Compare And Contrast Alcoff's Theory Of Ethnorace

Explaining Ethnorace

Thesis: With existing schematization presenting a range of issues in society, Alcoff’s theory of ethnorace provides effective ways to resolve the issues present within it.

Fanon and Young on Schematization: Fanon and Young’s texts provide excellent accounts that allow schematization to be understood from different perspectives. In The Lived Experience of the Black, Fanon recounts and compares his experience around other “black” people (like himself), and around “white” people. These experiences, according to Fanon, brought about the experience of skin color. In his interaction with other black people, Fanon simply felt as one in the space and therefore, “belonging.” He states that "as long as the Black is with his own,

This division has continued to play an important part in the social-political atmosphere in the country. Here, it is worth noting that the “black-white binary” is not necessarily used to differentiate those who are “black,” or African Americans, with those who are generally considered “white,” such as Caucasians, but rather to group people of different ethnicities. In this case, even individuals who are Asian (such as Chinese) or Latino (such as Mexicans) can be grouped as “black.” Here, Alcoff noted that while Chinese Americans were classified as white in 1860, but the children of both Chinese and non-Chinese parents were being classified as either black or white in 1900 despite the fact that they were classified as Chinese before. On the other hand, there have been cases in which Latinos and Asians have either been categorized as either “black” or “white,” with no in-between. This shows that it is possible to see how the black-white binary takes precedence over one;s ethnicity. In the process, the identities of different people from different backgrounds are narrowed down to either being categorized as “white” or non-white (“black”), and ultimately being marginalized as

In such an environment, it becomes easier for people to identify themselves and easily resolve issues affecting them using strategies that are better suitable for them.

Ethnorace also proves to be effective because it allows all members of society to start learning more about the other different types of ethnicities that exist in societies around the world, from those that are different that theirs and even from their own. In doing so, they will not only start to appreciate the different cultures that exist, but also learn about their own biases against others and explore their own views about others, and how they can change any of their own behaviors, attitudes or beliefs that may be harmful or disrespectful towards others. Therefore, the theory of ethnorace also proves to be a learning opportunity for all members of