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Racism Definition Essay

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The concept of race was created as a classification of human beings with the purpose of giving power to white people and to legitimize the dominance of white people over non-white people.
It is therefore a political and social construct and it is not based on any real or accurate biological or scientific truth.

However, historically, religion was used to justify racism, particularly during the period when slavery had become increasing important to economies, people of colour was classified (Africans and Indians) as ‘pagan and soulless’. However, the people of color were converted to Christianity, and as the religion itself lost much of its power as a legitimizing agent, justifications for slavery to sustain the slave-based economies necessitated …show more content…

The boundaries of group membership were marked by skin color. The category white was created as a political construct that was used as an organizing tool to unite Europeans in order to consolidate strength, increasing their ability to maintain control and dominance over the Native Americans and African slaves, which in many places outnumbered Europeans.
Racism is perpetuated through a belief system that plays out in our day to day interactions with each other - whether we are blatantly or consciously racist or not. The system of race sets up certain hostilities and conflicts that are played out in our lives. In this belief system racism is primarily perpetuated through stereotyping. Racism can also be perpetuated through institutions whereby certain policies and measures that can deepen social inequity and inequality.

Anthropological knowledge is needed to combat stereotypes and lack of knowledge of each other culture. Understanding cultures will help us overcome and prevent racial and ethnic divisions. Racial and ethnic divisions result in misunderstandings, loss of opportunities, and sometimes violence. Racial and ethnic conflicts drain communities of financial and human resources; they distract cultural groups from resolving the key issues they have in

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