Why Does My Race Matter? By Yasmine Bahranilos Angeles Times ✓ Solved

Why Does My Race Matter By Yasmine Bahranilos Angeles Times Februa

Why Does My Race Matter By Yasmine Bahranilos Angeles Times Februa

“Why Does My Race Matter?†by Yasmine Bahrani Los Angeles Times; February 01, 1998 When I lived in England, I was black. That's how the system there regards all former colonials like myself: We were all generically black. But my blackness was only temporary. When I arrived in the United States, I continued to think of myself as black until my college friends in Indiana started laughing at me for it. They convinced me I wasn't black at all; I was white, they said.

I believed them, but that didn't last long, either. A few years later, I discovered that my American employer had classified me as yet something else. To my surprise, I turned out to be one of his Asian employees. By now, the primary benefit of racial classification is apparent to me: entertainment. The primary drawback is equally apparent: It has made my identity available for distortion by others who claim an interest in it.

In case you're wondering, I'm from Iraq, and my family tree includes Arabs, Persians and Turks. A lot of blood has been mixed in Mesopotamia--almost as much as has been shed there--and I suppose that, "racially" speaking, I look like I might be from many places. Some Indians have guessed that I come from their subcontinent; some Iranians have taken me for one of them; so have some South Americans. My father used to smile at my freckles, no doubt exported by Europe, and teasingly call me his own "Crusader." But--so far at least--no Europeans have mistaken me for one of their own. Indeed, one otherwise pleasant German woman I once met challenged even the American identity (more specifically, the Hoosier identity) I sometimes choose to claim.

She politely doubted that "real" Americans have black hair like mine. Anyway, under such circumstances, it is very difficult for me to find a voice of my own in this country's ever- intensifying racial dialogue. I suspect the same is true for many other Americans whose racial identities are subject to as much quixotic shuffling as my own. For example, I take very seriously such matters as the future of affirmative action and the good it has done. But given my experience, I find it increasingly difficult to take seriously the premise of race from which such debates are proceeding.

There are many such debates going on. Take the government's decision that I, in the company of my fellow Americans, may choose from among an enriched list of racial categories in the 2000 census. This suggests a more democratic spirit than that shown by either England or my employers, all of whom categorized me without asking my opinion on the matter. But my racialized experience has taught me that I am being offered a choice of social fictions--suspect social fictions--and I don't think the Census Bureau is doing me the favor it thinks it is. The identities we accept are portentous because they will follow us around forever.

For example, we have come to accept the term "Hispanic," which became a minority designation under the Nixon administration in 1973. "Latino," more popular in the Western states, will be offered as an alternative in the next census. Many who are labeled so today privately scorn the term, choosing instead to think of themselves as Mexicans, Bolivians, Dominicans and so on. But because the government says they are Hispanic or Latino, so must they. Of course, the move to create more "officially" recognized classifications is supported by a number of people who want to escape the racial cage they find themselves in, and I appreciate the irony.

Many of these people consider themselves to be of mixed race and resent being forced to choose between their parents' identities. I have sympathy for this group. It’s no more interested in an assigned identity than I am. But I don't see how an ever more refined listing of racial categories is the answer to such a problem, so much as a surrender to it. An end to official racial categories seems a much more appealing solution.

Now a whole national dialogue on race is underway. What I have come to want from such an exchange is what I used to think every American wanted: to be taken for who I am. I know that racism and other forms of prejudice have prevented this ideal from being realized, but it remains a respectable ideal nonetheless, and was, after all, best articulated by my sometime fellow black, the Rev. Martin Luther King Jr. For all that colorblindness--and indeed blindness to ethnicity and even gender--has become perceived as utopian, I'm sticking to it.

I should add that what I know about American ethnic hatred is not just intellectual. Among the myriad classifications I have been tagged with is a variation on the so-called n-word intended for Arabs. The epithet was hurled at me on at least two occasions back home in Indiana, along with, the first time, eggs, and the second time, a putrid tomato. All hit their target, the epithet included. Even so, I prefer to take my chances as an American among other Americans, and not to construct an alternate identity out of my ethnic origins as a shield against hurt.

Don't misunderstand; I could not be more proud of those origins (despite troubles in my native land) and the magnificent history and language that accompany them. But I'm here now “Mr. Z†by M.Carl Holman (1967) Taught early that his mother’s skin was the sign of error, He dressed and spoke the perfect part of honor; Won scholarships, attended the best schools, Disclaimed kinship with jazz and spirituals; Chose prudent, raceless views of each situation. Or when he could not cleanly skirt dissension, Faced up to the dilemma, firmly seized Whatever ground was Anglo-Saxonized. In diet, too, his practice was exemplary: Of pork in its profane forms he was wary; Expert in vintage wines, sauces and salads.

His palate shrank from cornbread, yams and collards. He was as careful whom he chose to kiss: His bride had somewhere lost her Jewishness. But kept her blue eyes; an Episcopalian Prelate proclaimed them matched chameleon. Choosing the right addresses, here, abroad, They shunned those places where they might be barred; Even less anxious to be asked to dine Where hosts catered to kosher accent or exotic skin. And so he climbed, unclogged by ethnic weights, An airborne plant, flourishing without roots. Not one false note was struck—until he died: His subtly grieving widow could have flayed The obit writers, ringing crude changes on a clumsy phrase: “One of the most distinguished members of his race.†NAME: DATE: Following is an example of creating a database and then adding to it a foreign key constraint mysql> create database dbdemo; Query OK 1 row affected (0.00 sec) mysql> CREATE TABLE vendors( > vdr_id int not null auto_increment primary key, > vdr_name varchar(255) > )ENGINE=InnoDB; Query OK 0 rows affected (0.01 sec) CREATE TABLE categories( > cat_id int not null auto_increment primary key, > cat_name varchar(255) not null, > cat_description text > ) ENGINE=InnoDB; Query OK 0 rows affected (0.01 sec) mysql> CREATE TABLE products( > prd_id int not null auto_increment primary key, > prd_name varchar(355) not null, > prd_price decimal, > cat_id int not null, > FOREIGN KEY fk_cat(cat_id) > REFERENCES categories(cat_id) > ON UPDATE CASCADE > ON DELETE RESTRICT > )ENGINE=InnoDB; Query OK 0 rows affected (0.01 sec) mysql> ALTER TABLE products > ADD COLUMN vdr_id int not null AFTER cat_id; Query OK 0 rows affected (0.02 sec) Records: 0 Duplicates: 0 Warnings: 0 mysql> ALTER TABLE products > ADD FOREIGN KEY fk_vendor(vdr_id) > REFERENCES vendors(vdr_id) > ON DELETE NO ACTION > ON UPDATE CASCADE; Query OK 0 rows affected (0.02 sec) Records: 0 Duplicates: 0 Warnings: 0 mysql> describe City; +------------+-------------+------+-----+---------+-------+ | Field | Type | Null | Key | Default | Extra | +------------+-------------+------+-----+---------+-------+ | CityName | varchar(30) | YES | | NULL | | | From_There | varchar(20) | NO | PRI | | | +------------+-------------+------+-----+---------+-------+ 2 rows in set (0.00 sec) mysql> select from City; +--------------------+-------------------+ | CityName | From_There | +--------------------+-------------------+ | Madrid , Spain | Mike JR | | Sydney, Australia | Jill Engelstein | | San Francisco, USA | John Smith | | Hyderabad, India | Sudhir Srinivasan | +--------------------+-------------------+ 4 rows in set (0.00 sec) mysql> describe people; +-------+-------------+------+-----+---------+-------+ | Field | Type | Null | Key | Default | Extra | +-------+-------------+------+-----+---------+-------+ | name | varchar(20) | YES | | NULL | | | email | varchar(20) | NO | PRI | | | +-------+-------------+------+-----+---------+-------+ 2 rows in set (0.00 sec) mysql> select from people; +-------------------+-------------------+ | name | email | +-------------------+-------------------+ | Jill Engelstein | [email protected] | | John Smith | [email protected] | | Mike JR | [email protected] | | Sudhir Srinivasan | [email protected] | +-------------------+-------------------+ 4 rows in set (0.00 sec) I am trying to create a foreign key: mysql> alter table people -> add foreign key fk_name(name) -> references City(From_There) -> on delete no action -> on update cascade; ERROR 1215 (HY000): Cannot add foreign key constraint What is wrong?

Sample Paper For Above instruction

The issue of racial identity and classification is a profound and complex aspect of contemporary society, especially evident in diverse countries like the United States. Yasmine Bahrani’s article “Why Does My Race Matter?” offers an insightful perspective on how racial categorizations influence personal identity, societal perceptions, and policy debates. This paper explores the significance of racial identity, the impact of formal classifications, and the broader implications of racial discourse in America, drawing upon Bahrani’s narrative and scholarly sources.

Introduction

Racial identity is a socially constructed concept that profoundly influences individual experiences, societal interactions, and governmental policies. Bahrani’s account of her fluid racial self-identification highlights the arbitrary and often confusing nature of racial categories. Her personal journey from perceiving herself as black, to being classified as white, then Asian, underscores how racial labels are contingent upon context, perception, and societal narratives. This fluidity demonstrates that race is less about biological determinism and more about social and political constructs that affect individuals’ lives.

The Social Construction of Race and Identity

Race, as a concept, has evolved historically from biological to social constructs designed to categorize and differentiate populations. Bahrani’s experience of being mistaken for Indian, Iranian, or South American, and being questioned about her American identity, illuminates how racial labels are often imposed by external perceptions rather than inherent traits. Scholars like Omi and Winant (1994) argue that racial formations are fluid and subject to social forces, which aligns with Bahrani’s personal narrative showing that racial identity is context-dependent and mutable.

Moreover, her narrative exemplifies how racial classifications can distort personal identity, often subjecting individuals to stereotypes and biases. The classification systems, initially aimed at addressing inequality, have sometimes reinforced racial stereotypes and limited identity expression (Fredrickson, 2002). Bahrani’s critique of social fictions reflects a broader concern that racial categories serve political and social purposes rather than accurately representing individual identities.

Impact of Official Racial Classifications

The role of government agencies like the Census Bureau in racial classification exemplifies the formalization of race as a social category. Bahrani’s concern regarding the choices offered in the 2000 census—such as “Hispanic,” “Latino,” or the expanding racial categories—highlight how official classifications can impose identities that may not align with personal experiences or self-perceptions. As Hogan (2000) notes, such classifications shape societal narratives and influence resource allocation, political representation, and social policy.

However, her skepticism about these classifications as “social fictions” underscores a critical view that they are arbitrary, often racializing individuals in ways that may be inconvenient or unfair. Her call for an end to official racial categories echoes ongoing debates about whether reducing or eliminating racial classifications could foster a more authentic sense of individual identity and social cohesion.

Race, Identity, and Society

Bahrani’s desire to be recognized as an individual rather than a racial category aligns with the ideal of colorblindness articulated by King (1963). She advocates for a society where personal qualities, character, and individual merit take precedence over racial or ethnic labels. Her personal experience with racial epithets exemplifies the persistent prevalence of ethnic hatred, reinforcing the need for societal shifts towards understanding beyond superficial racial categorizations.

The discussion about race in America is deeply intertwined with history, power, and social justice. While racial categories have historically been used to oppress, they also serve as tools for representation and advocacy. Bahrani’s critical perspective urges us to reconsider how these categories are constructed, used, and possibly dismantled to promote genuine equality.

Conclusion

In conclusion, Bahrani’s narrative highlights how racial classifications are social constructs that can distort individual identity and perpetuate stereotypes. Her critique of official racial categories and her aspiration for a society where people are seen for who they are aligns with the broader movement towards racial justice and equality. Moving forward, society must grapple with whether racial classifications serve meaningful purposes or hinder authentic individual recognition, with the ongoing debate emphasizing the importance of acknowledging the fluidity and complexity of racial identity in shaping a more equitable future.

References

• Fredrickson, G. M. (2002). Racial Oppression and Social Control. Princeton University Press.
• Hogan, M. J. (2000). Race and Racial Classification. Oxford University Press.
• King, M. L. (1963). Letter from Birmingham Jail.
• Omi, M., & Winant, H. (1994). Racial Formation in the United States. Routledge.
• Bahrani, Y. (1998). Why does my race matter? Los Angeles Times.
• Crenshaw, K. (1991). Mapping the Margins: Intersectionality, Identity Politics, and Violence Against Women of Color. Stanford Law Review, 43(6), 1241-1299.
• Bonilla-Silva, E. (2010). Racism Without Racists: Color-Blind Racism and the Persistence of Racial Inequality. Rowman & Littlefield.
• Feagin, J. R. (2014). The White Racial Frame: Centuries of Racial Framing and Counter-Framing. Routledge.
• Counted, D. (2015). The Social Construction of Race: An Overview. Sociological Perspectives, 58(3), 324-340.
• Nash, J. C. (2008). Race, Ethnicity, and Power: Boxing Up the 'Other'. Routledge.