Race: The way of seeing things as we are Essay Example

way of life to be superior to others. It is an impractical fallacy based on the notion of race. In contrast, racism is a measurable and observable entity that has a real impact on society. Throughout history, some groups have resorted to racism or practiced it intentionally with the purpose of gaining an advantage or subjugating and dominating others to their benefit. Shanklin uses these events as evidence to support her hypothesis that race is a social construct rather than a biological fact.

In the Twelfth Century, Henry II sought a pretext to invade Ireland with the Pope's approval. To accomplish this, he dispatched Giraldus Cambrensis, a Welsh monk, to gather evidence of the Irish heathenism. Cambrensis willingly complied, producing a report that provides insight into the way people conceive of race.

Three hundred years after Charlemagne invited a group of people to his court to teach reading and writing, they were described as "white savages" and "human chimpanzees" with degraded character. These false beliefs, planted by Henry II, ultimately became one of the main reasons for English control over Ireland in the mid-19th century. By promoting the idea of a separate race known as the Irish or Celtic race, which was deemed inferior to the Anglo-Saxons, Henry II's political excuse fueled widespread racism. The consequences of this racial prejudice went beyond its original purpose, affecting society, politics, and economics.

The scientific community, even those as esteemed as Darwin, were found to be susceptible to racist influences. This can be seen in their approval of notions such as the Irish or Celtic race, which found expression in America during the latter half of the Nineteenth Century. Irish immigrants

settled in Boston and came into conflict with the ruling Boston Brahmins due to different political beliefs rather than racist characteristics. However, the Boston Brahmins eventually used racism as a means to sideline the Irish and block further immigration. This led to a nativist movement in America. The idea of an Irish race only became defunct in America when politicians realized that the Irish held significant leadership positions in labor unions and had political influence.

In her discussion, Shanklin presents two examples to demonstrate how social, economic and political factors are responsible for the historical origins of race and racism rather than biological, intellectual or hereditary ones. She explains that slavery in America was not a result of race being a biological factor but due to the convenience created by freedmen in Virginia. As a consequence, Englishmen's rights increased at the expense of African's rights. Shanklin draws parallels between this scenario and the suppression of Irish people's rights during the seventeenth century rise of freedom and equality ideals in England. According to the author, as freedom and equality were gaining momentum, there was also an increase in slavery in America. Shanklin argues that greater freedom for some members always leads to restricting freedom for other members within society such as black people or even other societies like the Irish community.

Although it is up to the reader to speculate whether maintaining a balance contributes to the societal formation of notions about race and racism, it is indisputable that social, political, and economic circumstances preceded race and racism. Once established, ideas surrounding race and racism quickly multiplied within the human psyche, resulting in a cycle of harmful effects.

Even though Hitler acknowledged that race was not a concrete or scientific concept, he manipulated the idea of race to reconstruct Germany "not on historical but racial grounds." (Shanklin 100) Ultimately, what matters is how individuals are affected by the erroneous belief in racism. The instance of the Piltdown man illustrates how even exceptional scientific minds have a predisposition to believe what they desire - such as that Europe was where humanity originated.

According to Shanklin, people's preconceptions can lead them astray despite solid evidence, and this also applies to racial prejudices. Shanklin's argument is supported by Anais Nin's statement that "We don't see things as they are, we see things as we are" (Shanklin 100). This perspective on racial perceptions is evidenced by the various instances of racism observed globally.

Thompson states that the town of Jena, Louisiana continues to function in a similar way today. The white and black populations are segregated into distinct neighborhoods, with elderly white women still referring to adult black men as ‘boy’. Although skin color is the only visible sign of racial difference, deep-seated racism persists in the social environment. Local ministers from both communities are collaborating to eradicate racial prejudice from the attitudes and beliefs of future generations.

Shanklin's view on race as a social construct is reflected in their aim to assist individuals in perceiving without racial prejudice. This sentiment is reinforced by a CNN.com survey revealing the pervasiveness of societal constructs of racism and race. The study shows that despite acknowledging ongoing issues with racism, many Americans, regardless of ethnicity, admit to knowing people who hold racist views. Interestingly, only a small percentage of Americans -

roughly one in eight - identify themselves as being racist. These observations expertly support Shanklin's assertion that racism infiltrates the mind and is better understood as a social construct rather than biological fact.