Race As A Category Of Difference Essay - 2145 Words

In human societies, understanding the construction of categories of difference to create meaning and explanations for the distribution of societal roles and statues is essential to analyzing the creation of language and culture. In its most basic form, societal ideologies and value systems deliver themselves through language that shapes the perception of difference and phenomenon. Race plays a particularly important role as a category of difference in American society; the language most directly related to race often coming under intense scrutiny as attitude about the innate nature of race have shifted in recent history. A linguistic category that is commonly seen as benign or at least simply referential in relation to race is the paired terms of â€Å"black† and â€Å"white,† which denominate the two primary racial statuses in American society. The terms black and white, in reference to the racial categories, create through their linguistic associations the idea that t he two races are discontinuous and suggest that the two are binaries of each other with opposing traits and attributes. Claudia Rankine touches on the linguistic associations in relation to â€Å"blackness† and â€Å"whiteness† trough her writings in her book Citizen. Citizen is a circuitous and personal descent into past experiences that truly illuminate racial discrimination in America. Rankine’s book explores the racism and prejudice that are prevalent in the United States. Through her use of vernacular and diction, RankineShow MoreRelatedRacial Skepticism Is The Idea That Race, As A Biological1394 Words   |  6 Pagesskepticism is the idea that race, as a biological category, does not exist. 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