Running head: RACE: THE POWEROF AN ILLUSION

Race: The Power of an Illusion

Alma Ramirez-Rodriguez
Pacific Oaks College
HD361 Social and Political Context of Human Development
November 07, 2015

RACE: THE POWEROF AN ILLUSION

Race: The Power of an Illusion

Reflecting on the episodes one and two of The Power of an Illusion was eye opening and
at the same time very reaffirming. After episode 1 of Illusion, I became intrigued to know who I
am related to and from around the world or with great similarities.
Episode 1 The Difference between Us dealt with the biological trait of human beings,
these traits go back in time. Students began a scientific experiment, the first question that they
were asked was amongst the group of High School students and the question was; what
similarities do you find within your group of the classroom? Many shared their ideas of
similarity by the color of skin, next were eyes, nose, color of hair and within the same ethnic
background. This frame of mind is very much imbedded within us by societys standards
classifying people into four to five groups of race.
Science has done much to try to prove a point by measuring, poked and mapped the
human body. Others have readjusted the size of a skull just to identify who is superior or inferior
by their intelligence. Scientist went through great lengths to measure everything in a body to
make sure that they would find the source of some racial difference. It seems that scientist are
part of the problem. There has been both sides to such stories where one side is that the DNA has
proven that there is no difference between races or human beings. This rationalized concepts was
to benefit only one so called race, they made sure to expose their truth which the whites are the
only ones that are intelligent and excel with superiority.
These difference began at the turn of the 20th century disregarding similarities and making
race as an excuse for a social difference categorizing color as a race instead of focusing on the

RACE: THE POWEROF AN ILLUSION

similarities. The whole invention of categories, skin color and intelligence came about the
European Americans.
Racial profiling began with the ideas of Thomas Jefferson who wrote his book of Notes
in Virginia. This book consisted of all the atrocities on others except them the whites. Thomas
Jefferson began with ideas of Capitalism which protected the European America. Back in their
country it was much more difficult to get or purchase land. So any possible chance they had,
Thomas Jefferson as well as those who had the same dreams had followed his orders to obtain
such land. His methods of doing away with people like trash and began with the method of
slavery; which sounded very ignorant and selfish.
The quote All men are created equal was intended only for whites. This equality was
accordingly to those in power and middle class whites. Equality was not suited for Native
Americans or Africans. Natives and Africans were categorized as savages, drunks and inferior
people. I have never understood that concept of savages and uncivilized people; natives lived
most of the time in harmony amongst themselves. Africans shared many similarities as the
natives, but once the whites decided that they were inferior they were sold as slaves and turned
into farmers. Nonetheless, in my opinion the real savages and uncivilized are the ones who began
the power struggle to take what was not theirs and make an immense profit of it.
With the worlds fair in St. Louis in 1904 the display of racism and treating them as
others has not stopped. Many people in my community are on display or seen as different
because of their beliefs, clothes they wear and or what activity they are into. For example,
adolescents who are involved in gangs are on display, society seems to enjoy that they kill each
other. They build more jails and institutionalized forms to continue the cycle so adolescents can
continue to kill themselves. In my community we have been marginalized into ghetto

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communities for the same reason to keep us oppressed with their institutionalized schools. Those
in power are the ones who live over on the West side of Los Angeles, we as marginalized live or
on the outside of their World Fair. This continues every day because of our skin color, our last
name and our educational level.
And so, this society was built with the American Dream which only suits the European
American. Remembering way back in Elementary, Intermediate and High School we were
always taught that this great land was built by miraculous founders who were doing great things
for the land. These stolen lands, were built with racism, ignorance and selfish ways. With
Episode1 was to prove that as a Human race we are all alike but with different characteristics.
Mitochondrial DNA has been able to prove that regardless of skin color, texture of hair and color
of eyes there are great similarities. With Episode2 the illusion of power was solely invented to
protect the European American because back home they were not able to get land easy thus
creating war and stealing land because many of us did not fit their category. Finally, the Worlds
Fair did not end in 1904 it continues to happen in our predominant society. My community, my
people continue to be marginalized like if we are some type of an odd creatures.