Ethnic Notions: Illusion or Essential?

In their book Race and Critical Theories, Michael Omi and Howard Winant discuss the continued struggle of American society in coming to terms with the concept of “race.” They describe a dual temptation on the part of different groups to think of race as a mere illusion or as essence. This is echoed in the selection of “Ethnic Notions” as the title for the documentary. The combination of the word ethnicity with that of notion, or more precisely the very meaning of notion, suggests there is no concrete definition or description for race or ethnicity. This sentiment is found throughout Omi and Winant’s discussion of racial formation in the United States. Beginning by posing the deceptively simple question: What is Race? Omi and Winant move on to discuss the history of race, implying there was a beginning and possibly an end to this idiom; showing both the answer and the question itself are more complex than they initially seem. The discussion is then shifted to the usage of race in hegemony and the eventual practice of racism itself. In considering the formation of the concept of race and its necessity in developing hegemony, the portrayal of Blacks in popular media, as shown in the film, can definitely be described as not only a natural outcome, but also a necessity as well in both the developing and maintenance of that hegemony. In light of the treatment of Blacks and other marginalized people throughout history, I whole heartedly agree the relationship between these groups and politics as a whole lie in the concept of hegemony which Antonio Gramsci “understood as the conditions necessary for the achievement and consolidation of rule” (Omi and Winant 130.) He further argues consolidation of that rule constitutes a combination of coercion and consent, and it is here where the role of media and popular entertainment play their part.

While our “common sense” may tell us contrary, race as a concept is recent in nature. As W.E.B. Du Bois satrically points out in his book Darkwater, "The ancient world would have laughed at such a distinction. The Middle Age regarded skin color with mild curiosity; and even up into the eighteenth century we were ahmmering our national manikins in one, great, Universal Man." With the boom of science during the industrial revolution, essential biological notions of race appeared. Unsurprisingly, the rise of Social Darwinism comes in the wake of T.D. Rice’s minstrel act of Jim Crow. Blackface, Minstrel Shows, and their legacy would continue well on towards the middle of the 20th century, some would go as far as to argue it continues today. While there is no doubt that these forms of entertainment were negative and demeaning depictions of Blacks it is important to recognize that racism is more than just ill feelings or bad manners towards a particular group. What is far more important is to recognize how these forms of media helped to consolidate the power of the White ruling class. Through these media Whites were able to control the definition of what is Black and then to further imprint that definition with a badge of inferiority. Therefore notions of Anti-Blackness became “common sense,” it was perfectly natural that Blacks were treated the way they were. Coercion of that racialized power was no longer necessary as consent had been secured by Whites and even many Blacks as well. Through media and popular entertainment those in power are able to reach the masses and control the way they view the world, although it is also important to note that in part of that coercion and consent the hegemony must also entertain ideas contrary to their wants. Thus we find successful well to do Blacks in addition to the oversaturation of images of Blacks as criminals, drug addicts, oversexed single parents, and other negative stereotypes. However, just as it is important to realize that racism is more than simply bad manners, it is equally important to realize that the truth of stereotypes is not the issue; it is the effect that the stereotype has.

One final quote that struck me was that they felt it was crucial to “emphasize that race, class, and gender are not fixed categories” (Omi & Winant 132.) These categories are truly intertwined and constantly interact with each other on a day to day basis.

March 04, 2005


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random quote not in paper

"How easy, then, by emphasis and omission to make children believe that every great soul the world ever saw was a white man's soul; that every great thought the world ever knew was a white man's thought; that every great deed the world ever did was a white man's deed; that every great dream the world ever sang was a white man's dream. In fine, that if from the world were dropped everything that could not fairly be attributed to White Folk, the world would, if anything, be even greater, truer, better than now. An if all this be a lie, is it not a lie in a great cause?"

- W.E.B. Du Bois Darkwater (1920)