The effectiveness of racial grouping and categories is a topic addressed in both Michael Omi and Howard Winant’s article “Racial Formation in the United States” and Karen Brodkin’s article “How Jews Became White Folks and What That Says about Race in America.” Omi and Winant discuss racial groups in the U.S and their impact on people, while Brodkin focuses on the history of Jews being seen as non-white but now considered white. Brodkin’s article provides a more detailed examination of the issues surrounding racial categories, discussing their effects on individuals in diverse societies, education, government control of racial classification, and the government’s deep involvement.
According to Omi and Winant, having even a small amount of African American blood categorizes a person as fully African American. They argue that racial classification was necessary for federal record-keeping and to implement programs for genetic disease prevention (53). During the 1970s, the government determined people’s race. For example, Susie Guillory Phipps, who had been raised as a white woman, was considered as African American by the government. The government’s labeling affects everyone.
According to Brodkin, it is possible to be raised as one race and be classified as another. This is evident in historical accounts where European immigrant workers were seen as biologically different from white individuals. However, nowadays these immigrants are considered a type of white person, despite the significant differences. The government plays a role in determining people’s racial classification, and although the truth of such classifications is uncertain, people tend to accept them due to governmental influence. Brodkin’s views align with those of Omi and Winant, as both situations involve individuals who were brought up with one racial identity.
As time goes by, individuals gradually discover how society and the government perceive them. If a person has even a small percentage of black heritage, they are categorically deemed black. Similarly, if someone achieves as much as the Jews did, they are assumed to be white because historic norms did not account for other races surpassing them. Consequently, all Jews are now classified as white. The government possesses unrestricted power; their perspective dictates what is deemed right or wrong.
According to Omi and Winant, governments are heavily engaged in race issues, which reveals the deep involvement of the state in organizing and interpreting race. However, state institutions are inadequate in fulfilling these functions (53). Both Omi and Winant believe that the state’s involvement is excessive, leading to more problems in the race domain. On the same note, Brodkin states that the United States started racializing Europe by categorizing the Irish as inferior and superior races in the mid-nineteenth century. This practice further intensified with the influx of immigrants from southern and eastern Europe in the late nineteenth century (27). Thus, Brodkin demonstrates how involved U.S governments are in race classifications. This aligns with the arguments of Omi and Winant that governments become overly entangled, making the situation more complicated.
Omi and Winant argue that racial dictatorship has had a significant impact on race issues. One consequence of this dictatorship was the redefinition of “American” as only white, creating a clear division based on color. The concept of the “color line” was central to the society in the United States, further establishing racial divisions (Omi and Winant 66). These consequences predominantly affected minority races, leading to a feeling of being unwelcome or different. Discrimination against minorities has been pervasive throughout history and continues today. Brodkin explains that these discriminatory views justified various forms of mistreatment, including the restriction of immigration from Europe and Asia between 1882 and 1927 (26).
This paragraph discusses the mistreatment of immigrants, including African Americans, Native Americans, and Mexicans. It emphasizes that these races are not fundamentally different from white people, with the only distinction being their skin color. The author agrees with Brodkin’s support of Omi and Winant’s argument regarding the discrimination faced by minorities. These individuals did not commit any wrongdoing but were subjected to various difficulties solely because they were not white. Society viewed minorities as something less than human, despite the fact that they are all human beings with diverse upbringings. They possess the same potential intelligence and talent as white individuals.
According to Omi and Winant, society experiences increased discrimination due to racial barriers. In their work, they express skepticism about any attempts to overcome these barriers in various aspects of life, such as the workplace and community (70). However, they also delve into a discussion on whether it is possible to overcome all racial barriers. The aim is for minorities to have equal employment opportunities and be accepted in the same way as white individuals within communities. This progress would help break down racial barriers. Notably, the perception of Jews underwent a rapid transformation. Brodkin posits that Jews came to be seen as white individuals (35). Eventually, Americans and the government began referring to Jews as white due to their education and accomplishments.
They all had to make something out of life. They can be referred to as white because they owned businesses and had good jobs. It was as if no other race but whites could achieve anything, so because the Jews did, they were classified as white. The connection between the two quotes and why Brodkin agrees with Omi and Winant is straightforward – Omi and Winant had to find a way to address and potentially eliminate racial barriers. In Brodkin’s article, she discusses how Jews overcame a racial barrier and are now recognized as white or American. Education or determination may be all it takes.
You may need determination and hard work to overcome challenges. To solve issues in certain societies, it is essential to combat discrimination and reject the notion that only one race is capable of success. Minorities should strive to prove themselves, and as they make progress, people will hopefully start acknowledging their achievements. Your identity should not be defined solely by a small percentage of non-white heritage. Both articles discuss racial categorization and its impact on individuals in diverse societies. They examine education and how government controls racial classification, with one article being more specific and detailed than the other.
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Works cited
Omi, Michael and Howard Winant, “Racial Formation in the United States”. Second edition. Rout ledge, New York, London. Brodkin, Karin, “How Jews Became White Folks”. Rutgers University Press. New Brunswick, New Jersey, London.
