Question

• People have a tendency to categorize others into hierarchies. What do you all think has been the source of racial hierarchies in the United States? Do these hierarchies have any validity? Why or why not?

• As you are learning, race is not the simple product of biology (such as the physical features that someone possess), but is actually the result of the ways that society defines how these outward features acts as signs, carrying culturally constructed meanings. Do you agree with this view that race is a cultural construction? Why or why not? Give an example to support your opinion.

Answer 1

A racial hierarchy refers to a particular stratification system which lays stress on the idea that some racial groups are superior or may be inferior to other racial groups.The groups with more power are at the top of the hierarchy and the group with less power are at the bottom of the hierarchy. Ranking of different races on the basis of physical characteristics as well as certain perceived characteristics which are formed through political and legal policy,and which gives advantages to some groups while stopping the growth of other groups , are referred to as racial hierarchy.  The most important source  of racial hierarchy has been formed because of biological. political or cultural differences that existed among people before the American civil war. Other source of racial hierarchy is social construction. An example of social construct is money as people give more value to it in the society.

Even though we talk of Americans becoming a post racialsociety , Americans still retain their belief in a race based hierarchy in a unconscious state of mind.So these hierarchies have  validity. Americans show a strong liking for their own racial group.White supremacy is believed by them.

Race is a cultural construct and not biological.There is no genetic basis for race. Race is not a set of parameters laid by the society.Race is so much more than just skin color.Culture refers to ideas , behavior, belief and traditions of large group of people and  which gets transmitted through learning  from generation to generation.Since all humans can learn and adapt , it is thought that prejudice and discrimination between people on the basis of race, can be limited by  greater acceptance and understanding of the different cultures.So race is culture construct As for eg language is a cultural construct and cultural norm like whether a person should look into the eyes of someone when a drink is shared , is a culture construct.