Brief Historical Context of white Men and their role in Racism

You may notice in our previous post that we discussed white people and their role in race and racism. Well, we thought it was important to provide you with a bit of historical context behind our thought processes.

Race

The concept of race is deeply rooted in history, originating in the 1800s but with roots stretching back to the 1500s. It was initially used as a tool to weaponize and dehumanize certain communities. Francis Galton, cousin of Charles Darwin, played a significant role in shaping the idea of race. In 1883, he coined the term 'eugenics' (we'll do a full blog post on this later don't worry) and defined it as the study of improving or impairing the racial qualities of future generations. Galton's work aimed to establish a hierarchy of races, with people racialized as black positioned at the bottom and those racialized as white at the top. This pseudo-scientific approach to racial categorization perpetuated division and inequality.

Race has been a divisive construct for centuries, but fundamentally, we are all part of the human race. An interesting historical fact is that the oldest complete skeleton found in the UK, known as Cheddar Man, dated back to the mid to late 9th century, had dark brown skin and blue eyes, challenging conventional racial stereotypes.

Racism

Racism is the insidious consequence of the constructed notion of race. It serves as a mechanism for justifying the dehumanization of certain groups and upholding white supremacy. Despite being rooted in history, racism continues to exert its harmful effects today. Data reflects stark racial disparities in various aspects of life, such as healthcare, education, and criminal justice. For instance, individuals racialised as black are more likely to face adverse outcomes, including higher mortality rates during childbirth, increased rates of detention under mental health acts, and elevated expulsion rates from schools. Moreover, skin tone often correlates with the severity of racial discrimination, with darker-skinned individuals facing heightened prejudice and injustice.

Understanding the historical context of race and racism is essential for addressing systemic inequalities and fostering a more equitable society. By acknowledging the origins and impacts of racial constructs, we can work towards dismantling discriminatory structures and promoting inclusivity and justice for all.

Recognising that race is a socially constructed concept allows us to acknowledge its harmful impact and understand that it does not serve us in today's society. Rather than investing time, money, and effort in defending the social construct of race, we should focus on creating a new construct that is more suitable and does not cause harm to people.

Would be great to hear what other facts or made-up parts of social constructs you know to help acknowledge and share with us.

#Race #Racism #Equality #Inclusion #SocialJustice #Humanity