Week 5 diversity race racism_1

Race and RacismRace and Racism

Created by Dr. Loshini Naidoo and Dawn Bolger

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What is race?What is race?

A group of people who share similar physical A group of people who share similar physical (genetic) characteristics (Robertson 1989: 193)(genetic) characteristics (Robertson 1989: 193)

Race is a false classificationRace is a false classification

- It is not based on any real or accurate- It is not based on any real or accurate

biological or scientific truthbiological or scientific truth The intense sociological interest in race is due The intense sociological interest in race is due

to the fact that people attach meaning and to the fact that people attach meaning and values, either real or imaginary, to physical values, either real or imaginary, to physical differences between groups of peopledifferences between groups of people

Dawn Bolger

Does race exist?Does race exist?

Race has no scientific basisRace has no scientific basis ““No persuasive empirical case has been made for No persuasive empirical case has been made for

ascribing common psychological, intellectual or ascribing common psychological, intellectual or moral capacities or the characteristics to moral capacities or the characteristics to individuals on the basis of skin colour individuals on the basis of skin colour physiognomy”physiognomy” (Donald and Rattansi, 1992)(Donald and Rattansi, 1992)

99.9% of human genetic characteristics are 99.9% of human genetic characteristics are common to all common to all

More variation More variation withinwithin than between ‘races than between ‘races’’

Dawn Bolger

Race is a social constructRace is a social construct

It is something that is constructed by society; It is something that is constructed by society; that artificially divides people into distinct that artificially divides people into distinct groups based on characteristics such as groups based on characteristics such as physical appearance (particularly skin colour), physical appearance (particularly skin colour), heritage, cultural affiliation, cultural history, and heritage, cultural affiliation, cultural history, and the social, economic and political needs of a the social, economic and political needs of a society at a given period of timesociety at a given period of time

Dawn Bolger

Is race still relevant? Is race still relevant?

Racial categories are still prevalent in society todayRacial categories are still prevalent in society today Used to justify social stratification Used to justify social stratification It can be used to define and marginalise peopleIt can be used to define and marginalise people Used to ideologically justify relationships of superiority and exploitationUsed to ideologically justify relationships of superiority and exploitation Race debates fuel a politics of Race debates fuel a politics of fear fear rather than a politics of rather than a politics of hopehope

Dawn Bolger

Ethnicity Ethnicity

Ethnicity refers to the shared ancestry, Ethnicity refers to the shared ancestry, language and traditions of a particular group language and traditions of a particular group of people. of people.

Ethnicity may be anEthnicity may be an important aspect of animportant aspect of an individual’s or group’sindividual’s or group’s identity – how they see andidentity – how they see and define themselves, anddefine themselves, and how others see themhow others see them

Dawn Bolger

Ethnicity and IdentityEthnicity and Identity

An ethnic group is a socially distinct population An ethnic group is a socially distinct population that shares a way of life and is committed to that shares a way of life and is committed to the ideas, norms, and material things that the ideas, norms, and material things that constitute that way of lifeconstitute that way of life

Ethnicity refers to the common culture of a Ethnicity refers to the common culture of a social group, such as language, religion, style social group, such as language, religion, style of dress, food, shared history and experiencesof dress, food, shared history and experiences

Miao

Yi

HuiHan Dawn Bolger

Difference between race Difference between race and Ethnicityand Ethnicity

The difference is that individuals can claim The difference is that individuals can claim ethnicity on subjective grounds, on the basis of ethnicity on subjective grounds, on the basis of group belonging and personal meaninggroup belonging and personal meaning

Racial categorisations are often imposed by Racial categorisations are often imposed by othersothers

Membership in ethnicity is usually voluntary, Membership in ethnicity is usually voluntary, membership in a racial group is notmembership in a racial group is not

Loshini Naidoo

Racism Racism

A form of discrimination based on the belief of A form of discrimination based on the belief of race; that one race is superior to anotherrace; that one race is superior to another

Racism is an ideology that gives expression to Racism is an ideology that gives expression to myths about other racial and ethic groups, that myths about other racial and ethic groups, that devalues and renders inferior those groups, that devalues and renders inferior those groups, that reflects and is perpetuated by deeply rooted reflects and is perpetuated by deeply rooted historical, social, cultural and power inequalities in historical, social, cultural and power inequalities in society. (Human Rights and Equal Opportunity society. (Human Rights and Equal Opportunity Commission 1998)Commission 1998)

Dawn Bolger

Where does racism come Where does racism come from? from?

Belief that some people are superior because Belief that some people are superior because they belong to a particular race, ethnic or they belong to a particular race, ethnic or national groupnational group

Three main forms:Three main forms:

- Individual - Individual

- Institutional- Institutional

- Everyday- Everyday

Dawn Bolger

Individual racismIndividual racism

The beliefs, attitudes, and actions of The beliefs, attitudes, and actions of individuals that sustain or perpetuate racismindividuals that sustain or perpetuate racism

A belief in racialA belief in racial stereotypesstereotypes

Black people are good atBlack people are good at sport, Asians are smart,sport, Asians are smart, Arabs are terroristsArabs are terrorists

Dawn Bolger

Institutional racismInstitutional racism

Racism that is structured within political and Racism that is structured within political and social institutionssocial institutions

Discrimination byDiscrimination by governments,governments, corporations or othercorporations or other large organisations thatlarge organisations that is inherent in theiris inherent in their structures preventingstructures preventing people from entering orpeople from entering or progressing.progressing.

Dawn Bolger

Everyday racismEveryday racism

Examines the lived experience of racial Examines the lived experience of racial oppressionoppression

Connects ideological notions of racism with Connects ideological notions of racism with daily attitudes and interprets the reproduction daily attitudes and interprets the reproduction of racism in terms of the experiences of of racism in terms of the experiences of everyday liveseveryday lives

Connects the INDIVIDUAL with the Connects the INDIVIDUAL with the INSTITUTIONALINSTITUTIONAL

Loshini Naidoo

Examples of everyday Examples of everyday racismracism

“ “ Where are you from” is Where are you from” is ethnically and racially ethnically and racially loaded loaded

Reproduces racist Reproduces racist constructions of a national constructions of a national identity identity

Everyday racism is more coded; ingrained in Everyday racism is more coded; ingrained in institutional practice; and not consciously institutional practice; and not consciously intended intended

Loshini Naidoo

Racism in AustraliaRacism in Australia

Dawn Bolger


Racism linked to history of colonisation and Racism linked to history of colonisation and migrationmigration

Aboriginal people andAboriginal people and Torres Strait IslanderTorres Strait Islander people werepeople were dispossessed of theirdispossessed of their land and discriminatedland and discriminated against by Britishagainst by British settlerssettlers

Dawn Bolger


Forced removal of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Forced removal of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children from their familiesIslander children from their families

Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people who were not of ‘full blood’ encouraged to who were not of ‘full blood’ encouraged to assimilate so that eventually there would be no assimilate so that eventually there would be no more Indigenous people leftmore Indigenous people left

Dawn Bolger

White Australia PolicyWhite Australia Policy

Dawn Bolger

White Australia PolicyWhite Australia Policy Term given to a group of historical policies that Term given to a group of historical policies that

deliberately restricted ‘non-white’ immigration deliberately restricted ‘non-white’ immigration to Australiato Australia

- Immigration Restriction Act (1901)- Immigration Restriction Act (1901)

- Pacific Island Labourers Act (1902)- Pacific Island Labourers Act (1902)

Abolished 1973Abolished 1973

Dawn Bolger


“ “I contend that if this young nation is to maintain the fabric of its liberties I contend that if this young nation is to maintain the fabric of its liberties unassailed and unimpaired, it cannot admit into its population any element that unassailed and unimpaired, it cannot admit into its population any element that of necessity must be of an inferior nature and character…” (Sir Henry Parkes, of necessity must be of an inferior nature and character…” (Sir Henry Parkes, 1888)1888)

“Our chief plan is of course, a white AustraliaAustralia. There’s no compromise about that! The industrious coloured brother has to go – and remain away” (W.M Hughes, 1901)

“No nigger, no Chinaman, no lascar, no kanaka, no purveyor of cheap coloured labour is an Australian’ (The Bulletin, 2 July 1887)

Dawn Bolger

"The doctrine of the equality of man was never intended to apply to the equality of the Englishman and the Chinaman." (Edmund Barton 1901)


Colonial narratives of Asian invasionColonial narratives of Asian invasion Dictation Test - Immigration officials were given Dictation Test - Immigration officials were given

the power to exclude any person who failed to the power to exclude any person who failed to pass a 50-word dictation test. pass a 50-word dictation test.

1945 Populate or Perish1945 Populate or Perish 1947 Non-Europeans allowed to settle 1947 Non-Europeans allowed to settle

permanently in Australia for business reasons. permanently in Australia for business reasons. 1959 Australians permitted to sponsor Asian 1959 Australians permitted to sponsor Asian

spouses for citizenship. spouses for citizenship. 1978 - selection of prospective migrants based 1978 - selection of prospective migrants based

on country of origin entirely removed from official on country of origin entirely removed from official policy policy

Dawn Bolger

Indigenous InterventionIndigenous Intervention

A ‘national emergency’A ‘national emergency’

Reinforced Reinforced negative negative stereotypes of stereotypes of Indigenous Indigenous communities in communities in the Northern the Northern TerritoryTerritory

Dawn Bolger

Indigenous InterventionIndigenous Intervention

Measures taken included alcohol restriction; Measures taken included alcohol restriction; ban of x-rated pornography; undertake ban of x-rated pornography; undertake compulsory health checks of all Indigenous compulsory health checks of all Indigenous children; quarantine welfare payments; link children; quarantine welfare payments; link family assistance and income support family assistance and income support payments to school attendance; acquire payments to school attendance; acquire township leases, and increase police numbers township leases, and increase police numbers

Dawn Bolger

Cronulla RiotsCronulla Riots

Dawn Bolger

Cronulla RiotsCronulla Riots

““I do not want to rush to judgement about these I do not want to rush to judgement about these events…I do not accept that there is underlying events…I do not accept that there is underlying racism in this country…I take a more optimistic racism in this country…I take a more optimistic view of the Australian people” (John Howard, 12 view of the Australian people” (John Howard, 12 Dec 2005)Dec 2005)

“I’ll tell you what kind of Grubs this lot were. This lot were Middle –Eastern Grubs[…] You’re not allowed to say it, but I’m saying it” (Alan Jones, 5 Dec 2005)

Dawn Bolger

CronullaCronulla

A racialised discourseA racialised discourse

““It seems the police and the council are impotent here. It seems the police and the council are impotent here. All rhetoric, no action. My suggestion is to invite one of All rhetoric, no action. My suggestion is to invite one of the biker gangs to be present in numbers at Cronulla the biker gangs to be present in numbers at Cronulla railway station when these Lebanese thugs arrive…It’d railway station when these Lebanese thugs arrive…It’d be worth the price of admission to watch these be worth the price of admission to watch these cowards scurry back onto the train for the return trip to cowards scurry back onto the train for the return trip to their lairs …Australian’s old and new shouldn’t have to their lairs …Australian’s old and new shouldn’t have to put up with this scum” (Alan Jones 7 Sept, 2005)put up with this scum” (Alan Jones 7 Sept, 2005)

Dawn Bolger

Australia’s treatment of Australia’s treatment of refugeesrefugees

Dawn Bolger

““You can’t call them refugees” You can’t call them refugees” (John Howard, 3 Sept 2001)(John Howard, 3 Sept 2001)


Tampa/Children Tampa/Children OverboardOverboard

Refugees as criminalsRefugees as criminals ““We will decide who We will decide who

comes to this country comes to this country and the means by which and the means by which they come” (John they come” (John Howard, 6 Dec 2001)Howard, 6 Dec 2001)

Dawn Bolger


Mandatory detentionMandatory detention Border ProtectionBorder Protection

- link to terrorism- link to terrorism- racialised discourse - refugees - racialised discourse - refugees recast as ‘boat people’, ‘illegalrecast as ‘boat people’, ‘illegal immigrants’, ‘queue jumpers’immigrants’, ‘queue jumpers’

Australian governments have consistently recast refugeesAustralian governments have consistently recast refugees- from non-citizens escaping war, famine, economic - from non-citizens escaping war, famine, economic

instability or political persecution, deserving of public instability or political persecution, deserving of public sympathy to invaders and possible terrorists intent on sympathy to invaders and possible terrorists intent on destroying the traditional Australian way of lifedestroying the traditional Australian way of life

Dawn Bolger

Social marginalisationSocial marginalisation

Concept of the ‘Other’ – immigrants are Concept of the ‘Other’ – immigrants are not seen as Australiannot seen as Australian

Consequences for individuals including Consequences for individuals including social marginalisation. Individuals are social marginalisation. Individuals are forever on the outside and seen as ‘un-forever on the outside and seen as ‘un-Australian’Australian’

Dawn Bolger

Justifications for racismJustifications for racism

RELIGIONRELIGION

- During the reformation (16- During the reformation (16thth and 17 and 17thth Century) a key Century) a key question among Christian religious hierarchy was question among Christian religious hierarchy was whether Blacks and “Indians” had souls and/or were whether Blacks and “Indians” had souls and/or were humanhuman

PSEUDO-SCIENCEPSEUDO-SCIENCE

- Humankind classified into three distinct ‘races’ – - Humankind classified into three distinct ‘races’ – Mongoloid, Caucazoid and Negroid.Mongoloid, Caucazoid and Negroid.

- Two of the words (Mongoloid and Caucazoid) have - Two of the words (Mongoloid and Caucazoid) have linguistic bases that refer to geographic areas. Negroid linguistic bases that refer to geographic areas. Negroid – refers to colour.– refers to colour.

Loshini Naidoo


MEDICINEMEDICINE

- Robert Knox, a famous English anatomist - Robert Knox, a famous English anatomist concluded that people of colour were concluded that people of colour were intellectually inferior, not because of brain size intellectually inferior, not because of brain size but rather because of brain texture and lack of but rather because of brain texture and lack of nerve endings.nerve endings.

- It was later found that his conclusion was - It was later found that his conclusion was based on only one man of colourbased on only one man of colour

Loshini Naidoo


EUGENICSEUGENICS

- Attempt to breed better humans through - Attempt to breed better humans through breeding restrictions to eliminate the ‘feeble-breeding restrictions to eliminate the ‘feeble-minded’ from humanityminded’ from humanity

- Used ‘scientific proof’ to justify the - Used ‘scientific proof’ to justify the mistreatment of ‘inferior races’mistreatment of ‘inferior races’

- Policy of breeding out ‘inferior races’ – - Policy of breeding out ‘inferior races’ – evident in Australian Indigenous historyevident in Australian Indigenous history

Dawn Bolger

ExamplesExamples

South Africa’sApartheid Laws

Dawn Bolger

ExamplesExamples

The White Australia PolicyThe White Australia Policy

Dawn Bolger

Some theories to Some theories to understand raceunderstand race

Post ColonialismPost Colonialism

Critical Race TheoryCritical Race Theory

WhitenessWhiteness

Dawn Bolger

Post ColonialismPost Colonialism

Social and political critiques that consider the Social and political critiques that consider the lingering effects of colonialism and the lingering effects of colonialism and the conditions of human experience in its aftermathconditions of human experience in its aftermath

Colonialism enabled the justification of a Colonialism enabled the justification of a ‘superior’ civilised order‘superior’ civilised order

Coloniser as civilised, rational intelligent: non-Coloniser as civilised, rational intelligent: non-white remains ‘other’white remains ‘other’

Edward Said and Franz FanonEdward Said and Franz Fanon

Dawn Bolger

Post Colonialism and Post Colonialism and AustraliaAustralia

The Britain Empire as coloniser The Britain Empire as coloniser Seizing of ‘foreign’ lands for government and Seizing of ‘foreign’ lands for government and

settlement for Western goods/cheap laboursettlement for Western goods/cheap labour Economic exploitation of othersEconomic exploitation of others How? How?

- Superior military, organisation and technology- Superior military, organisation and technology- Control of government- Control of government- Held key positions in society- Held key positions in society- Divided Indigenous populations, exploited- Divided Indigenous populations, exploited

existing tensionsexisting tensions

Dawn Bolger


Examines the relationship between race, Examines the relationship between race, racism and powerracism and power

Can be conscious or unconsciousCan be conscious or unconscious Builds on insights of previous movements Builds on insights of previous movements

(critical legal studies and feminism)(critical legal studies and feminism)- Not every legal case has one correct - Not every legal case has one correct outcome outcome- Power, patriarchy and domination- Power, patriarchy and domination

Dawn Bolger


Racism is ordinary, common, everyday- endemic to Racism is ordinary, common, everyday- endemic to societysociety

Scepticism towards dominant claims of neutrality, Scepticism towards dominant claims of neutrality, objectivity and colourblindnessobjectivity and colourblindness

Presumes that racism has contributed to all Presumes that racism has contributed to all contemporary manifestations of group advantage contemporary manifestations of group advantage and disadvantageand disadvantage

Derrick BellDerrick Bell Antonio Gramsci, Jacques Derrida, W.E.B. Du Bois, Antonio Gramsci, Jacques Derrida, W.E.B. Du Bois,

Martin Luther King Jr.Martin Luther King Jr.

Dawn Bolger

Critical Race Theory and Critical Race Theory and EducationEducation

Used to understand issues of school discipline and hierarchyUsed to understand issues of school discipline and hierarchy Academic Testing, classroom dynamicsAcademic Testing, classroom dynamics Curriculum BiasCurriculum Bias

- Does not account for differences in learning - Does not account for differences in learning IQ/Achievement Testing (ie. NAPLAN)IQ/Achievement Testing (ie. NAPLAN)

- Presents a very narrow view of student achievement- Presents a very narrow view of student achievement- Schools do not operate in a vacuum- Schools do not operate in a vacuum- Schools with a high Indigenous or ESL- Schools with a high Indigenous or ESL

population marked as failurespopulation marked as failures- Students are ‘taught to the test’- Students are ‘taught to the test’

Dawn Bolger

WhitenessWhiteness

White is the dominant framing position White is the dominant framing position against which difference is measuredagainst which difference is measured

Is rendered invisible under the weight of Is rendered invisible under the weight of accumulated privilegesaccumulated privileges

Provides material and symbolic privilege Provides material and symbolic privilege to whites or those who become ‘white’to whites or those who become ‘white’

Dawn Bolger

Whiteness StudiesWhiteness Studies

Intends to make visible the cultural and political Intends to make visible the cultural and political assumptions and privileges afforded to ‘whites’assumptions and privileges afforded to ‘whites’

Whiteness is not a statement of the natural Whiteness is not a statement of the natural order – it is a position largely gained at the order – it is a position largely gained at the expense of people of colour. expense of people of colour.

Dawn Bolger

Whiteness - importanceWhiteness - importance

White cultural norms are systematically White cultural norms are systematically enforced in schoolsenforced in schools

Teachers able to deconstruct his/her own Teachers able to deconstruct his/her own whiteness is in a far better position to see why whiteness is in a far better position to see why prevailing pedagogical and curricular patterns prevailing pedagogical and curricular patterns may not work for studentsmay not work for students

Even white teachers who are fully committed to Even white teachers who are fully committed to multiculturalism often fail to see how their own multiculturalism often fail to see how their own investments in white culture as a universal investments in white culture as a universal culture get in the way of their good intentionsculture get in the way of their good intentions

Loshini Naidoo

Whiteness and educationWhiteness and education

Whiteness as privilege Whiteness as privilege Monitor your defensiveness about whiteness - Monitor your defensiveness about whiteness -

no one in academia, regardless of colour, no one in academia, regardless of colour, escapes whiteness altogether. escapes whiteness altogether.

Many of the values and privileges of whiteness Many of the values and privileges of whiteness are built into academic discourse. If you have are built into academic discourse. If you have made it this far, you are participating in some made it this far, you are participating in some of the privileges of whiteness, even if you are a of the privileges of whiteness, even if you are a person of colour. person of colour.

Loshini Naidoo

Why teach about Why teach about whiteness?whiteness?

Silence about whiteness lets everyone Silence about whiteness lets everyone continue to harbor prejudices and continue to harbor prejudices and misconceptions -“white” equals normal.misconceptions -“white” equals normal.

Whiteness oppresses when it operates as Whiteness oppresses when it operates as the invisible regime of normality, and the invisible regime of normality, and thus making whiteness visible is a thus making whiteness visible is a principal goal of anti-racist pedagogyprincipal goal of anti-racist pedagogy

Loshini Naidoo

Why teach about Why teach about whitenesswhiteness

Teaching about whiteness helps move Teaching about whiteness helps move classes beyond the "celebrate diversity" classes beyond the "celebrate diversity" model of multiculturalismmodel of multiculturalism

Teaching about whiteness moves Teaching about whiteness moves antiracist education in new directions by antiracist education in new directions by presenting difficult challenges to the very presenting difficult challenges to the very idea of "race."idea of "race."

Loshini Naidoo

Appiah, Kwame Anthony. "Is the Post- in Postmodernism the Post- in Postcolonial?" Critical Inquiry 17 (1991) 336-57. Ashcroft, Bill, Gareth Griffiths, and Helen Tiffin. The Empire Writes Back: Theory and Practice in Post-Colonial Literatures. London:

Routledge, 1989. Bhabha, Homi K. "Of Mimicry and Men: The Ambivalence of Colonial Discourse" October 28 (1984) 125-33 Carter, Nick, ed. The Howard Factor: A Decade that Changed the Nation, Carlton: Melbourne University Press, 2006. Donald, James and Ali Rattansi, ed. Race, culture and difference, London: Sage Publications, 1002 Fanon, Frantz. Black Skin, White Masks. New York: Grove Press, 1967. Gilroy, Paul. The Black Atlantic: Modernity and Double Consciousness. Cambridge, MA: Harvard UP, 1993 Gramsci, Antonio. Selections from the Prison Notebooks, trans. Quentin Hoare and Geoffrey Nowell Smith. London: Lawrence and

Wishart, 1971. Hall, Stuart. "Cultural Identity and Diaspora." Colonial Discourse and Post-Colonial Theory. Eds Patrick Williams and Laura Chrisman.

New York: Harvester Wheatsheaf, 1993. 392-403.). Jupp, James. From White Australia to Woomera: the story of Australian immigration, Melbourne: Cambridge University Press, 2007. Lawrence, Carmen. ‘The “Emergency Intervention” in Northern Territory Indigenous Communities’, The New Critic, Issue 7, May

2008. Loomba, Ania, ed. Colonialism/Postcolonialism. New York: Routledge, 1998. Markus, Andrew. John Howard and the Remaking of Australia. NSW: Allan and Unwin, 2001. MacCallum, Mungo. ‘Girt by Sea: Australia, the Refugees and the Politics of Fear’, Quarterly Essay, Vol. 106, 2002. Mongia, Padmini, ed. Contemporary Postcolonial Theory: A Reader. New York: St. Martins, 1996. Poynting, Scott, Greg Noble and Paul Tabar. Bin Laden in the Suburbs: criminalising the Arab Other. Melbourne: Federation Press,

2004 Robertson, Ian. Society: A Brief Introduction, New York: Worth Publishing, 1989. Said, Edward. Orientalism. New York: Vintage, 1979. Spivak, Gayatri Chakravorty. "Can the Subaltern Speak?" Marxism and Interpretation, ed. Cary Nelson (Baskingstoke: Macmillan,

1988) 271-313

Week 5 diversity race racism_1

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