Race, Ethnicity, Caste, and Class (week 8)

E.B. Taylor's view on societies

All societies were essentially alike and could be ranked by their different levels of cultural advancement.

Scientific Racism

19th-century belief that race is biological and that racial categories can predict behavior.

W.E.B. Dubois on race

Concerned that race was misused as a biological explanation for social and cultural differences; advocated that there is no genetic basis for 'race'.

Phenotype

An individual's phenotype is the result of interaction between genes, environmental factors, and random variation.

Spencer's 'survival of the fittest'

The belief that species strive for self-preservation through competition, leading to a 'winner' best suited for survival.

Genotype vs phenotype

Genotype is the genetic 'blueprint' inherited from parents; phenotype is the physical expression affected by environmental factors.

Race and Imperialism

Science of 'race' used to justify imperialism by alleging the intellectual inferiority of non-Europeans.

Social Darwinism

Theories applying concepts of natural selection and survival of the fittest to sociology, economics, and politics.

Domination in racial contexts

Practices of dominant groups support beliefs in the racial inferiority of others.

Racialization process

The social and political process of ascribing identities to groups based on observable traits.

Ideology of 'race'

Dividing the immense diversity of humanity into categories.

U.S. Racialization Processes

Includes concepts like the 'one drop rule' for afrodescendants and 'blood quantum' for Native Americans.

Contradictions in U.S. Racialization

'One drop rule' condemns any African heritage while 'blood quantum' restricts access to rights based on Indigenous heritage.

George J. Sefa Dei's view on race

Racism creates the perception of race as 'real'.

Systemic racism

Ways in which whiteness and white superiority are embedded in institutional policies.