Want to Be Less Racist? Move to Hawaii - Notes

Introduction: Kristin Pauker's Experience

Kristin Pauker, a psychology professor of mixed ancestry (Japanese, Italian-Irish), encountered racial categorization at Dartmouth that differed from her experiences in Hawaii. "I grew up as a mixed-race person in Hawaii, which is to say that I grew up as a person," she recalls.
In Hawaii, being mixed was common and people of different ethnicities socialized together. "It wasn’t that race didn’t exist," she explains. "It’s that people of different races socialized and partnered with one another."
At Dartmouth, there was self-segregation among racial groups. "I began to notice that people sat with their own kind in the dining hall," Pauker observes.

Pauker's Research on Essentialist Thinking

Pauker's study explored when children start expressing essentialist views of race, which psychologists believe enables racism. "When do kids start expressing the essentialist ideas about race that psychologists believe enable racism?"
Essentialist thinking involves ideas about unchangeable human essence and inherent inferiority. (definition of essentialist thinking)
Children from upper-middle-class, mostly white neighborhoods near Boston, between 4 and 11 increasingly viewed race as permanent and expressed stereotypes. The study found that “the older the kids got, the more likely they were to agree that race was permanent,” and “the more likely they were to express stereotypes.”
These children absorbed stereotypes from the “American ether,” not necessarily from deliberate teaching. They weren’t necessarily taught stereotypes deliberately, but “absorbed them from the American ether.”
A repeated study in Hawaii found that children, including white children, did not express the same essentialist ideas about race. "The kids in Hawaii, including the white kids, didn’t express the same ideas about race."
Hawaiian children recognized racial features but did not attribute inherent qualities like aggression or intelligence to race. "The kids in Hawaii recognized that people looked different, but didn’t attribute qualities like aggression or intelligence to race."
Pauker concluded that Hawaiian children did not believe that race was biological. "The kids in Hawaii didn’t believe that race was biological."

Factors Contributing to Reduced Essentialism in Hawaii

Whites are a minority in Hawaii, unlike in the Boston area schools studied. (Whites are a minority in Hawaii)
Hawaii has the highest percentage of mixed-race people in the U.S., acting as a “jamming mechanism” for race perception. (Hawaii has the highest percentage of mixed-race people)
Mixed-race individuals blur the boundaries between supposedly separate groups, making race a less useful way to categorize people. (Mixed-race individuals blur the boundaries)

Mixed-Race Identity and Mental Flexibility

Psychologists have historically ignored how mixed-race people form their identities, assuming they face difficulties due to conflicting cultural allegiances. (Psychologists have historically ignored mixed-race identities)
Challenges encountered by mixed-race individuals can negatively impact mental health, depending on the social context. (Challenges can negatively impact mental health)
However, some psychologists explore the advantages of being multiracial. (Some psychologists explore the advantages)
Sarah Gaither at Duke found that mixed-race individuals score higher on creativity tests when reminded of their multiracial heritage. "Sarah Gaither at Duke has found that mixed-race people score higher on creativity tests when they are reminded of their multiracial heritage."
Navigating multiple worlds enhances mental flexibility. "Navigating multiple worlds enhances mental flexibility."

Benefits of Diversity and the Increasing Mixed-Race Population

Research indicates that diversity improves problem-solving, jury verdicts, company profitability, and national economies. (Diversity improves problem-solving, etc.)
The U.S. is becoming more diverse and mixed, with the mixed-race population projected to double by 2060. (The U.S. is becoming more diverse)
Despite increasing diversity, there is a backlash against mixing. (There is a backlash against mixing)

Observations on Race in Hawaii

The author visited the University of Hawaii at Manoa campus and found it difficult to discern anyone’s racial background due to mixing. "It wasn’t always easy to tell a person’s race on the Manoa campus."
This led to reflection on inherited assumption about race. (This led to reflection)

Challenging the Myth of Innate Racism

A common myth suggests racism is human nature, stemming from an instinct to divide the world into “us” and “them.” (Racism is not human nature)
Marilynn Brewer's study in 19 non-Western cultures showed that not all cultures are hostile to out-groups; many respect and admire them. "In fully 12 of the 19 non-Western cultures Brewer studied, people didn’t display hostility to out-groups. Many respected and admired them."
The idea that out-group hate correlates with in-group love is not universally true. "The idea that out-group hate correlates with in-group love is not universally true."

Historical Perspectives on Race

The idea of race as an essential aspect of personhood is not universal or ancient. (Race is not universal or ancient)
Some ancient Greeks attributed differences in skin tone to climate. (Greeks attributed skin tone to climate)
The Greeks divided the world into civilized (Greek) and barbarian, the latter not seen as an inescapable condition. "The Greeks divided the world into civilized (Greek) and barbarian, but barbarianism wasn’t seen as an inescapable condition. One could become civilized by learning Greek."
Romans divided people into Romanized and Non-Romanized, with the understanding that people could change identities. "Romans divided people into Romanized and non-Romanized, with the understanding that one could become Romanized."

Development of Modern Racism

The hardening of racial concepts began in the 14th century with persecution of Jews in Europe, who were viewed as inherently corrupt after the plague. (Persecution of Jews in Europe)
The African slave trade from the 16th century led to justification of the enslavement based on supposed African inferiority. (African slave trade)
In the U.S., this evolved into paternalism, claiming slavery was beneficial for Africans incapable of self-governance. "In the U.S., this evolved into paternalism: the claim that slavery was good for Africans, who were incapable of governing themselves."
These ideas served to support an economic system dependent on free labor. (These ideas supported an economic system)
Ibram X. Kendi argues that racist ideas are spun out of self-interest, then leading to hate. "Racist ideas, Kendi argues, are spun out of self-interest."

Early Colonial Period and Racial Mixing

In the early Colonial period, poor whites frequently mingled and found common cause with African-Americans. (Poor whites mingled with African-Americans)
Late-17th-century Colonial Virginia had a thriving multiracial population. (Multiracial population in Colonial Virginia)
Bacon’s Rebellion in 1676 involved white servants and enslaved blacks against Virginia’s governor, but it was crushed. (Bacon’s Rebellion)
Elites then worked to enforce color lines through laws preventing interracial mingling and defining blacks as property. "Elites then worked to enforce color lines through laws preventing interracial mingling, and defining blacks as property."
The stated reason was to prevent the “abominable mixture” of races, but the true purpose was to maintain the economy based on stolen labor. "The stated reason was to prevent the ‘abominable mixture’ of races, of course, but the true purpose was to maintain the economy based on stolen labor."

Hawaii's Impact on Racial Thinking

Dr. Pauker's research indicates that Hawaii can change visitors' racial thinking. (Hawaii can change racial thinking)
White college students from the mainland, after studying in Hawaii, often lose essentialist ideas about race. "White college students from the mainland, after studying in Hawaii, often lose essentialist ideas about race."
The “Race Conception Scale” is used to measure this shift, with statements like “racial groups are primarily determined by biology”. ("Race Conception Scale," with statements like “Racial groups are primarily determined by biology.”)
White mainland students often find themselves in the minority in Hawaii, experiencing a shift from white transparency. (White mainland students in the minority)
They perceive themselves as having a color and are forced to socialize with nonwhites, pushing past preconceptions. (They perceive themselves as having a color)

Cognitive Benefits of Relaxed Racial Ideas

This experience can be humbling and painful, but also leads to growth. (This experience can be humbling and painful)
Students' ideas about race relax, and they score higher on tests of cognitive flexibility, becoming more creative problem-solvers. "Students’ ideas about race relax, and they score higher on tests of cognitive flexibility, becoming more creative problem-solvers."
James Baldwin suggested racism distorts the humanity of racists; Pauker’s findings seem to confirm this. (Racism distorts the humanity of racists)
Mental rigidity required to harbor racist ideas affects other cognitive domains. "Pauker’s findings suggest that the mental rigidity required to harbor racist ideas affects other cognitive domains."
Racial categorizing, intended as a shorthand, relies on incorrect and fabricated models of the world. "Racial categorizing, intended as a shorthand, relies on incorrect and fabricated models of the world."

Caveats and Complexities of Hawaii's Racial Harmony

White mainland students in Pauker's study are already open-minded. (White mainland students are already open-minded)
Hawaii as a harmonious melting pot is a cliche; even in the early 20th century, sociologists noted how well different groups seemed to get along. (Hawaii as a harmonious melting pot is a cliche)
Robert Park in 1937 described Hawaii as a place to observe civilization evolving under “laboratory conditions.” ("Hawaii was just the place to observe civilization evolving under ‘laboratory conditions.’"
Romanzo Adams in 1925 said the peoples of Hawaii were in the process of becoming one people. (peoples of Hawaii were in the process of becoming one people)
The interracial harmony was used to make self-serving arguments during World War II and the Cold War. (interracial harmony was used to make self-serving arguments)
Hawaiian academics are tired of Hawaii being seen as a model of racial harmony, viewing it as a fantasy covering real inequities. (Hawaiian academics are tired of Hawaii being seen as a model of racial harmony)
Prejudice against Micronesians exists, with openly expressed sentiments. (Prejudice against Micronesians exists)
Being African-American in Hawaii isn’t easy due to stereotypes. (Being African-American in Hawaii isn’t easy)
Despite these issues, Hawaii offers a complexity, allowing people to acknowledge their diverse genealogy. (Hawaii offers a complexity)

Historical Context: Labor Organizing and Social Change

Historians point to union organizing in the postwar period as a key factor. (union organizing in the postwar period as a key factor)
In the late 19th century, white plantation owners overthrew the Hawaiian queen and annexed Hawaii to the U.S. in 1898. (white plantation owners overthrew the Hawaiian queen)
Plantation owners imported workers from various countries, promoting ethnic and racial stereotypes to prevent unity. (Plantation owners imported workers)
After World War II, the International Longshore and Warehouse Union began organizing workers in Hawaii. (International Longshore and Warehouse Union)
Success required interracial unity, leading to “proto affirmative action,” as described by Moon-Kie Jung. (Success required interracial unity)
Union leadership positions were deliberately parceled out among ethnic groups. (Union leadership positions were deliberately parceled out)

Outcomes of Labor Organizing

This restructuring of the working class had a long-lasting effect on Hawaiian society. (restructuring of the working class)
Organized labor secured better working conditions and ushered the Democratic Party into power in 1954. (Organized labor secured better working conditions)
Progressive laws were passed, leading to investment in public education, a higher minimum wage, and employer-provided health insurance. (Progressive laws were passed)
Hawaii never had laws against miscegenation. (Hawaii never had laws against miscegenation)
Dr. Brewer described this as labor creating a new “super ordinate” identity cutting across racial lines. (labor creating a new “super ordinate” identity)

Current Challenges and Holdovers

The legacy of labor organizing has begun to fray, with increased private schooling and racially segregated public schools. (legacy of labor organizing has begun to fray)
A tradition of ethnic joke-telling remains from the plantation past. (tradition of ethnic joke-telling remains)
Hawaii is not politically correct, and ethnic jokes are common. (Hawaii is not politically correct)
Dr. Pauker thinks this tradition may be beneficial; race is always consciously thought about. (Dr. Pauker thinks this tradition may be beneficial)
Liberal parents' colorblindness may allow stereotypes to creep into children’s understanding of race. (Liberal parents' colorblindness may allow stereotypes to creep in)

Children's Perceptions of Race in Hawaii

Kids in Hawaii are not good at defining other people’s race, complicating their answers and offering nuanced descriptions. (Kids in Hawaii are not good at defining other people’s race)
They see race as complex and full of nuance, not simple or black and white. (They see race as complex)

Factors Inhibiting Racial Progress on the mainland

While the U.S. has become more diverse, Americans have become more ideologically segregated, reducing meaningful interactions. (Americans have become more ideologically segregated)
News and social media contribute to this segregation. (News and social media contribute to this segregation)
There is an apparent absence of a larger American identity that can supersede tribal identities. (absence of a larger American identity)
Hawaii has a cohesive “local” identity, exemplified in the “aloha spirit” and Hawaiian pidgin. (Hawaii has a cohesive “local” identity)

Hawaii's Unique Context and the Aloha Spirit

Justin Gest notes that islands are often unique laboratories of human culture. (islands are often unique laboratories of human culture)
Small islands force interaction with neighbors, which can be critical during destructive events. (Small islands force interaction)
During World War II, Hawaii interned fewer Japanese-Americans compared to the mainland due to local officials' connections with the Japanese community. (Hawaii interned fewer Japanese-Americans)
The “aloha spirit” emphasizes mutual respect and care, rooted in Native Hawaiian culture. (aloha spirit emphasizes mutual respect and care)
Native Hawaiians offered food and hospitality to newcomers, fostering customs that served as a counterbalance to divisive forces. (Native Hawaiians offered food and hospitality)

Native Hawaiian Traditions and Sustainability

Before Western contact, Native Hawaiians developed methods of agricultural and resource management, including irrigation and fish ponds. (Native Hawaiians developed methods of agricultural and resource management)
They prohibited fishing during certain seasons, practicing sustainable fishery management. (They prohibited fishing during certain seasons)
They traded and shared resources, fostering a cultural norm of hospitality. (They traded and shared resources)
The aloha spirit placed a premium on getting along. (aloha spirit placed a premium on getting along)

Critique of the Tourist Version of Aloha

The “aloha spirit” has been commercialized as a marketing gimmick for tourism. (aloha spirit has been commercialized)
This commercialization can be irritating and insulting to Native Hawaiians. (commercialization can be irritating and insulting)
Mahesh Cleveland emphasizes reciprocity: “You’re supposed to give back, not just take take take.” ("You’re supposed to give back, not just take take take.")

Ecological Limits and Human Relationships

Attitudes about other people stem from our understanding of ecological limits. (Attitudes about other people stem from our understanding of ecological limits)
If resources are seen as limitless, people may be treated as disposable. (resources are seen as limitless, people may be treated as disposable)
Awareness of dependence on others and the fragility of the world fosters a different approach to human relationships. (Awareness of dependence on others fosters a different approach to human relationships)
The past 500 years of European/American expansion have been dominated by the idea of limitless bounty and exploitation. (idea of limitless bounty and exploitation)
Grasping the limits of the planet and our interdependence may lead to a different perception of each other and less use for the concept of race. (Grasping the limits of the planet may lead to a different perception of each other)