1. Introduction
Almost 22 years into democracy, South Africa continues to make headlines due to racial tensions within the country. Whether it is outright or subtle acts of racism, racial issues continue to be a challenge to the democracy of South Africa. As a country that is home to diverse groups of individuals, it is important to try and overcome factors that might hinder the progress of the country as a whole. The issue of racial tension in South Africa might stem from the fact that there are still some unresolved matters that occurred during apartheid that are in dispute and must be resolved in order to move on. This essay aims to take a look at and discuss racial tensions that have mirrored South Africa in the last year and the first …show more content…
2. Understanding the Critical Race Theory and the Theorizing Whiteness theory
The Critical Race Theory can be best explained as a movement that critically analyses race and racism from a legal point of view (Farganis 2014). The Critical Race Theory movement dates way back to the mid-1970s as a movement in law but over the years, it has extended over to other disciplines (Delgado & Stefancic 2006). One of the most prominent figures of the Critical Race Theory was Derrick Bell. The Critical Race Theory extends beyond just …show more content…
Theorizing Whiteness is the academic study of Whiteness such as for example, the social and historical account of Whiteness; the ways of white people (Hattam 2001). This theory rose to prominence in the 1980s and 1990s as a result of how other cultural and racial groups were being recognized for their uniqueness in terms of identity and culture, yet it came across as if activists and scholars were neglecting Whiteness. The three important elements of Theorizing Whiteness are: Invisibility/Visibility, The making of White people and White privilege. The element of invisibility/visibility refers to how white people are visible yet at the very same time, invisible. To elaborate further on this, if one were to go to European countries such as Germany or Denmark, one would find that majority of the people in those specific countries are white, from the doctors to the waiters. On the other hand, while whites are recognized as a race, their whiteness as an identity or culture is not recognized and this might be attributed by the fact the whiteness is often seen as beyond race. The second element of Theorizing Whiteness is the making of white people. Whiteness has always been seen as or thought of as a natural state, something that has always existed (Seidman 1985). According, to historians though, whiteness is just as much of an historical event just as being Black is. As a result of
Almost 22 years into democracy, South Africa continues to make headlines due to racial tensions within the country. Whether it is outright or subtle acts of racism, racial issues continue to be a challenge to the democracy of South Africa. As a country that is home to diverse groups of individuals, it is important to try and overcome factors that might hinder the progress of the country as a whole. The issue of racial tension in South Africa might stem from the fact that there are still some unresolved matters that occurred during apartheid that are in dispute and must be resolved in order to move on. This essay aims to take a look at and discuss racial tensions that have mirrored South Africa in the last year and the first …show more content…
2. Understanding the Critical Race Theory and the Theorizing Whiteness theory
The Critical Race Theory can be best explained as a movement that critically analyses race and racism from a legal point of view (Farganis 2014). The Critical Race Theory movement dates way back to the mid-1970s as a movement in law but over the years, it has extended over to other disciplines (Delgado & Stefancic 2006). One of the most prominent figures of the Critical Race Theory was Derrick Bell. The Critical Race Theory extends beyond just …show more content…
Theorizing Whiteness is the academic study of Whiteness such as for example, the social and historical account of Whiteness; the ways of white people (Hattam 2001). This theory rose to prominence in the 1980s and 1990s as a result of how other cultural and racial groups were being recognized for their uniqueness in terms of identity and culture, yet it came across as if activists and scholars were neglecting Whiteness. The three important elements of Theorizing Whiteness are: Invisibility/Visibility, The making of White people and White privilege. The element of invisibility/visibility refers to how white people are visible yet at the very same time, invisible. To elaborate further on this, if one were to go to European countries such as Germany or Denmark, one would find that majority of the people in those specific countries are white, from the doctors to the waiters. On the other hand, while whites are recognized as a race, their whiteness as an identity or culture is not recognized and this might be attributed by the fact the whiteness is often seen as beyond race. The second element of Theorizing Whiteness is the making of white people. Whiteness has always been seen as or thought of as a natural state, something that has always existed (Seidman 1985). According, to historians though, whiteness is just as much of an historical event just as being Black is. As a result of