was still darkness in the shadows with all her understanding. Especially given that democracy continues to be tested and challenged daily. She describes how black people were viewed as nothing more than enslaved people. That was the situation as it stood.
Borunda’s Insights
Borunda is another person who aids in our understanding of the evolution of racial and ethnic relations in the US. According to Borunda (Borunda, 2020), “slavery sustained itself through structural, social, and psychological forces that granted advantages and privileges for one group, wealthy white elites, while denying basic human rights for other groups.” Here, Borunda describes the role that slavery plays. Everything is in a person’s head. They attempt to exert control over the other person because they believe they are superior to them, which would violate fundamental human rights.
Forming Coalitions Against Institutional Racism
Anti-racist White and Black citizens have occasionally banded together to confront institutional racism. The Civil Rights Movement in the United States in the 1950s and 1960s is one such instance. White friends James Reeb and Viola Liuzzo joined forces with Black leaders like Martin Luther King Jr. to combat segregation and advance equal rights. Their coordinated efforts serve as an example of how interracial partnerships can promote societal change.
In the 19th century, the abolitionist movement saw the formation of another key coalition against institutional racism. African American activists like Frederick Douglass and Sojourner Truth collaborated with white abolitionists like William Lloyd Garrison and Harriet Beecher Stowe in the fight against the institution of slavery. These alliances are powerful examples of how people can work together to confront oppressive regimes.
Conclusion
Social constructs such as race and ethnicity influence how we understand identity and belonging. The writings of Morrison, Takaki, and Borunda offer important insights into the formation and shift in racial and ethnic relations in America, highlighting the importance of recognizing different viewpoints and resolving structural injustices. Furthermore, as the Civil Rights Movement and the abolitionist movement have shown, partnerships between anti-racist White and Black people may be a powerful tool in the fight against institutional racism. They may keep working toward a fairer and inclusive society by acknowledging the manufactured nature of race, facilitating debate, and forging partnerships.
References
Borunda, R. M. (2020). What is the color of your heart: A humanist approach to diversity (3rd ed.). Kendall/Hunt Publishing.
Morrison, T. (1993). Playing in the dark: Whiteness and the literary imagination. Picador.
Takaki, R. T. (1993). A different mirror: A history of multicultural America. Little, Brown and Company.