Omi And Winant Racial Formation Summary

In the article “Racial Formations,” Omi and Winant described race as being constructed in a social, political, and historical context, which is constantly changed by evolving socio-political climates. Historically, conceptualizations of race began to differentiate between White and non-White, which was often rigidly reinforced. Race became a way to stereotype and categorize people in order quick assumptions, which continues to be deeply ingrained in U.S. culture. Omi and Winant advocate that rather than aiming to eliminate the concept of race, we should aim to understand race as an unstable and complex concept that is continually transformed.
In the article “The Cycle of Socialization,” Harro builds on the concept of ever-changing conceptualizations of race and describes how individuals are born into unequal roles and social identities, which predispose them into systems of oppression. Beginning at birth, individuals receive social messages about their culture and are continually brainwashed through interactions with their culture. They are
Harro asserts that the process through which we are exposed to these messages is akin to “brainwashing.” Cultural messages and stereotypes are transmitted through social media, magazines, commercials, music, radio, holidays, websites, TV shows, and the news. The truth is that we are constantly inundated with social messages that promote the status quo and the use of stereotypes. Omi and Winant describe how these cultural influences shape how people are placed into racial categories through the process of racialization. They describe that representations of race on U.S. television are like caricatures of racial groups, relying on oversimplification and familiarity, in order to maintain stereotypes and the status quo. These messages over time can shape viewers beliefs about other racial groups and contribute to systems of