Race: Power of an Illusion Essay Example

Race Traits and Tendencies of the American Negro. In this study Hoffman concluded that African Americans are so genetically different from other races that they would soon become extinct.

Other studies and scientific literature of the 19th and 20th centuries also attempted to support this belief in order to provide a justification for the racial hierarchy of the established society. The central theme of this film was that different biological races don’t exist however, racism that stems from the myth of biological race, does very much exist. Humans have been discriminating other humans based on their appearance long before the 21st century. The belief that there is a natural racial hierarchy spread into the policies of our government, and traces of these policies can still be found today.

In Affirming Diversity: The Sociopolitical Context of Multicultural Education, the authors state that ethnic diversity in schools is on rise however, so is ethnic separation. In the past Jim Crow Laws enforced separate but equal segregation. Today Jim Crow laws have been barred yet due to funding regulations, and the lack of opportunities some students receive we are again facing an unequal education system. In my experience as an educator I have experienced first-hand, “the power of illusion of race. ” I have witnessed students judging and making assumptions of other students based on the color of their skin.

I have witnessed what the authors of, Affirming Diversity: The Sociopolitical Context of Multicultural Education, refer to as the self-fulfilling prophecy. In this case of self- fulfilling prophecy I saw good students begin to skip class, and begin to negatively act out because they knew

it was expected of them. In addition to observing the illusion of race in action with students judging others, and students believing less of themselves, I have caught myself falling victim to the illusion. A few times I have caught myself concluding that certain students will achieve more or less based on their appearance.

I understand that it is only natural for me to form those assumptions. However, as an educator I also understand that I have a duty to ignore those thoughts and provide all my students with an equal opportunity to learn and thrive in my classroom. In addition to providing all my students with equal opportunities, I also believe that the task of terminating the myth of biological race falls mainly to educators such as myself. The overwhelming majority of parents will share their prejudices with their children and therefore the cycle of racial ignorance continues.

However, teachers have the prospect of educating all of their students about the fact that the only real race is the human race. In turn these students can teach their future children about the facts of race and eventually break the vicious cycle and end racism. The film, Race: Power of an Illusion provided an in depth look at the human construct of race and its foul consequence, racism. Race and the power that it has held over our society and continues to limit the success of many of its victims. However through educator’s diligence I believe that one day the myth of biological race and racism can be banished from society.