RACE IN THE UNITED STATES

'RACE IN THE UNITED STATES.'

Today I want to rewrite my blog on Race in the United States of America

I myself as a black man living in America as an immigrant I see myself fitted in the same category as African American, because that is how the American society see me as When they see me, in their mind, I belong to the African American Community until they start hearing my accent. Their assumption is that I am either African or an islander. Does it really matter what race you are? Why do some people in America make such a big deal on race? Why cannot we live our lives as one people?

What is race?

To some people, race can be defined in different ways.

Mr. F. Haney Lopez, who is a Professor at Harvard University defines “race as a vast group of people loosely bound by historically contingent, socially significant elements of their morphology and/ancestry”. He continues by saying “that I argue that race must be understood a sui generis social phenomenon in which contested system of meaning serve as the connections between physical features, races, and personal characteristic.”

Race plays a major role in America which includes African American, Hispanic, Asian, Pacific Islander, Native American, Whites, and Middle Eastern. United States of America is a great place of success that gives everybody opportunity to become anything you choose to be. To me personally, it should not matter what race you come from, the opportunity should be there for everyone to be successful.

When it comes to people of color, especially Black Americans, it can appear to be a little challenging for them. In order for African-Americans to make it big in America they have to work twice as hard to be on the top because of their race. As an example I am using Ms. Josephine Baker, that woman was born and raised in the United States. She was on her way to becoming a super star and enjoying life like any individual as a citizen of this country (United States). Because she was a woman of color, she found life very difficult to enjoy her career in her own country. After all the turmoil she was facing, she felt the obligation to leave the United States and moved to a European Country (France) to enjoy life. There, she was not seen as a black woman rather than a regular super star entertaining people in general. After she gained her fame, she was able to return to America (Foolish her for coming back) If I were in her position, I would not come back to a place were I was not accepted.

Growing up in Haiti which is considered one of the most poor countries in the Northern Hemisphere makes me realize what it is like to be a minority. When I was in Haiti, I had witnessed prejudice and racism as well.....Haiti is one of the countries in the Western Caribbean Islands that has what we call caste system. There, we find High Class and Poor Class, the middle class is so little. In Haiti, there is a race that is called mutates which is stand for light skinned people. Those are the ones who are in control of that island. They see the dark skinned people as inferiors and non-educated. To be dark skinned in Haiti and be successful, you have to work really hard and earn an education from one of the top of well known institutions there. That way you would get access to lots of great things; you can even date the President’s daughter whether she is a light skinned or not. As far as Racism is concerned, I did not have a better idea what racism meant until I came to The United States to actually see the whole picture.

Posted by Abner Richet

Interdisciplinary class

Professors: Rught Gregory and Rachel David