I was wondering what RF's Racial or Ethnic make-up was and whether it affected discussions on various topics. How far does our Racial or Ethnic background determine our beliefs and experiences? And do you believe that certain racial or ethnic groups can necessarily be classified by collective experiences of domination or oppression in shaping the outlook of its individual members? Do you define your nationality or cultural identity by your racial group?
As this thread will inevitably involve defining what these categories are, to speed up the process here are some definitions from Wikipedia to get you all warmed up;
An ethnic group or an ethnicity, is a category of people who identify with each other based on similarities such as common ancestry, language, history, society, culture or nation. Ethnicity is usually an inherited status based on the society in which one lives. Membership of an ethnic group tends to be defined by a shared cultural heritage, ancestry, origin myth, history, homeland, language or dialect, symbolic systems such as religion, mythology and ritual, cuisine, dressing style, art or physical appearance.
A race is a grouping of humans based on shared physical or social qualities into categories generally viewed as distinct by society. First used to refer to speakers of a common language and then to denote national affiliations, by the 17th century the term race began to refer to physical (phenotypical) traits. Modern scholarship regards race as a social construct, that is, a symbolic identity created to establish some cultural meaning. While partially based on physical similarities within groups, race is not an inherent physical or biological quality.
I admittedly don't think about it that much, but I'm White-British/White-European. I think that I am "privileged" in a sense to have had the experience of living in a mainly white area and a society where white people control the levers of economic, political and cultural power. I realise that part of my identity is at least "inherited" from collective sources and draws on that historical blueprint of "White European civilisation" versus "everyone else". It's complicated by the fact I tend to resent ideas about "White Guilt" because I don't think Guilt can be a positive motivation for getting people to recognise and take responsibility for problems arising from race. I also tend to think attributing blame or responsibility to people based on the colour of their skin is counter-productive because we don't necessarily have the power to change everything and our character and responses to the situations that arise should matter in evaluating what role we play in a society based on racial inequalities. That being said, I do find it difficult talking about race and racism as a white guy, because of the danger of "lecturing" people who have experiences I don't share and may therefore reach legitimately different conclusions outside of the bubble of my own "white privilege".
How about you? Any thoughts or insights on the issue?
As this thread will inevitably involve defining what these categories are, to speed up the process here are some definitions from Wikipedia to get you all warmed up;
An ethnic group or an ethnicity, is a category of people who identify with each other based on similarities such as common ancestry, language, history, society, culture or nation. Ethnicity is usually an inherited status based on the society in which one lives. Membership of an ethnic group tends to be defined by a shared cultural heritage, ancestry, origin myth, history, homeland, language or dialect, symbolic systems such as religion, mythology and ritual, cuisine, dressing style, art or physical appearance.
A race is a grouping of humans based on shared physical or social qualities into categories generally viewed as distinct by society. First used to refer to speakers of a common language and then to denote national affiliations, by the 17th century the term race began to refer to physical (phenotypical) traits. Modern scholarship regards race as a social construct, that is, a symbolic identity created to establish some cultural meaning. While partially based on physical similarities within groups, race is not an inherent physical or biological quality.
I admittedly don't think about it that much, but I'm White-British/White-European. I think that I am "privileged" in a sense to have had the experience of living in a mainly white area and a society where white people control the levers of economic, political and cultural power. I realise that part of my identity is at least "inherited" from collective sources and draws on that historical blueprint of "White European civilisation" versus "everyone else". It's complicated by the fact I tend to resent ideas about "White Guilt" because I don't think Guilt can be a positive motivation for getting people to recognise and take responsibility for problems arising from race. I also tend to think attributing blame or responsibility to people based on the colour of their skin is counter-productive because we don't necessarily have the power to change everything and our character and responses to the situations that arise should matter in evaluating what role we play in a society based on racial inequalities. That being said, I do find it difficult talking about race and racism as a white guy, because of the danger of "lecturing" people who have experiences I don't share and may therefore reach legitimately different conclusions outside of the bubble of my own "white privilege".
How about you? Any thoughts or insights on the issue?
Last edited:
