When Theda Perdue states that “we don’t realize that race is an idea that evolves over time, that it has a history, that it is constructed by society to further certain political and economic goals,” she means that race doesn’t necessarily have to do with how you look, but is rather used in political s to allow certain races to gain power while making others inferior. A persons status in society and the level of respect they would receive was determined from their skin color. As the documentary later states how the lower class consisted of black people, while the higher class consisted of white/pale people. Of course those with the paler skin would have greater opportunities in society, and would always have more power and control of politics, as the system was made to benefit them.
Indigenous populations and enslaved populations were racialized in different ways. Indigenous populations were seen as white peoples with tanned skin due to the sun. They were seen as white, but because of their culture, Europeans viewed them as “savages” that needed to be civilized. For that reason they were to be wiped out so that the Europeans can settle in and not have to worry about these “savages.” Those who weren’t wiped out were forced to be assimilated into the European way of life, and follow Christianity. Enslaved populations were seen as inferior, and white Americans use science to justify that as well. Pro slavery advocates would claim that Thomas Jefferson’s phrase “all men” did not include black peoples, so therefore they weren’t seen as equal to the white man. These groups being racialized in such a way were just excuses for the white man to claim superiority over other races. They used religion as science to say they were superior than other races.
White Americans started using science to justify their racism towards poc and to claim racial superiority. They compared skull sizes, skull capacity, and brain capacity, to justify their belief on how the white American is the most superior man.
Filipino people were racialized as well. They were seen as inferior, similar to how Native Americans and African Americans were seen as inferior to the white American. Upon the US claiming the Philippines as US territory, they believed that it was their duty to civilize these different nations and they believed doing so was “the white mans burden” but it had to be done.
The video “A Conversation with Asian Americans on Race” discusses the experiences Asian Americans faced growing up in America, and the stereotypes and racism they faced. Some people stated how when people refer to Americans, they usually see Americans as only white. Asian Americans are also often told to hide their Asian identity and only told to associate with their American side. Many people have also had experiences during their childhood in which people would use derogatory and racist words, and make disgusting remarks about the color of their skin. And many of the times, the Asian Americans were ridiculed by other white Americans. The video also discusses the model minority myth, and how Asians are stereotyped as being smart, over achieving and privileged in American society.
Dhingra and Rodriguez define race, ethnicity, gender etc as social constructs, that are used to establish inferiority or superiority based on ones appearance, their origin/ancestry, and their gender.
The yellow peril is a racist term used to stereotype East Asians and create the fear that they will invade western lands and force them to adapt the East Asian way of life. East Asians are essentially seen as a danger to the western world.
The term model minority also stereotypes East Asians as being smart, wealthy, hard working, overachieving members of society. They are seen as the ideal minority group and that other minority groups should see them as an ideal example of what minorities should be like. This myth is also stereotypical and gives the false narrative that every Asian must meet these criteria’s or else they are seen as failures in society.
