Race

Jessica Trudeau Professor Cameron Principles of Sociology 19 November 2019 Part A Race is defined as a socially constructed category based on the belief in fundamental human differences associated with phenotypes and ancestry (Giddens et al 8936). Phenotypes are the visual biological difference between us such as eye color and skin color. So why do we treat people with different skin color differently than someone with different eye color? It’s just the phenotype. Racism is a learned behavior. The real part of “race” is that biologically we are different, but there are so many other ways to biologically that we are different, such as our hair color but we don’t have a race for people with red hair. To me the unreal part of race is the social and political construct being biologically different has on us. Are we not more evolved than classifying someone based on their skin color? Part B The theory of racial formation is the process by which social, economic and political forces determine the content of importance of racial categories, and by which they are shaped into racial meanings (Giddens et al 9031). According to this theory political actor have a big part in creating racial categories and ideologies. Learning this scares me due to the racism our current present has already expressed. Do I think we expect these relationships to improve as we go forward? Yes, I truly hope so. There have been many strides towards but racial equality but it will of course take time. I think we need more open minded leaders to set a great example. Political views aside, we need our president to be a decent human being. He represents us and our country to the world. Trump launched his campaign in 2015 by calling Mexican immigrants “rapists” who are “bringing crime” and “bringing drugs” to the US (Lopez 1). How is that proper representation of a country that ended slavery and is labeled the land of the free, and the home of the brave. Sure come to America and you can be free, but at what cost? Ridicule, constant mistreatment from neighbors and the authorities. On the other hand to be truly equal minority races have to stop getting preferential treatment while going for a job. Isn’t it racist to pick someone based on the color of their skin to boost minority numbers within a company? Instances such as this are why we are not truly equal. I don’t believe in my life we will achieve racial equality but working with community members seen as most effective tactic to increase equality according to a study. “While fewer say bringing people of different racial backgrounds together to talk about race (38%), working to get more black people elected to office (28%), or organizing protest and rallies (11%) would be very effective. (Achieving Racial Equality 1)” Once we come to the realization race is nothing but a biological phenotype, and behavior is learned no matter what race you are, then maybe we can become truly equal. Work Cited “Achieving Racial Equality.” Pew Research Center's Social & Demographic Trends Project, 27 June 2016, www.pewsocialtrends.org/2016/06/27/4-achieving-racial-equality/. Giddens et al., Anthony. Essentials of Sociology, 7th ed., W. W. Norton & Company, Inc, 2019. Lopez, German. “Donald Trump's Long History of Racism, from the 1970s to 2019.” Vox, Vox, 15 July 2019, www.vox.com/2016/7/25/12270880/donald-trump-racist-racism-history.