The topic I'm focusing on is race and diversity. In the essay "Beyond Mestizaje: The Future of Race in America," written by Gregory Velazco y Trianosky, I was surprised by how he said Americans classify ourselves. Velazco argues that there are only white Americans and "nonwhite" Americans, more specifically usually white and black, and if you are American you are automatically classified into one of those two groups. I've never really thought about it, but it really is how I think. At first I disagreed, saying there are whites, blacks, Asians, Africans, Mexicans, etc., but then I realized I was just classifying all those other groups as "nonwhites." Velazco argued that people could change their classification, usually only by assimilating into white culture and leaving behind whatever culture they came from. One of the groups he focused on for this was the Irish immigrant group. They were previously considered "inside out" black people but now are seen as a type of white person. He also said that people like him, those classified as Nuevo Mestizaje's, are currently considered black, but in future years may turn to be considered white. I think it's interesting how we just classify all Americans and immigrants into one of two groups, but how those opinions can change with some changed strategies. I think we should be more conscious of who we classify and what we classify them as, as our thinking may be about temporary issues, the times evolve, and people change their minds over classifications. This was really interesting to me and hopefully it interests you!
This is an interesting topic matter. I can relate to this and even though I often have this same classification in my mind, I don't like it. I I think it is partially because we classify americans through different names. African American, hispanics, etc.. These classifications make american citizens seem as if they are almost "new" citizens when in actuality they are just the same as us.
ReplyDeleteI've seen a trend in forms that increasingly offer more choices under the heading of "race." What makes diversity such an enriching thing for a country like ours is the complex cultural differences of so many nationalities and cultures. Even here on campus we have many religious and cultural (as well as racial) backgrounds. When we can learn from each other in a spirit of mutual respect and appreciation, we're all richer.
ReplyDeleteI feel like we will always classify people as a different group as long as their culture is different from ours. He is right by saying when the Irish adopted white culture, they became part of the white group. I feel the same with other races. When there is an African American person who acts like me, I dont really see them as an African American but when I go to a place where different people act differently than what I am used to. I see them differently.
ReplyDeleteI totally think like this, too, but I think it subconsciously. I feel that we've been trained to think this way because, for example, on standardized tests, it'll ask for your race. I know that I have a friend who is part Puerto Rican, but she doesn't identify herself as so since she has lived in America her entire life. I think maybe we should start to "classify" people by where they come from. I look at it this way: a child whose parents are Mexican is considered Mexican because his/her parents are from Mexico But if the child has grown up in the States it's whole life and never adopted the Mexican culture, then the only thing making that child "Mexican" is his skin color. Other than that, the child is Americanized and doesn't consider himself/herself "Mexican." The problem is that sometimes people of different races get benefits, such as college scholarships. So if we started to classify people strictly by where they are from, then a lot of people could lose potential necessary scholarships.
ReplyDeleteThis is very interesting to me! I guess I have never really noticed the need for Americans to identify themselves as a specific race! I think we way we have classified ourselves has definitely changed through out the years though! America used to be known for the one huge "melting pot" but now I think this idea of everyone being one has changed! I feel like as time goes known more pride and desire for identification in this nation is becoming more and more important!
ReplyDeleteI've always found the listings for race on the SAT and ACT to be interesting. The options are usually African American, Hispanic, Asian, Native American and then you just have white. By calling the majority of Americans the broad title of "white", and then very specific separate titles for all those who aren't white we are dividing our country into those who are white and those who aren't. This gives the impression that white is the original or normal, and everyone else is a separate group or type of person. I think if we are going to make the other titles specific then the group white should also be broken down into separate groups.
ReplyDeleteI think it's downright close minded of us to think of it this way. America is a nation founded by immigrants, for one, but since the beginning when the pilgrims fought off natives, we've had the mentality that whites are the supreme race. This has got me thinking...what exactly have we done to declare ourselves the supreme race? Is it by number? Because if this is the case, over the last few years, minorities have begun to increase in number while whites have diminished. Sure, there are some immigrants that try to circumvent the system to gain an advantage illegally, but for the majority of the time this isn't the case. All those from Sweden and Germany and Canada that come in each year aren't subject to such scrutiny. Have we forgotten the struggles of MLK in the Civil Rights movement? Moreover, have we forgotten the struggles of our own founding fathers to make sure that "all men are created equal?" Maybe I'm crazy, but it can't just be me that thinks this way.
ReplyDeleteI like Duncan's point. What does "white" or even "caucasian" mean? You may come from France, U.S., Russia, Norway, and we're all "white." African-American is confusing too since not all blacks in our country (or their forbears) came to the U.S. via Africa.
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