In this post I want to examine the term racialize. From what I understand, to racialize is to categorize or divide individuals according to race. Now, "divide" can very in terms of definition, whether it be to physically put individuals into groups and discriminate due to racial identity, or it could simply acknowledge someone's race compared to another's. I think that this term can be applied to a quite naïve approach to the term racialize, which Kanjere refers to as "colour blindness: the 'kumbaya approach'". Basically, this approach to race is to completely ignore color at all, and pretend we are all just one happily unified race. Or as Kanjere notes, these responses frequently to, "skin color (which should be ignores), humanity (which should come together) and divisiveness (which should be avoided)" (Kanjere 2164). Although this Kumbaya approach sounds great in theory, it totally diminishes the experiences of race and culture as their own identity.
If we do not acknowledge race, or categorize ourselves into racial groups, we are not able to recognize each person as their own. We are not giving each race their own story or their own experience. Even if there are not always positive connotations associated with racial divide, we still can not ignore these groups as their own. We have to be aware of what certain racial groups have been through in order to make sure that it never happens again. We have to celebrate race rather than think of it as a bad thing. Although this may not be historically true, we must practice harmony in difference.
Anastasia Kanjere (2019) Defining race privilege on the Internet: how whiteness uses innocence discourse online, information, Communication & Society, 22:14, 3156-2170, DOI: 10.1080/1369118X.2018.1477972
It's so important to acknowledge people's positionality in any given situation. I think when SOME people in the past first used the term "color-blindness", it didn't have ignorant intent. I think people thought that term was a good way to say the way someone looks doesn't affect me and I treat all people the same. Which, is great in a way, but that way of thinking simultaneously ignores all the good things someone brings to the table based on the fact that they look different than you. I remember the famous interview with conservative analyst Tomi Lahren first say she "doesn't seen color". That gained a lot of support but even more backlash as people therefore criticized her for not being able to recognize people's cultures, histories, and positionalities. Our world needs more and more diversity of thought, opinions, and perspectives represented in all areas, but particularly in situations of power, therefore being "color-blind" is no longer acceptable.
ReplyDeleteWithin society we define different races by color, which I am not a fan of. Rather than determine races through color we should embrace the different cultures that each person brings to society. It is important to recognize different races because it adds culture from the specific background of each person. I agree that it starts with the recognition of each group and the story that they have to tell. We should always listen before we feel the need to add to the conversation. History tells us a story of a person and race, what they have been through, accomplished and succeeded at. Instead of characterize people by the color of their skin, I would rather recognize them by what they have to add to our world. We need to welcome people of all colors to accomplish the color blind perspective. The identity of each race is important therefor we must embrace all.
ReplyDeleteWhat I would like to add to the conversation is that I hear so much about race problems in our country but not as much in others. This surprises me because we are known for accepting everybody and live in the most racially diverse country in the world. Why is it so hard for us here in America to accept people of different color. I'm sure there are problems worldwide but I don't hear as much about those then I do here.