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The Rwandan Genocide in the last century serves as a tragic example of how race, a social construct, can be manipulated to create division and conflict. The colonists who once ruled Rwanda imposed a classification system that linked external features to abstract qualities like intelligence, setting the stage for a power struggle between different groups within the nation. This artificial division based on race ultimately led to devastating consequences when the colonists left one group in charge of the other, fueling deep-seated animosity and violence.
Similarly, Zora Hurston's essay, "How It Feels to Be Colored Me," sheds light on the concept of race as a social construct in the United States.
Hurston's personal experiences highlight the fluidity and subjectivity of racial identity, challenging the notion that race is an inherent and fixed characteristic.
Hurston's upbringing in a small town where everyone was considered "colored" demonstrates how race is not a natural or inherent trait but rather a social label imposed by society.
In her essay, she recalls a time when race was irrelevant to her identity because everyone in her town looked the same and shared a common cultural background.
It was only when she ventured outside her community and encountered people who had been influenced by the societal construct of race that she became aware of her own racial identity.
Hurston's interactions with white individuals further illustrate the arbitrary nature of racial categorization.
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While some outsiders viewed her actions and behaviors through the lens of her race, the people in her town saw her as a fellow citizen, regardless of her skin color.
This discrepancy highlights the role of societal perceptions and prejudices in shaping one's racial identity and experiences.
Hurston's analogy of different colored bags emphasizes the superficiality of race as a defining characteristic.
She recognizes that the color of one's skin does not determine their worth or identity; rather, it is society's perceptions and biases that assign meaning to racial categories. By acknowledging the cultural influences that shape her understanding of race, Hurston challenges the notion that race is a fixed and immutable aspect of one's identity.
In conclusion, the examples of the Rwandan Genocide and Zora Hurston's essay illustrate the complex and fluid nature of race as a social construct. By examining the ways in which race is imposed, perceived, and internalized, we can better understand the role of society in shaping individual identities and experiences. It is essential to recognize the artificiality of race and work towards dismantling the systems of oppression and division that perpetuate racial inequalities.
Zora Hurston. “How It Feels to Be Colored Me.” The Norton Anthology of African American Literature. Eds. Henry Louis Gates Jr. and Valerie A. Smith. Vol. 1. New York: Norton & Company, 2014. 1040-1042. Print.
The Fluidity of Race: A Social Construct. (2022, Feb 04). Retrieved from https://studymoose.com/race-as-a-social-construction-in-the-united-states-in-how-it-feels-to-be-colored-me-by-zora-neale-hurston-essay
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