Racism Throughout American History Race

Racism

Throughout American history race relations have been a constant challenge, as there is the struggle between the dominate White Anglo Saxon Protestant (WASP) class and other racial groups. As the WASP's will demand that they hold a higher social and economic status in comparison with other racial groups. However, the extent of this self proclaimed superiority is delusional, as there are often various distinctions between the ways WASP's will interact with other ethnic groups. Yet, over the last several decades, this has been changing, with various laws and regulations challenging the status quo. As result, a state of negation and classification will occur, with the political / social establishment constantly negotiating spheres of power and influence. An area where this can be seen is with Jean Kim's theory on racial relations. Where, she argues that the various levels of racial relations will be based upon a constant state of negotiation, between different power brokers in society and culture. This will create two different standards that will occur for the political world and popular culture. A good example of this occurred during the 1980's and 1990's, where various political / cultural institutions began to question the motives of the Japanese economic success. As many people were comparing what is happening to an economic Pearl Harbor and calling them the yellow peril. In this case, many popular publications in the media and legal circles would attempt to paint an alarmist view of the threat. At which point, the economic influence of the Japanese would decline, as the Asian financial crisis and the negative backlash, would cause them to cut back on investing in America. In this case, one could argue that various political and social institutions, were calling for a renegotiation the between the Japanese along with other racial groups (as the political / social establishment felt that they were becoming too powerful). (Kim 105 -- 138)

A second point that Kim discusses is racial traingulaization. This is where one racial group will use another racial group, to make a third one feel inferior. At the same time, they are using the process to make both racial groups to see the first one as superior. Part of this is from the racialization in American society. Racialization is where two, racial groups have become so disgusted with one another that they will begin to take negative views of each other .Where, WASP's would often see blacks as the lowest ethic groups in society, while they would view other ethnics groups in more positive light (but only to a certain extent). A good example of this can be seen with the way many individuals will not acknowledge someone as an American (such as: Christy Yamuguchi's Olympic performance against Midori Ito of Japan). Despite being a fourth generation Japanese-American, the media commentators kept implying that she was Japanese (even though she was from America). This is significant, because it shows how the radicalization of WASP's has created racial triangulation. Where, they cannot acknowledge the accomplishment of minorities, (despite the fact that they are Americans). In this case, the media was using racial triangulation to keep Yamuguchi down to a certain extent, but not to compare in such a negative light as other racial groups. (Kim 105 -- 138)