AQCI I
Helene Fritzsche
09.10.2015
AQCI: Cornell, S., & Hartmann, D. (2007). The Definition of Race. In Ethnicity and Race. Making Identities in a Changing
World (2nd ed., pp. 21-40). Pine Forge Press / A Sage Publications Company.
1. Central Quotation: At the heart of racial identification lie the claims we wish to make about `them´ and about
how different `they´ are from `us´ (Cornell, 2007, p.30).
2. Argument: Cornell and Hartmann clearly reject the biological notion of race and give several arguments why
race and the assignment of people to a certain race has purely societal origins (Cornell, 2007, p.25):
I.
Race is primarily used by dominant groups within society to define themselves against less powerful minorities
(Cornell, 2007, p.28)
II.
Race as a tool for assigning people to categories originates in European colonization which led to an encounter
of singular scale between white Europeans and non-white peoples and their unique cultures (Cornell, 2007,
p.29)
III.
In the context of European colonization race can be understood as the power to define one culture against the
`other´ by creating a rigid and presumably permanent social hierarchy (Cornell, 2007, p. 29)
IV.
Racial designation typically implies physical or biological inferiority of some races and that race characteristic
traits are inherent (Cornell, 2007, pp. 29-30)
V.
Due to Europe's predominant power position in the world whiteness represented the norm and was thus
identified as superior race (Cornell, 2007, p.30)
3. Question: The authors primarily describe the definition of race from a `white perspective´ and do not elaborate
on how race was or is defined by `others´, for example by African Americans who had to suffer immensely from
the consequences of their `racial inferiority´ imposed on them by the white majority. Thus one question that is
left unanswered by Cornell and Hartmann could be; `How is race defined by `others´?
4. Experiential Connection: I agree with the overall argumentation of Cornell and Hartmann but especially with the
elaboration on the connection between race as the power to assign others to it and European colonialism giving
white Europeans the power to instrumentalise race as a tool for forcing others into a position of inferiority. As
the example of South African Apartheid shows, white colonial supremacy and power impacted the lives of black
South Africans long after South Africa had become independent. Although black South Africans vastly
outnumbered the white minority Apartheid prevented black equality for almost 45 years.
5. Textual Connection: ...ethnicity is generally more concerned with the identification of `us´, while racism is more
oriented to the categorization of `them´ (Hutchinson,1996, p.29). Hutchinson and Smith are citing a line by
Michael Banton which is in union with Cornell and Hartmann´s argument saying that race is about one group
distinguishing itself against another by categorizing them as `others´. Furthermore, Hutchinson and Smith add
that there is a clear distinction between race and ethnicity by stressing that ethnicity is about group
identification of its self-assigned members.
6. Implication: Cornell and Hartmann´s arguments imply how strongly the concept of race is still present within
modern society. Although the times of Apartheid and segregation are over, racial assignment through others still
has a heavy impact on the lives of many people (e.g. racial profiling). Thus Cornell and Hartmann show that
society as such has not yet completed the process of detachment from racial assignment. Therefore, policymakers must target society's deeply rooted believe in the myth of race.
AQCI ASSESSMENT FORM
Student’s
name:
Helene Fritzsche
Essay title:
AQCI 1
Name of
assessor:
Excel
lent
1) Is the chosen quotation central to the
author’s argument?
Go
od
Kelsey Beckmeyer
Aver
age
X
X
X
3a) Is the question raised
important/relevant/interesting?
X
X
4) Is the experiential connection
relevant/interesting?
X
5a) Is the textual connection
relevant/interesting?
5b) Has it been cited properly?
5c) Has it been adequately explained
how the present text's argument
contrasts with, contradicts, confirms,
clarifies, or elaborates the other text's
argument or point?
Comments
The question you pose is quite
pertinent and also reflects the
power given to those who
define “other.”
The authors do not address
what switching the power
dynamics could look like it
terms of determining race from
the perspective of “other.”
Is this connected to your
experience? The example you
provide is given within the text,
is there another connection
you could make?
Relates to the argument that
race is attributed by another
while ethnicity is self-identified.
X
X
X
6) Have the implications been well
understood, can they have a practical
impact for policy making?
7) Expression/Presentation
a) Are the style, grammar and general
Not
accept
able
12.10.15
The quote you included
directly correlates to the
argument presented in each
paper.
Nicely outlined and thorough
look at the argument. Details
multiple components.
2) Has the main argument been fully
understood (including its ‘for’ and
‘against’ sides, if applicable)?
3b) Has this question not been fully
answered in the text?
Po
or
Date:
X
You could definitely explore
this area more. What would
looking through the lens of the
“other” entail? How would it
change the way race is
classified/definined? Would it
change?
use of English adequate?
b) Is the AQCI professionally presented?
Essay grade:
Further comments:
X