Understanding Race

Racial profiling refers to a discrimination by law enforcement based on race and ethnicity

instead of a persons behavior For example, cops and other officers often suspect that a person is

doing illegal activity just because he has a specific description of a racial appearance. Racial

profiling creates suspicion and fear most of the time. As we can see in real life, the cops often

pulled over colored skin because they suspect individuals with colored skin break the rules,

such as speeding, robbery, and grand theft auto (it is called driving while black/brown). After

9/11, people whose face have middle eastern appearance traits feel fear because cops, officers,

and other people will suspect they are terrorists. As a result, many legal immigrant were

examined for possible illegal activity. Until now, people whose face look like middle-eastern will

get special attention in public places, such as airport, shopping center, restaurants, etc. because

cops or ordinary citizens suspect that they will do another terrorist attack or are a threat to

citizens. The conflict in Syria is an example how fearful people from other countries are opposed

to accepting Syrian refuges just because of the small possibility that they will commit crimes

against the country. The contact of hypothesis may decrease racial prejudice and stereotyping. By

putting people from different ethnicity and race into the same platform level and under neutral

circumstances, everyone, regardless of race, can appreciate each other, work together, and

eliminate the old stereotype.

Ethnocentric people think that their culture is better than other cultures. They feel

superior and believe that other cultures are inferior to theirs. As a result, discrimination and

prejudice occur throughout history. Certain practices by ethnocentric people only preserve

negative attitudes to racial and minority groups. For example, although slavery in the U.S has

ended, white people still look down on black people. They still view black people as properties
and treat them inappropriately. For example, before civil rights, black people had to sit on the

back of the bus and they must give up their sit when white people abroad the bus. The

segregation of resources and facilities between white skin and colored skin illustrate the

ethnocentric beliefs and practices. Often times, the white section in schools, movies, restaurants,

buses, water fountains, etc. had the most favorable qualities while the colored sections were

lacking in comparison. Unfortunately, this unequal justice and income inequality still occur

between different cultures today. It has become a norm and practice in society to preserve

prejudice and injustice to minority group.

The social construction of race is a concept that occurs when different groups in society

are defined in racial categories in different ways at different times throughout history. Each

society defines which physical characteristics are important and superior while ignoring or

constructing a symbolic meaning on other characteristics. This unfortunately leads a basis for

social differentiation. For example, in The United States, people learn that different skin color

give a certain dramatic social and political meaning, while different hair color does not.

Symbolic interactionist views that race is an important concept to our society. Symbolic

interactionist theorist studies the interaction through the communication between people. For

example, people from the same race group get along together because they have similar

experiences due to the social construction race. In society, people with lighter skin color are

often viewed as superior in all qualities, such as intelligence and beauty, compared to people

with a darker skin tone. Based on the color of the skin, lighter skin tone people are often treated

more positively and openly when interacting with other people. In contrast, interactions with

darker skin tone people are often more negative and apprehensive due to the stereotypical

symbolic meaning of skin color. The Unites States is a multiracial country, so the limits of our
racial categories become increasing. It would be difficult to apply a concept or social

construction of race because of the increasing interracial relationship with one another.

Model minority is a minority group that have overcome past prejudice and discrimination

because they have succeeded educationally, economically, and socially. Asian-Americans are

viewed as the model of minority because most of them are well educated and successful

economically and socially. They also have high paid job although they faced difficulties during

immigration to the U.S. The advantage of being model minority is there are more opportunities

available to them compared to other minority groups. For example, Asian people are paid much

higher than Black, Hawaiian, and Hispanic people. However, the disadvantages occurs when the

success of a few Asian-Americans overshadow many other Asian-Americans who are not

fortunate like them. In addition, Asian-American community feel that they are more superior

compared to other minority groups.