I found this conclusion interesting because it is widely
unknown: “The chances of two people who are both Caucasoid differing in genetic
constitution at one site on a given chromosome are about 14.3 percent, while,
for any two people taken at random from the human population, they are about
14.8%” (129). A given race does not
explain biological characteristics contrary to many people’s
understanding. This is important to
realize because we often discredit how much we have in common with our fellow
humans. It is cliché to say “we all bleed red” or “we’re all the same
underneath,” but it’s true and necessary to realize.
I like the way Appiah breaks down Du Bois' theories; If Du Bois wants to classify race as a vast family of humans, he is using the concept of common ancestry which adds muddiness. As we spoke about in class, identification comes prior to history. To identify a group's behavior, one is already identifying that group as a whole.
Contrary to Du Bois’ belief, I don’t think any race makes a
contribution to humanity that no other race is capable of achieving. Though I
see nothing wrong with embracing a cultural identity, belief system, language,
area, etc, I think the ‘strivings’ of one race that Du Bois mentions should not
be toward a particular ideal, rather the human race strive toward ideals
together. On the sociohistorical level,
if something is worthy of attention and progressing toward, we should all
consider that a goal – not leave it for a sole race to pursue.
Part of me agrees with you in that "if something is worthy of attention and progressing toward, we should all consider that a goal." I definitely think we should enjoy things from other cultures, BUT I'm hesitant to say we should share it. The thing that came to mind is Ain't No New Thing (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=az3NAoVInQQ). Let's be real: white people will easily steal from poc artists, call it theirs, and enjoy the success. Elvis is considered the kind of rock and roll when that title should probably go to Chuck Berry or Little Richard. Is it fair that Eminem "has picked up the award six times in the 20 years the best rap album award has existed. Compare this to Jay-Z’s one win, and Kanye West’s four wins in the past decade"? (http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/style-blog/wp/2015/02/08/iggy-azalea-did-not-win-the-grammy-for-best-rap-album-but-eminem-did/)
ReplyDeleteI'm not black so maybe my opinion here is weak and worthless, but if a white person started singing in spanish, imitating a traditional mariachi, and won a latin grammy for best album, I would be more than pissed. And I think that is what Du Bois means by the special striving of a race. My friends and I often joke around that one day it will be Latin America's turn to shine and dominate the globe. Not dominate in the awful sense of going into other countries and taking prisoners, but in the cultural sense that the White West is dominating the globe now. People all over the world watched marvel's Avengers, One Direction has concerts all over, and Harry Potter is read in practically every language. When will the whole world listen to music in Spanish and when will our celebrities be famous everywhere? I hope I'm explaining myself correctly.
I'm not saying it will happen, just that that would be an example of what I think of when Du Bois talks about one race striving. I think there are things Hispanic people and only Hispanic people can produce. I think there are things only African American people can produce. (And things only black people in Egypt can produce, and the Congo, and South Africa, etc). Same with India and China and all races that have a different type of root.
And I don't think that's a bad thing, to be honest. We can all produce and enjoy the fruits of others. But should we steal the seeds? We're all the same biologically, but I think culturally we each have a different type of soul. I don't know. Cultural appropriation is a strange topic to navigate.
It is vital that we retaining that we all are more of the same than different to be able to combat racism in the negative connotation. Gabby, your Illitration of the similar skeleton structure under each different catagory really speaks volumes however if we could get that and imprint it in the minds of the young and aim to reprogram the old, we'd be living in an Utopia. Acknowldge the differences we have and embrace our commonalities. I also do appreciate the, clear, line by line that Appiah did in the reading in refuting the concept of race.
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