The chapter’s content is based on the history of slavery, the end of segregation, and acceptance of Native American citizenship. In the present day, white Americans consider White racism a thing of the past that is no longer in existence. On the contrary, the population of color America comprising of Native Americans, Latin Americans, and Asian Americans report more incidents of racism every day and how it impacts their life (Hill, 2009). The aspect of discrimination can be demonstrated in the American government institutions and social places where despite the areas being incorporated to serve both the Whites and Black people, only a few Americans socialize with the black people.
This white isolation favors them in a way they can easily dismiss racism claims on the basis that they are playing the “race victimization card.” Based on statistics, it is evident that two dynamics, accumulation and disaccumulation, are the critical factors responsible for the racism inequalities—the accumulation aspect privileges the Whites as disaccumulation disadvantages the blacks. Racial disparities have been noted worldwide, but only a few Americans admit that racism exists only in North Idaho and South Georgia. Out of self-love and common sense, the Whites always deny racism. A crucial aspect of racism is demonstrated in the economic status of the Whites versus the financial situation of the black people.
The average household network of an American of color is approximately an eighth of a White’s household network. The Whites only account for this disparity by blaming the blacks for not being hardworking. Though the blacks’ low economic status can be blamed on the history of slavery which made them more of production agents than production masters, the record does not account for their present-day unemployment, median per capita income, or incarceration (Grasso, 2021). These disparities in the economy, education, and employment sectors prove that racism still runs in the American lifestyle. If the history of forty years ago when segregation and discrimination are claimed to have ended worked, then the current disparities should have disappeared.
The folk theory provides the interpretation of racism, which is essential in perpetuating the culture of White racism. The idea incorporates linguistic ideologies to potentiate the presence and denial of White racism simultaneously. Anthropologist uses the folk theory to understand the societies to provide contrary evidence of its operations by using the stipulated evidence. The folk theory, however, is taken for granted because of the value common sense is accorded. Often, when questioning racism, it brings up a defense strategy for the White Americans. The theory holds that race is a type of human biological variation and that every human belongs to a specific race or a mixture of races.
Further, the theory explains that each race is biologically natural and has origins that can trace historical and biological distinctions of the evolution period. In its second phase, the idea defines racism as a matter of individual perception, intention, and actions. According to the theory, a racist is anyone who considers people of color as inferior. The idea positively foreshadows a time free of racism through intermarriage and education. The “Arizona Daily Wildcat” is a racism project presented by the University of Arizona student newspaper is an example of the folk theory being applied. The essay was titled “people more ignorant than me” attacked racism and condemned various racists (Hill, 2009). The author hopes for racism to end and recalcitrant racists to acknowledge and respect all races.
References
Grasso, J. F. (2021). Language, Race and Ethnicity. Class lecture pdf.
Hill, J. H. (2009). The everyday language of white racism. John Wiley & Sons.