[PEN-L:8813] re: racism

[Rod Hay <rodhay@xxxxxxxxxxx>]

One of the major problems of fighting the idea of race is the tendency of
oppressed groups to internalize the concepts of a racist society. Toni
Morrison deals with this problem in one of her books.(I forget the title,
something about blue eyes). This I see happening particularly in the United
States. The post modern response is simply to attempt to bring about a
re-valuation of the groups as determined by racial theory. Instead of a
heirarchy they propose an equality, of group status, but never attack the
underlying falsehood--that races exist. This is a dead end strategy because
the revaluation can easily be overthrown, because the economic base for the
categories still exists. What is needed is a two prong attack. 1. A
redistribution of income to those that are underprivileged. 2. A vigourous
attack on the idea that race exist. It should be pointed out at every
opportunity that the racial categories are based on a lie. Anything else is
self-defeating. Particularly dangerous is the attempt to categorise into two
groups--"people of colour" and "people of no colour". Instead of bringing
about an end to racism it invites a backlash which of course, continues the
division of the oppressed, and reinforces the idealist categories of race.
If the categories are eradicated, reversals of valuation can not occur.

Of course, racist acts should be opposed, at every opportunity by any one
who observes them. But this is only a tactic in the fight, not a strategy
for victory.

Any compromise with the idea that races exist will lead to defeat.



Rod Hay
rodhay@xxxxxxxxxxx
The History of Economic Thought Archives
http://socserv2.mcmaster.ca/~econ/ugcm/3ll3/index.html
Batoche Books
http://members.tripod.com/rodhay/batochebooks.html
http://www.abebooks.com/home/BATOCHEBOOKS/





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