Race Poll

I had to not only answer but ask 5 other people race related questions. Those questions were: 1 – What race are you? 2 – How do you know? How did you make that decision? 3 – How did you learn what race you are? Can you tell me about some of the early messages you first received about race in general or your race particularly? 4 – How do you decide what race other people are?Examples? 5 – How do other people decide what race you are? Examples? It wasn’t hard for me to answer these questions, but it was an eye opener. I didn’t really think about how I perceived others or how others perceived me. For question 1 I would say I am black and white. I am obviously mixed based on my skin ton, but my race changes. It depends on the situation like if I’m making a joke or filling out documents. For question 2 I would say I know from my parents. My father is black, while my mother is white. For question 3 I learned what my race was when I learned what race my parents generally were. Some of the early messages I received about my race was some of my features. Obviously my skin tone as well as my naturally curly hair and brown eyes told me what race I was. I also had my father talking about how blacks were slaves, and how the people at his work were racist against blacks. For question 4 I decide what race other people are based on their skin tone. If I want to get more specific I will ask what type of race they are. For the final question, people mistake me for being Mexican. Since I have a brownish tan skin tone, I am confused for being at least part Mexican. What was interesting were the answers from my poll. Generally speaking, people base race on skin tone. At times some may ask what specific race someone is, but normally would base it on skin tone. To say race is socially constructed is to say we determine race. The general answer about perceiving race was based on obviously appearance. This is a tradition normally inherited from the parents. At an early age you are taught about race, and the parents pass on what they know. In society, what determines a race is/are biological features deemed sufficient. That is why you don’t see a fat race or a bald race.

4/12/2019