Unit 2 Portfolio

Thesis: Racism is not limited to simply racial prejudice against another person, and can be understood in a variety of ways.

Introduction:

What defines racism? Is it a culmination of different forms of oppression, attitudes, and perspectives, or does it all simply boil down to the hatred of others on the basis of race? The definition of race is most often described as the latter. However, in reality, racism appears in many facets of the world. In particular, systematic oppression, healthcare access, and overall quality of life are all examples of how racism affects how people living in the United States.

Another interesting factor is the different kinds of racism that exist for certain races. The perception of some races in comparison to others differs in the way that some are idealized and fetishized, while others are shamed and looked down on. An example of this can be seen in Korean and Filipino cultures. Many South Koreans look down on Filipino culture because their appearances do not fit into their Westernized beauty standards. An example of this can be seen in Source 3. However, Korean culture is generally celebrated by many, as non-Korean Americans try their best to follow Korean makeup and skincare trends.

Racism is not just limited to words, however. Historically, it has been tied down to violence, which unfortunately still exists today. While the number of violent hate crimes have slowly decreased over the decades, there hasn’t been a significant decline in violence against minority races. Many argue that slavery happened a significantly long time ago, however, this simply isn’t true. The impact that slavery and colonialism have made has a significant impact on the way that races are perceived and ultimately treated.

Source 1:

https://theconversation.com/what-is-reverse-racism-and-whats-wrong-with-the-term-208009

In this article, the author discusses the concept of “reverse racism”, in which a significant percentage of white individuals maintain the belief that they are discriminated against on the basis of their race. In order to understand this perspective of racism, one must consider what exactly defines racism. The question is, why might people feel discriminated against because of their “whiteness”? One example of anti-white prejudice that the article provides is, “They may be discriminated against: for example, by an ethnic business owner who prefers to employ someone from their community background.” This prejudice does very well exist, however, does it provide reasonable grounds to fit into the definition of racism? The article argues not, as it considers the fact that one of the main aspects of the definition of racism is the systemic and historical imbalance of power. As such, this makes it impossible for marginalized groups to be racially discriminatory to white citizens. 

Additionally, the article highlights how the white populations’ increasing concerns for “reverse racism” have often been used as a defense against claims of being racist themselves, subsequently being exploited by far-right republican movements. An example of this that the article provides is the “It’s OK to be white” movement, which has been seen in Australian and U.S. politics. This movement has previously been used to promote white supremacy, and has also been used to express more extreme concerns about reverse racism. For example, some in this movement believe in the threat of a “white genocide”, which, as the article highlights, is a core neo-Nazi belief.
In terms of effectiveness, the article excels in educating and challenging misconceptions about racism. It provides clear examples and explanations in order to contextualize the notion of reverse racism within broader issues of power and systemic oppression. If the audience were to be individuals who believe in the concept of reverse racism, it would provide helpful information about the different aspects that define racism, as well as a small introduction to concepts correlated with critical race theory. Additionally, for those who don’t believe in reverse racism, it may provide them with more perspective from those who do. 

Source 2:

Dating an Asian Woman: What You Need to Know

In this article, the article discusses how to “date an Asian woman.” First and foremost, the article describes Asian women in a multitude of interesting ways. The author immediately begins the article by telling the audience that the main goal for any Asian woman is to find a partner, or, in the author’s choice of words, finding “Mr. Right.” The way the author describes Asian women is interesting, as they describe them as “open to learning and experiencing new things”, and that they prefer “slim, tall Caucasian men with high social status.”  This is problematic for a multitude of reasons, as it aligns with many racist stereotypes used to fetishize Asian women. For example, they are deemed to be submissive, in need of guidance and domination, etc. 

In the perspective of the author, they may consider categorizing Asian women in such a way as a good thing. They seem to be highlighting these traits that they describe women to have as positive, and may even mean to perceive them as compliments. For example, they say, “Asian girls are very open-minded and accepting of different types of people, cultures, and lifestyles. They are not as judgmental as some other ethnicities might be, so they are open to learning and experiencing new things with you.” In analyzing this statement, there’s much to unpack. It begins by describing Asian women as open-minded, which is usually perceived as a compliment when used without context. However, directly after, the author compares them to other ethnicities, putting other ethnicities down in order to make Asian women seem superior. There are two problems with this. One, the use of language when describing Asian women makes it seem as though they are more submissive, willing to do anything simply because their partner wants them to. Second, comparing them to other ethnicities is indirectly racist towards other races, assuming that other ethnicities inherently don’t have the capacity to be as open-minded in comparison. 

The audience that the author was intending to reach was most likely Western men, as that demographic is specifically highlighted in the author’s description of what Asian women supposedly look for. I don’t think the article is effective, considering that it generalizes the desires/expectations of Asian women in relationships, subsequently objectifying them as a monolithic group instead of individual human beings. The emphasis on Asian women in particular suggests that dating them requires a specific knowledge, as if handling a fragile animal. As a result, this exotification of Asian women dehumanizes them, reducing them to objects of desire.

Source 3:

https://www.vice.com/en/article/k7q9vz/tiktok-bella-poarch-tattoo-debate-korean-filipinos-racism

The author in this article highlights an online conflict that occurred over TikTok, as a Filipino influencer had gotten an offensive tattoo of the Japanese Rising Sun Flag. This symbol holds a lot of historical significance in South Korea, as the author highlights, it is associated with Japanese imperialism and treatment of Korea under its colonial rule during WWII. The influencer, Bella Poarch, had made an apology, admitting that she didn’t know about the significance of the symbol and would get it removed/covered. The conflict should have ended here, however, the discussion regarding race and ethnicity stems from the backlash that she received online from South Korean citizens. Many began to use racist slurs and insults towards Filipino culture. An example that the article mentions is, “One called the Philippines a “slave state” and another said, ‘“no wonder you have no to little education…that’s why your country will stay poor, stay the same…small-minded.”’ One user even quipped, ‘“The Philippines is a backward country, come to Korea and work.’” 

So, how does this fit into the discourse surrounding racism? Why is it that Koreans seem to have such racist beliefs towards Filipinos, and why isn’t it more well known that this racial conflict was even taking place? Before answering these questions, one must understand the context surrounding Korean and other East Asian beauty standards. Standards for beauty in East Asia have been known to be very Westernized, as pale skin, large eyes, and thin figures are the goal that society holds for women. The main reason behind this can be traced down to culture. Historically, darker skin was attributed to lower class, as peasants had more tan skin due to field work. According to Harvard’s International Socioeconomics Laboratory, eurocentrism may have had an influence on Eastern Asian beauty standards, however, it is not the main influence on beauty ideals. And so, considering these traditional beliefs about beauty, it contextualizes the reasons why Koreans may feel discriminatory towards Filipinos, as their cultural appearances do not align with their Eurocentric beauty standards. While understanding the context of the Korean perspective, by no means does it excuse their racial discrimination towards the Filipino ethnicity. It is important to note, as the author does in the article, that many Filipinos fought for Korea during the Korean War in 1950, and the Philippines is one of the biggest supporters of South Korean entertainment, beauty, and cuisine. 

The audience that the author was intending to reach was most likely those curious about the drama happening with Bella Poarch, as she’s a very influential creator on TikTok with millions of followers. However, not only did I think the article was effective in shedding light on the online conflict itself, but I think it provided the audience with insight about issues that didn’t necessarily have to do with Bella Poarch herself. The topic of racism regarding the Philippines isn’t spoken about very much, and so in my opinion, the article provided the audience with an excellent example of how other races are discriminated against, especially on online spaces. 

Source 4:

https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2023/jan/06/us-police-killings-record-number-2022

While the other sources have mainly focused on others’ perspectives of racism, this source in particular mainly focuses on statistics. The statistics in this article show the increased percentage of police killings in 2022, which is fairly recent data. According to the article, 2022 was the deadliest year on record for police violence since 2013. Additionally, despite being only 13%  of the population, Black people made up for 24% of those killed in 2022 due to police violence. As the article states, “From 2013 to 2022, Black residents were three times more likely to be killed by US police than white people. The inequality is particularly severe in some cities, including Minneapolis where police have killed Black residents at a rate 28 times higher than white residents, and Chicago, where the rate was 25 times higher, Mapping Police Violence reported.”

This article contributes to the overall discourse surrounding racism in a multitude of fundamental ways. In particular, the data shown in the article sheds light on the disproportionate targeting of Black people in the United States. This goes to show that racism is not only prevalent on a societal scale, but on a systemic scale as well, resulting in the deaths of thousands of lives. The author suggests that police violence does not measure up to a mere amount of isolated incidents, rather a pattern correlated to racial disparities that are ingrained within law enforcement institutions. Additionally, many police killings occur over routine encounters, such as mental health checks or traffic stops, in which case extreme violent measures are rarely necessary. This escalation contributes to the disproportional deaths and wellness within the demographic of Black American citizens. These racial disparities are not only limited to police institutions, but are linked to political institutions as well. As stated in the article, politicization of sheriff departments suggests that political dynamics can magnify racial issues regarding police violence, further victimizing Black citizens.

The audience the author was most likely intending to reach would be those looking for statistical evidence to show how Black Americans are affected by law enforcement. It was effective in doing so, as the data in the article showed multiple statistics for different groups that have been affected by police violence. It provides the readers with a clear understanding of the systematic oppression that has been prevalent throughout U.S. law enforcement institutions, highlighting the need for social reform efforts. I think this source significantly contributes to the discourse surrounding racism, as it provides the audience with the stark reality of how severe racism really is, and emphasizes how important it is for meaningful action in the present and future.

Conclusion:

The discourse surrounding racism can be discussed in a multitude of ways, as it presents itself differently depending on historical context and present-day perspectives. Each source uniquely contributes to the understanding of racism, emphasizing how it manifests and affects different groups of ethnicities/cultures. From systemic oppression to interpersonal biases, racism exists through various aspects of life. It is important to understand the importance of recognizing and addressing racism in its many forms, as its definition cannot be limited to one specific way of thinking. By acknowledging the systemic nature of racism and understanding it in its variety of contexts, future racial equity can be closer to being achieved.