Race, Ethnicity and Social Harmony: A Comparative Perspective.
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THE SARAWAK MUSEUM JOURNAL |
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Title :
Race, Ethnicity and Social Harmony: A Comparative Perspective. |
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Author :
Richard Basham |
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Abstract:
Few words are more contentious than ‘race’. In common usage the word suggests a connection between physical appearance and behavior, or even between appearance and intellectual and physical capabilities. As such, invocation of ‘race’ implies acceptance of a gamut of behavioral stereotypes. Often such racial stereotypes seem harmless enough, especially when they appear complementary. Thus, for example, few American blacks resent their racial characterization as people with rhythm or natural athletic ability. But such stereotypical thinking usually has its darker side and positive physical attributes of blacks have been intertwined with less favorable assessment of their intellectual ability, appearance and moral standards. The fact that such stereotypes have had wide currency among both whites and blacks only enhances the latters’ sensitivity to their pejorative nature (See Kardiner and Ovesey 1951: 248—257; Proshansky and Newton 1973)
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| DOI: XXXX |
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How to cite:
Basham, R. (1989). Race, Ethnicity and Social Harmony: A Comparative Perspective. The Sarawak Museum Journal, XL (61): 219-234 |
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References
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