Chapter 9: Race, Class & Identity

Question 1

What is race?

Answer 1

A group of people who have common physical traits (ie. Skin color, hair texture etc) & these features are associated with large, geographically separated populations. Race is a social construct that was created to drive a wedge between people & have been woven into every aspect of our society.

Question 2

What is race vs ethnicity?

Answer 2

Race: A group of people who have common physical traits (ie. Skin color, hair texture etc) & these features are associated with large, geographically separated populations.

Ethnicity: the quality or fact of belonging to a population group or subgroup made up of people who share a common cultural background or descent.

Question 3

Marx looked at the role of race in the rise & growth of capitalism . What are the 3 aspects of Marx’s theory of race?

Answer 3

1. Mode of identification—> emergence of a global capitalist economic system.
2. Racial distinctions to facilitate the exploitation of vulnerable populations.
3. The ideological use of race in order to turn workers against each other & prevent them from forming a united front against their employers.

Question 4

Describe race & class post apartheid:

Answer 4

• Through the operation of existing economic forces tied to global trends, it replicates the racial structure of the labour market with no need for formal race distinctions.
• through affirmative action & BE policies it acts to redistribute jobs, contracts & funds to well-connected black people.
• Through informal networks of business & expertise, it allows well- connected white people to maintain positions of economic power & influence.
• Through ongoing residential & educational segregation, which keeps poor black people in a disadvantaged position, it retains wealth, skill & status in suburban areas (majority of white people live, minority of black people live).