Race Based On Physical Appearance - 1180 Words

The concept of race as it is known today began innocently, as a useful point of comparison between peoples based on physical appearance. Over time, the idea of color was corrupted by various ruling classes, who discovered that this brand of disenfranchisement was useful to create and maintain an exploitable lower class. What was once a descriptor was twisted into a tool of oppression, insidiously folded into society through language, mythology, and the normalization of race-based enslavement. As society moved from interactions between local groups to travel and trade between countries and continents, meaningful distinctions between peoples became less specific. While it was once useful to refer to one’s neighbors by their language or ethnic group, a broader world meant far too many languages and ethnic groups for that categorization to be used. Categories grew, grouping people by their religion, culture, broad geographical location and physical characteristics. One such categorization was color. In some cases, color was entirely comparative, used not to define a group on their own but rather with reference to another. Arabs in antiquity would describe themselves as black when differentiating themselves from the brown Bedouins and the red Persians and Europeans, but also describe themselves as being white or red in comparison to black Africans (lecture September 27). However, the concept of â€Å"black† as an intrinsic qualification emerged and gained t raction inShow MoreRelatedAnalysis Of The Article Mixed Blood By Jeffrey Fish907 Words   |  4 Pagesexample, in the U.S individuals are classified into different races based on their heritage. However in Brazil, people are classified into a series of â€Å"tipos based on their physical appearance.  In the article â€Å"Mixed Blood†, Jeffrey Fish supports the claim that race is nothing more, but a social construct by demonstrating the cultural basis of race by comparing how races are defined in the United States and Brazil. Anthropologists argue that race does not exist because it is not a biological entity. TheRead MoreWhy Judge People Based On Their Skin Color968 Words   |  4 PagesWhy Judge People Based On Their Skin Color? You can never really know what ethnicity someone is based on physical appearance or his or her name. The article â€Å"Why Race Isn’t As â€Å"Black† and â€Å"White† As We Think† by Brent Staples, does a good job explaining that physical appearance is not always what it seems. The majority of people do not even realize they are a certain race. They do not take the time to get to know their ancestors. All people ever believe is what family members tell them about theirRead MoreWomen, Race, And Poverty Essay1685 Words   |  7 PagesWomen, Race, and Poverty Race often plays an important role in how an individual is viewed based on societal standards and quality of life. A vast majority of the characters in Toni Morrison’s The Bluest Eye attribute the difficulties they face and the outcome of their lives to being African American in an era when people with dark pigmentations of skin were viewed as second class citizens. Morrison’s novel focuses on the different spectives of African Americans, both male and female, who differRead MoreEssay on North Eastern Chinese Stereotypes1383 Words   |  6 Pages(Paul 18). However, according to several recent studies, stereotypes are unconsciously used by everyone in the world. Annie Murphy Paul proposes that stereotypes form because people categorize others into certain groups in terms of gender, age and race, and then evaluate them with in-group/out-group dynamics, which means that people look down upon those who are not in their group in order to elevate themselves. Aside from the obvious differences between humans, such as gender, Forster, Gerger andRead MoreDifferences Between Race And Ethnicity960 Words   |  4 PagesDiscuss the similarities and differences between race and ethnicity and give and give an example of each. James M. Henslin defines race as â€Å"a group of people with inherited physical characteristics that distinguish it from another group† (2014). Meanwhile, ethnicity â€Å"refers to cultural characteristics† (Henslin, 2014). The difference mostly relies in a similar argument to the classic nature versus nurture argument. Race is what a person genetically inherits. Whether it may be skin tone or anatomicalRead MoreThe Slaughter of Native Americans and The Enslavement of African Americans940 Words   |  4 PagesRace is an issue that has impacted every person on Earth for the past few centuries; humans have been divided into different ‘labels’ based upon their physical appearance. Although race seemed like a good idea to categorize and distinguish people, these groupings have been used as a basis for hatred and oppression. Throughout the years, countries, governments, and individuals have utilized race as an excuse to exploit and abuse other people. Accordi ng to the Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy, slaveryRead More`` Only One `` White `` By James Clifford Essay1387 Words   |  6 Pagesto determine whether the group, called the Mashpee Indians, constituted an Indian tribe. James Clifford’s The Predicament of Culture includes a section on this trial. This Mashpee section provoked questions in my mind about identity, authenticity, race, and ethnicity. With the transcript and his own court notes, Clifford describes the trial as best he can, as well as present his own argument and thoughts. Even though I can’t decide if the plaintiffs represent a tribe, the trial helped me understandRead MoreRace : The Power Of Illusion, Microbiologist Pilar Ossorio996 Words   |  4 PagesJessica Zhu Short Writing Assignment 4/17/17 Race is a hot topic in our world. We all think we know what race is. After all, we are constantly being bombarded with it whether it be from media, politics, or sports. The truth is that race does not revolve around the idea of biological traits or characteristics. It is a modern concept that we as a society have created to divide people into categories. I will argue that race is socially constructed from a biological, political history, and sociologicalRead More Looks, Beauty, Appearance Discrimination in Employment Essay1309 Words   |  6 Pages Appearance Discrimination in Employment Employment discrimination legislation has evolved to include race, disabilities, sexual harassment of either gender, and age. In lieu of this evolution and an increasing trend toward equality for all individuals in the workplace, the time has come for the protective reach of employment discrimination law to cover ugliness. While the proposal may cause titters at first, evidence exists that discrimination based on looks (or physical appearance) occursRead MoreThe Aztec And Inca1616 Words   |  7 Pagesof the Spanish, racial diversity among the population impacted social stability. The elite’s determination to maintain power and lower classes’ aim for upward social mobility were constant struggles during Spanish rule. Since class was determined based on ethnicity, social stability was directly correlated with racial diversity. Spanish conquest of the Aztec and Inca brought a new regime to America. The Aztec and Inca were considered the two most powerful and influential empires in Mesoamerica