‘Race’: Socio-historic Construction

Today’s ObjectivesUnderstand the historical context to U.S. social construction of the Other. A brief overview to the characteristics of a Civilization Make connections between historical construction and purpose of ‘Race’ in the Americas VS. today

Social ConstructionsInstitutions Ideologies Differences

The Invention of Western Civilization

Organizing Social Relations and Reality Primary/secondary education:

Maximum forms of intellectual, moral, and spiritual human societies all derived from the West.

Social Stratification Hierarchy as inherent (based on class, race, gender)

Western Social Constructs

Rise of Western Civilization parallels the construction of:

Social classesSubordination of womenCreation of “others” based on appearances, behaviors, or essences that are attributed to them. Racism, Sexism, Class

Enter the Spanish EmpireBy 1492, Europe had developed:

Gunpowder (military strength)Compass (global navigation)Paper (language)

Christopher Columbus (1451-1506)God, Gold, Glory

MilitaryReligionIndividualism

1512 - El RequerimientoRead in Latin, or Spanish Repent or else…Notion of a ‘Just War’

Medieval doctrine Provided rationale justified by natural law, (god), Applied to the Moors during the Spanish Reconquista, later to Native Americans

An Account of the Destruction of the Indies (early 16th century)

Social Construction

Christianity = Civilization

paganism = savagery

The Legacy of Western Civilization: Enter ‘Race’

Castas System (caste system) Socio-economic categorical system based on whiteness

Forced migrationControlled labor supplyWhite-male superiority complex

‘Race’ & Ethnicity Today

Class Discussion Warm-Up

“A civilization that proves incapable of solving the problems it creates is a decadent

civilization. A civilization that chooses to close its eyes to

its most crucial problems is a sick civilization.

A civilization that plays fast and loose with its principles is a dying civilization.”

-- Aimé Césaire, Discourse on Colonialism (1955).

Class Activity1 – How did Spanish Western Civilization view itself at the turn of the 16th century? 2 – Is Civilization a social construction? Explain by giving examples re: institutions; ideologies; difference.3 – What was the Spanish purpose in creating ‘race’? 4 – Is ‘race’ real? Who decides if it is? Why? 5 – Does ‘race’ justify racism? Or does racism justify ‘race’?