In the light of the Christchurch terrorist attack, I think it is appropriate to try to put to rest, on this blog at least, the “Islam is not a race” argument so often thrown around in atheist circles. I admit to making this clueless blunder in the past as well, and really meaning it. But when arguing with actual unapologetic racists I had to point out some realities to them – like that Roma people are not in fact different race from Europeans, because we both stem from common and fairly recent Indo-European stock. And like that Arabs and Jews are also not different races from each other – and are not a different race from Europeans for the same reasons as Roma people are. That has made me to realize that racism is not, at least not only, what I thought it is, and that islamophobia is a real thing, alhtough the word itself can be used disingenuously (like any other word).
When I see a hijab (or a cross or any other overt religious symbol), I see a person being shackled by the throes of superstition, but still a person no fundamentaly different from you or I. But when a racist sees a hijab, they also do see an “other” in a very fundamental sense. Because to them race is not actually about biology (because biology does not support any form of racism) but about politics of power that merely uses biology and science in general to construct post hoc and ad hoc arguments for holding onto or acquiring said political power.
For the rest of the argument I give word to Philosophy Tube, who has made two excellent videos explaining the process of racialization of human groups and the whats, why’s and how’s behind it.
But when a racist sees a hijab, they also do see an “other” in a very fundamental sense. Because to them race is not actually about biology (because biology does not support any form of racism) but about politics of power that merely uses biology and science in general to construct post hoc and ad hoc arguments for holding onto or acquiring said political power.
I agree (tentatively) but … I am not sure that the racist is a sophisticated enough thinker to have deconstructed their racism to the point where they can reason about power politics. The racists I have talked with don’t see it as part of the dominant power structure of the US -- they see it as a supported belief system in its own right.
When you start unpacking racism into power dynamics, I find that (if you explain it carefully) you can make serious inroads into racists’ beliefs. They don’t like realizing they’ve been played.
In 2001, my brother’s co-workers thought he was involved in the attacks on the World Trade Center and the Pentagon. Why? Just because his family was from “over there.” That was enough for them to think he was in cahoots with the terrorists. That was enough for them to try persuading the manager to fire him. That was enough for them to terrorize him with heavy machinery.
Thanks, Charly.
Very interesting videos. Humans are so easily manipulated by the politics of power.
Hmm, as I already mentioned, my colleague is seen as “the Other” for wearing a hijab. She frequently has her German-ness questioned, up to and including the ability to teach her own mother tongue, for which she has a teaching degree. She is no longer the white German woman that she actually is, but some stranger.
Sure, she could just take off her hijab and be seen as “same” again, a feat that few Arabs, regardless of their religion can do.