The Imagery of “The U.S Census Classification”
Michael Omi and Howard Winant elucidate, “The U.S Census employs a system of racial classification, but many individuals and groups cannot locate themselves in it. They cannot conveniently fit into any of the designated racial categories.” This imagery renders race a ubiquitous occurrence which cannot be disregarded through the philosophy of color-blindness. It would be unmanageable to overtly suppress all the Americans’ cognizance of race because it defines them characteristically and socially.
The Imagery of “The U.S Colorline”
Michael Omi and Howard Winant expound, “After 1877 the U.S colorline started to be inscribed around Europe, rather than through it, chiefly because of the sheer demographic weight of the new immigrants and also because other racial conflicts drew attention away. These Atlantic immigrants were not WASPs and not considered white: While not black or Asian either, they did possess an intermediate racial status. In the nations’ industrial heartland, immigrant workers were induced to refashion themselves as white and to compete with each other for the coveted status (Roediger 2005).” Here, race is ascribed to external color and the immigrants’ origin. The immigrants’ selection to categorize themselves as white accentuates the dominance which is attributed to whiteness. Moreover, race is the leading basis of one’s social class: the ‘ blacks and Indians’ are deemed to be low-grade relative to the whites.
