Ep. 56 - The Theory of Racelessness | Dr. Sheena Mason
truthinbetween.substack.com
Theory of Racelessness: A Case for Antirace(ism) By Sheena Mason, Ph.D. The “theory of racelessness” reflects two alternative philosophical positions of race that are uncommonly taught and even less understood: skepticism and eliminativism. In profound ways, the theory is a call for antirace(ism), a simultaneous reflection of the call for the abolition of race to undo racism (i.e., eliminativism) and the recognition that human beings are already raceless (i.e., skepticism). It is a call for the truth in all its richness, pertaining to the persistence of race and its corresponding -ism in the United States. The thing called “race” does not exist, but people imagine it does. In that way, “race” needs to be abolished. The act of abolition from a skeptical position, though, is the radical act of acknowledging one’s racelessness, one’s existence outside the bounds of race(ism), one’s rejection of a nonsensical means of subjugation and elevation that has no positive or forward-moving value even if it has had practical utility for various groups across time and place.
Ep. 56 - The Theory of Racelessness | Dr. Sheena Mason
Ep. 56 - The Theory of Racelessness | Dr…
Ep. 56 - The Theory of Racelessness | Dr. Sheena Mason
Theory of Racelessness: A Case for Antirace(ism) By Sheena Mason, Ph.D. The “theory of racelessness” reflects two alternative philosophical positions of race that are uncommonly taught and even less understood: skepticism and eliminativism. In profound ways, the theory is a call for antirace(ism), a simultaneous reflection of the call for the abolition of race to undo racism (i.e., eliminativism) and the recognition that human beings are already raceless (i.e., skepticism). It is a call for the truth in all its richness, pertaining to the persistence of race and its corresponding -ism in the United States. The thing called “race” does not exist, but people imagine it does. In that way, “race” needs to be abolished. The act of abolition from a skeptical position, though, is the radical act of acknowledging one’s racelessness, one’s existence outside the bounds of race(ism), one’s rejection of a nonsensical means of subjugation and elevation that has no positive or forward-moving value even if it has had practical utility for various groups across time and place.