Does the degree of homogeneity in a population affect how people do race? More specifically, does the fact that there are more racial differences in America than in many other countries produces more racist people in America?
Racism seems to be more of a problem here than say… in Japan. But does that mean that Americans are generally more racist than the Japanese? I use Japan as an example in my question because I have notice that in many Japanese anime, manga, and movies that I have watched and read, the streets of New York are often portrayed as a place where black hooligans inevitable roam and they often want to cause some trouble to the protagonists. When I see these portrayals, I couldn’t help but think that Japanese media are even more stereotypical and racist than American media.
You would think that in a place like Japan, where the population is very homogeneous as compared to America, where clashes between people of different races happen less often and where there are fewer cases of people feeling threaten by people of a different race that the racist mentality of the general population wouldn’t run as deep as that in America. However, I think it is otherwise.
The thing is many Japanese and people who live in relatively homogeneous societies are not exposed to people of a difference race as often. Racism is not a big problem because they never feel like their culture or job or school is being invaded by the “others.” However, it is precisely because most of them never have to deal with people of a difference race that they can be rather deep racists without realizing it. First, there is no one to pressure them to feel a sense of wrongness for thinking in racist terms. Second, some of them will never have the chance to personally meet and know a person of a different race; thus, the racial stereotypes they see in their media or western media and believe to be true will never have to chance to be proven otherwise.
So, to answer my own question, I would say no, Americans are no more racist than people of other countries. More racist problems in society do not suggest that people are more racist. In fact, less discussion about racism in other countries does not mean that there is less racism. It may just mean that people do not recognize that racism is a problem in their society. What do you think?
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You make some good points! I think it's also necessary to include the historical and cultural events that are unique to the United States in comparison to a nation like Japan. While Japan has maintained a policy of isolationism for most of its history, the United States has been quite the opposite: a nation of immigrants hailing from countries all over the earth. Race is much more ingrained and "done" here because of its significance in our history.
ReplyDeleteThe images of New York in anime and manga are certainly racial stereotypes, but I don't think that the intent is to be "racist". Unfortunately, for a lot of people, it's what they think (or want people to think!) Cartoons and movies here similarly portray people in different countries as a particular way. Rush Hour, anyone? Haha :)
Japanese can also be racist, and to anthropologists who study race, theirs is an interesting case. In Japan, it is the Burakumin, Ainu, Koreans and anyone else who is not considered racially pure Japanese. In many cases one cannot tell physically who is and who is not Japanese. It can depend on your address, your family name, or other cues that we would not consider racial in the traditional sense, but when you think about it, we also use to determine race (think neighborhoods north of Delmar...)
ReplyDeletehttp://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/asia-pacific/4671687.stm
I think Japan is an interesting example. Due to its geographic location and the fact that it is a nation of islands, Japan does not experience the large influx one sees in places like Germany, Russia, or the United States. Yet the United States stands alone in one respect: freedom of speech. Racism is more visible in the United States because even if we hate what someone has to say, they have a right to say it. And even if we try to ignore it, we still might hear it. The national media also regularly publicizes politically charged topics like KKK rallies or equality marches. Furthermore, there are also legally and socially respected organizations like the NAACP and the ACLU (to name just two) that work for equality and to combat racism.
ReplyDeleteSo while we are constantly bombarded with reminders that racism is still a relevant issue in the United States, that does not mean that we are more racist than other countries. I think that the US is actually less racist than many other countries in the world because of its diversity, but the real thing that differentiates the US from both heterogenous and homogenous nations in terms of racism is that there is an ability to keep race in the eye of the public.
I agree with Johanna that much of the racism that we experience within our society can be linked to our history as a country. I feel that because the US is such a "melting pot" of different races and cultures, we have the opportunity to view how other cultures/races are similar and different to us. I feel that especially in countries that have maintained isolated political policies, such as Japan, there is somewhat a lack of variation among people's cultural practices and traditions. In the US, however, there is such a wide variety of races that we have the opportunity see people of different races living their everyday lives. Because of this and the fact that as people, we tend to judge others without even realizing it, we are aware of the racist issues that we have. If I had never been in a situation where there were multiple races, I probably wouldn't even consider racism. Also, we have within our relatively short history many problems that have been race related (slavery, Japanese concentration camps, etc). This also makes us more aware of race and the problems that are associated with race in our society.
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