Our text defines race as a, “primary aspect of personal identity” (Wood, p. 49). It seems to be a way to identify our heritage and background, to tell others where we came from. I personally think that race is not a useful way to classify people. I have heard arguments over the years about how race is just another obsessed way to label something for a sense of purpose and statistics. I took a class last semester about intercultural communications and structural inequality and it really made me think about race and identity. On the one hand, the idea of “race” seems to allow us an identify marker, to construct ourselves in relation to some group. But at the same time, I feel that “race” creates barriers to how we perceive ourselves and others. It sometimes seems that this concept alters how we perceive certain things, without us even realizing it. I think that in some cases, systems of classification create pre-programmed views in order to make sense of the world.
I remember taking standardized tests in school and being asked to mark our race and ethnicity. I know that some of my friends were uncomfortable labeling themselves as one group over another. Some felt that their groups were not even properly represented. I think that the Census Bureau should allow people to check multiple races to define themselves. I can understand that for the purposes of statistics, it makes collecting information a lot easier if there are only a handful of groups to analyze, but I believe that our society is so diverse today that doing this would be pointless. Even if these statistics will make it easier to analyze, it will not be a true representation of our multicultural world.
Flora Winter!
ReplyDeleteGreat Post! I agree with you when you mentioned that race creates barriers among us and others. I can see also how it may be frustrating for people to have to pick a race especially if they come from a different background that is not mentioned. To me, there is no point of doing an accurate classification of races if you did not do the research to find out what are ALL the races around to be classified. Also, in light of the Census Bureau that states "Everyone should be counted" should def allow people to put as many races that they identify with or even have a section to let them explain their background so that for the following census they can make sure it is an option to check. Anyway, great post and great examples =)