Race as a Social Construct- Letter to Ta-Nehisi Coates

Ta-Nehisi Coates' foreword in Toni Morrison's The Origin of Others briefly introduces the idea of race as a social construct which society is guilty of empowering, often to it's detriment. This journal entry allows me to directly respond to Coates' idea of race in letter form.

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Dear Mr. Coates,

As a newly enrolled freshman at Howard University assigned to read your foreword in Toni Morrison’s The Origin of Others, , I greatly appreciate that you have presented such valuable insight into one of the most controversial and dangerous concepts we as a society battle today: race.

I have never given much thought to the idea of race versus racism expressed in the way you have. I highly doubt whether the average person considers that ‘race’ is but a mere form of categorization; a human construct, almost. In this way, it becomes easier for us to justify and make sense of ‘racism’, because we reason that it is a direct result of this divisive categorization, which we unknowingly create for ourselves. Your example of how politicians use identity politics in order to influence the public based on race is a telling example of the dangerous effects of over-emphasizing race’s value and relevance.

When we use race as a defining characteristic and give it unnecessary importance, we get so carried away trying to prove that one side is better than the other. In this process, we remain oblivious to the fact that we are the ones giving rise to the unnecessary conflict that we so often lament about.

What I have gleaned from your insight is that ‘race’ only has as much power as we give it; and the power that we have given it thus far has resulted in fatal repercussions. The tragic loss of life, dignity and basic human rights will forever prevail if we continue to allow this flawed ideology to dictate our relations with each other.

Respectfully,

Greer Jackson

Sincerely,

Greer Jackson