HSCI 214 Lecture Notes - Lecture 2: Hanif Kureishi, Disease Burden, Melting Pot
8 Mar 2018
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Document Summary
Racial constructivism: discrete or essentialist races are socially constructed, not biologically real. Race is inconceivable without racialized social hierarchies vs. egalitarian race relations are possible. Ethnicity: race: a human group defined by itself or others as distinct by perceived common physical characteristics that are held to be inherent determining which characteristics constitute the race is a choice human beings make. Where different ethnic groups once coexisted relatively peacefully, the decline of the state creates universal insecurity and forces people into groups. Since the different groups have little to distinguish them, yet they must legitimize their struggle, emergent leaders rely on minor differences to glorify their group and demonize the other. Ethnicity and culture: common heritage, beliefs, norms and values adopted by a group of people, diverse groupings, ethnic groups, sexual or gender minorities, urban tribes, others. Multiculturalism vs. assimilation: different models to deal with immigrants, cultural mosaic vs. melting pot vs. brexit vs. the banlieus.
