Introduction to the Philosophy of Race: Racial Integration

Key vocabulary and conceptual terms regarding the philosophical arguments surrounding racial integration, devaluation, and self-worth.

Integration

The joining together of the members of distinct groups into some form of enduring association despite their differing group membership.

Civic integration

A form of integration that includes both legal residency and a disposition to engage with fellow citizens on matters of mutual concern.

School integration

The integration of members of distinct groups within both public and private schools.

Economic integration

The integration of all sectors of an economy so that it functions in a maximally integrated manner.

Residential integration

The integration of distinct groups within residential neighbourhoods.

Psychological integration

The psychological orientation, on the part of members of some group, of feeling a part of some other group.

Assimilation

The process, or end result of the process, whereby a person or group of persons loses the distinctive behaviour, outlook, and values of one group and gains those of another.

Stigmatization

One of two aspects of black devaluation involving negative stereotypes, interpersonal rejection, and various forms of discrimination.

Phenotypic Devaluation (PD)

The aesthetic judgement that characteristically black phenotypic traits, such as dark skin, are less attractive than non-black ones.

Relational Value

A measure of how much a group is affectively, or non-instrumentally, valued by others.

Self-esteem

The aspect of self-worth that concerns how we feel about ourselves.

Group-level self-protective strategies

Tactics that include attributing negative outcomes to group-level inequality, devaluing dominant attributes where the group fares poorly, and using ingroup members for comparison.

Self-respect

The aspect of self-worth that indisposes one to act in certain ways or tolerate certain forms of treatment perceived as beneath them.

Acceptance of inferiority

A state where parties in an unequal position accept the inferior place they are assigned in a relationship, even if not accompanied by specific feelings of inferiority.

Luxury belief

Sundstrom's description of anti-integrationism as a belief entertained with little cost by privileged people, while the actual costs are paid by those suffering from structural injustice.