THE SOCIAL CONSTRUCTION OF RACE
Clio Bluestocking reminds us that “race” is a socially constructed category. I remember seeing an exhibit of photographs of renowned Brazilian writer Machado de Assis in Rio de Janeiro. He was mulato. Through his very successful writing he rose in fame and prestige throughout his life. The exhibit included photographs of him as a young man, not retouched as he was not famous yet, and he has clear African features. As he gets older the photographs are retouched more and more, so that at the end of his life he looks white. Here’s Clio:
He’s Not Black,” by Marie Arana, in the Washington Post. While she is correct in her summary of the multiracial genetics of many, if not most humans, and while it would be nice if one day humans could recognize this and move beyond racism; Arana completely ignores the social construction of race, particularly in the U.S. In fact, in reading this column, I think of the fabulous Wanda Sykes and her bit about Tiger Woods (a clip that I cannot seem to find on YouTube, but it is in her concert video “Sick and Tired”). Sykes says that she remembers when Tiger Woods was black; but the more successful Woods became, the less announcers would call him “black” and the smaller the percentage of African heritage they would grant him. “Tiger Woods, he’s 1/2 black. Tiger Woods, now he’s 1/4 black. Tiger Woods, now he’s 1/16th black.” She said that the only reason they would continue to admit that he was black was because his father would show up at the matches. (Of course she said it much funnier, than I.) Now that Obama is president, Arana seems to say, “Barack Obama, he’s 1/2 black. Barack Obama, he’s 1/4 black. Barack Obama, he’s not black at all.” To say he’s black is to perpetuate racism.
PAY EQUITY
The higher education blogs are again buzzing about working conditions of non tenure track faculty. My university is far from the worst on this issue, so I am happy. Today one of the instructors and I drove a long way and back to pick up a major donation to our university’s library. He bought gas and drove, I bought coffee and lunch. It was very collegial and you can see we are dedicated, since it took all day and we spent our own money so our library can have books. It was also very productive since we not only picked up the donation and made friends with the donor – we got a lot of course and curriculum planning done during the drive.
I found out an interesting thing: we have the same income. He teaches twice as many courses as I and most courses are larger than mine, but there are only four preparations in his life. I have research, service, and other responsibilities he does not. Different jobs. Same salary. Of course one could cite this as an instance of salary compression, as I do have seniority. Still, I see it as an indication that things are looking up.
REEDUCATION
A comment by Jennifer:
THAT describes Reeducation. In the same thread Hattie says that Jennifer understands the effects of a fundamentalist upbringing on children very deeply. My Reeducator had had such an upbringing, although he had putatively overcome it. (I suddenly wonder whether that is why he kept saying you could never really overcome anything.)
LAGNIAPPE: PART FOUR
I have discovered a new reason why football players pass courses: they take suggestions on how to study into consideration, assuming these suggestions might have some validity. I am apparently seen as their coach in a skill they are developing. This is very interesting because since the suggestions seem to work for them, one can infer that my suggestions may not be entirely wrong, or may not only work for me (as some other groups claim).
Axé.
coldhearted scientist وداد 
On your last point: I had a pro golfer in a class once who used techniques for winning and wrote acceptable papers. His attitude was that you can become good at things through practice. And adhering to a set of guidelines from an expert can help you hold up your end of things. Now how’s that for a revelation!
Black is an experience. For instance, I have lived the black experience (culture, food, music, language, community, etc.) There are many white people who have lived the black experience and hearing them speak you would even doubt there whiteness — the same applies to black who have lived the “white” experience (difficult to achieve). In reference to the first, folks would mistake he or she for being fair in complexion or “High Yella.” 🙂 It’s all just crazy when you think of it. Good post. How have you been?
Hi Stephen – nice to see you here! Me, fair to middling, you? Black, and experience, YES. I will relay this. Maybe putting it that way, it will land.
I cannot believe how many essays I read on exams today by people who *assumed* that ‘racism’ was something darker people perpetrated against lighter ones. The most racist people are Black, it was said, and their main victims are light skinned Creoles, it was said.