Racial Formations

Reading Michael Omi and Howard Winant's Racial Formations, I found that the underlying message to this passage was that there is no such thing that can truly define race. They explain that race is only present to benefit gaps in understanding the existence of mankind. They talk about the fact that the definition of race keeps switching because some new discovery can always void the term. I believe the section of What is Race? sums the whole argument up. Omi and Winant says, "when Europeans "discovered" people who looked different than themselves, these "natives" challenged the existing conceptions of the origins of the human species." This created a new hunt to keep their belief system valid. This would be the piece of history where scientist were wanted to find a difference in man. Unsuccessful, it was very apparent that the term race was very much so a social and political theme. I use the word theme because themes can be categorized. Race can be categorized. The theme will define what type of person you are if you are a certain color. Omi and Winant points out stereotypes given to every ethnicity. These would be served to the people through media reinforcing ignorance on the definition of race. I see it as a pride thing on the European's behalf. The need not to redefine themselves as people they would soon redefine everyone else. We may not the know the origin of man but we do know the origin of race.