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KristineSaulSecondPaper 4 - 18 Apr 2009 - Main.YoungKim
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| | | are worthy of discussion, and to discuss them.
- Though I found your thoughts to be well made, I take issue with the view that racial frameworks are meaningless and desire to seek a remedy. Racial theorists do not necessarily function to provide microwave-ready solutions to the problems of racism. As you yourself admitted, race is deeply entrenched in our society and the way it operates in our lives is not always as startling as being a Black man pulled over due to racial profiling. Race theorists are able to bring attention to the themes that connect our everyday experiences and encourage others to think more critically about society and one's role in it. These frameworks stimulate thought, passion, and yes, even the social action that you spoke of. The complexity of racism is so vast that to take action without recognition of the source of the problem would be foolhardy and would only create a small, quick fix to a pervasive problem. Now, I'm not saying you are entirely wrong. I do agree that there is a point where talking will only get you but so far, however, to devalue the purpose of race scholarship is an unfair valuation of that body of work. Scholarly writing may not help the juvenile facing a prison sentence but acting blindly without a full recognition of the problem can prove to be a disservice as well. Your piece was very well written, thought provoking (clearly), and as a former Africana Studies major, it made me step back and think "Well, why DID I decide choose to study that particular field?". I don't argue against the main conclusion of your argument but just invite you consider that even though analytical frameworks on race don't provide easy answers or instant solutions to everyday problems, they nonetheless, have a value that shouldn't be so quickly admonished.
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> | * Kristine, I must admit that within a few days after completing my original paper, I found myself disagreeing with its somewhat dismissive conclusion that race scholarship is utterly pointless. Wihle I still believe that race scholarship sometimes impedes social action more than it augments it, it would be unfair to say that the study of race as a whole carries no value. On the contrary, as an ethnic studies major myself, it helped me form my own ideas about how race operates, why it continues to be relevant today and the gains to be realized from taking action to resolve it. Your points are therefore well taken. Where I do believe race scholarship impedes social action is when ideologies about race pigeon-hole people's views and force them to adopt positions that are in conflict (and derisive) of those seeking the same ends. As a junior in college, for example, a young student approached me with a petition for creating a multicultural center at Berkeley. Flushed with ideas about how multiculturalism 'obscures the topography of power' and perpetuates the colonial condition, I resolutely denied her my signature. In hindsight, the decision was foolishly naive. So I guess my conclusion is that if people can engage the study of race open-mindedly and continually re-connect it with their efforts in the field, it can only help the movement for racial equality. Thanks so much for your thoughtful commentary. %ENDCOLLOR% |
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