Constructivism
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CONSTRUCTIVISM OR MATERIALISM
“The concept of race is an oppressive cultural invention and convention and I refuse to have anything to do with it therefore, I have no racial affiliation and will accept no racial designations.” This statement made by Naomi Zack, presented to us by Charles W. Mills in his book “Blackness Visible” seems to define for us someone who falls in the category of an Ideal constructivist. She clearly believes that there is indeed no foundation for race and so to acknowledge it produces it. I have always believed myself to be on that end of the spectrum. However reading this statement over and over again and also looking at the different definitions Mills gives us for the other groups; I find myself drifting away from what I once considered or believed myself to be.
What made me think that I was an ideal constructivist was that I highly objected to the way race has been necessary to be stated in many aspects of life from job or school applications, politics to relationships and religion. I always had the question what does color matter in choosing a mate, or in choosing a bank manager? Whatever happened to personality or qualifications? As a result, wherever I could, I check the “prefer not to answer” box when asked to check my race. I have always believed the world should be color-blind and because of these ideas I have always thought I would be lumped into the “Ideal Constructivist” people.
On the other hand, I have always loved the beauty of cultural diversity. Being in one place and the people around all have something different to contribute from language to dance; poetry to clothing is just astounding. It removes from the monotony of life of one was living in a place or community where every one spoke, dressed and acted the same. One cannot dispute that race has had a big part to play in diversity, be it in school, the work place or in our social hang outs places. When I look at different activities even on my very own campus I sometimes think to myself “thank God for different races”. It is, to me, a continuing learning playground, where I get to find out new things evrytime I attend a different concert, play or forum on a different race. “Thank God for Different Races,” is definitely not a statement an ideal constructivist would let out their mouths.
With race comes history and culture and I feel that for one to completely ignore the concept of race one is ignoring their ancestry, their history and culture. History and culture are indeed one of the things that unite people and give them a sense of belonging. I have always felt that there is an extent of acknowledgement towards race that we all need to have so as to feel a connection and usually a sense of pride about who and what we are, from looking at how far ones race has come, what it has stuck with them along the journey, to how much it has contributed to the lives of people around and where it seems to be heading. I feel this is in a way pays tribute and gives credit to ancestors and also gives people a sense of belonging in lands that may not be their original homes thank to these contributions that are affecting the lives of the land