Introduction to Race and Racial Thinking Flashcards

Vocabulary flashcards defining key concepts and terms related to racial theory, essence, physical appearance, and social construction from the lecture.

Race

The belief that human beings are divided into distinct groups rather than existing solely as a single unified humanity.

Racial Divisions

Conceptual boundaries depicting the idea that humanity is carved into separate groups, emphasizing division rather than unity.

Essence

An essentially nonphysical quality that binds members of the same racial group together and divides them from members of other groups.

Immutability of Race

The concept that a person's racial category and essence are permanent, fundamental, innate, and unchanging from birth to death.

Source of Racial Differences

The racial premise that human differences originate from forces beyond human control, specifically divine intervention and or Mother Nature.

Physical Appearance and Essence Connection

The belief in racial thinking that there is a direct 100% connection between what a person looks like on the outside and who they are on the inside.

Stereotypes

Phrases, words, or associations used to directly connect a person's physical appearance with their internal essence or character.

Racial Profiling

A practice that 100% relies on the assumption that an individual's character, intellectual capacity, morality, or criminality can be determined by their physical appearance.

Physical Appearance as a Tag

A concept quoted from Steve stating that physical appearance is merely a tag or label to be noticed to signal which racial category a person belongs to.

Seeing Through Race

A concept quoted from W. J. P. Mitchell stating that race is not something you look at, but something you see through.

Accurate Rendition of Racial Discrimination

The understanding that discrimination occurs not because of skin color itself, but because skin color is interpreted as communicating something about who a person supposedly is on the inside.

Social Construction of Race

The argument that race is an idea constructed by society with no existence in nature, genetics, or divine intervention.

Natural Reality of Race

The belief that race and racial divisions are naturally existing phenomena created by God, divine intervention, or Mother Nature.