SA 345 Lecture Notes - Lecture 1: Color Blindness, Racialization

• School: Simon Fraser University
• Department: Sociology and Anthropology
• Course: SA 345
• Professor: Wendy Chan

Document Summary

Till 1960s, racial categorization shaped immigration selection: idea was the canada was a white person country, had a head tax () certificate for chinese people back then up until 1923. Policies created sought to exclude black americans, south asians, chinese people. Selection based on race less overt but still present. Prime minster becker - first one to break away from race and said canada must have colour blind immigration system. Genuine immigrants = helpless victims or financially independent. Concerns around how undesirable immigrants are being treated. Reinforcing of racial stereotypes through law and policy. Notion of different races not scientifically supported no biological trait that defines people into racial groups. Critical view of race sees the meaning of race as socially constructed, a cultural category: thus, racial categories and classifications are also socially created (e. g. ideas about inferior or superior races) Racialization is the act of making one"s racial/ethnic characteristics matter (usually in negative ways)