“The field of racial positions has now been rearticulated in cultural terms: rather than asserting the intrinsic racial superiority of certain groups over others, opinionmakers now claim that certain group cultures are more conducive to success than others.”
This quote made me truly realize how over the course of history, especially in the United States, the beliefs of certain people are still fundamentally the same. Our society has become more progressive, and as we continue to progress into a better society the people must unify against the beliefs of social inequality. Racism is this concept that further divides humanity into a comparison war that ultimately leads to an individuals conclusion of what they believe is a race that is better equipped for success. However, if we could just put aside the clever wording that influences people’s beliefs about other races, and just look at one another as human to human in order to better understand their lives we could develop a more sympathetic relationship between races. This ultimately can unite humanity instead of us having the discussion of whether or not which race is more conducive to success which just consequently ends up dividing humanity. Racism hasn’t changed, the clever wording used to influence values of division have, and are now creating chaos across the globe. It’s time for us as humans to reflect upon history to finally make a change and put an end to cultural division.
I agree with the points made in your post. I’d also like add that in the article, Kim also points out that the reason why races started comparing themselves with each other, which is the model minority myth perpetrated by White Americans as a way to keep themselves on top of the social hierarchy. I don’t believe people are born inherently racist. On the contrary, we are curious and fascinated with others’ way of life, and tend to adopt what we like. Therefore, I think racial injustice was something fabricated by a group of people to keep themselves on top, to dominate the other “lesser” and “inferior” races. But who is to say who is better when the world as we know it abides solely by white standards?
Our curiosity to explore other races and cultural groups is inevitably what makes us racist. Like Belinda said, racism isn’t something you are born with or an inherited trait. It comes to fruition because a bunch of people decided to establish dominance over others to place themselves on pedestals; this is what Kim is referring to, she is calling out the racial positions whose definitions have been falsely altered.