The keyword reading opens by bluntly defining race as a “legal, social, and cultural invention rather than nature” (161). Essentially, race is a social construct developed by those in power to oppress cultural groups based on their physical appearances. The color of someone’s skin, the shape of their eyes, or the texture of their hair has no influence on intelligence, capability, creativity, strength, etc. However, even though race isn’t “real” because there’s no science to back it up, race shouldn’t be disregarded or ignored because it has a large impact on individuals’ life experiences. White privilege exists and racism is still very prevalent in our society. I don’t think people are born racist, but rather they are taught to be racist, either by their environment, the people that surround them, and/or the media. I believe in the idea that if you hear or see something over and over again, then you will trust it to be normal and true. Gone With the Wind is one of the more well-known examples of a book/movie that glorifies slavery and is filled with racist stereotypes. As this film was extremely popular when it was released in 1939, many people’s views on racism and the experience of slaves were definitely influenced by it, thus perpetuating racism. At the same time, though, the media can educate people about race in a positive way. For example, the book/movie The Hate U Give shares a realistic story of a Black girl struggling with her identity and the unjust violence against Black people. This story, rather than the one in Gone With the Wind, is more beneficial to society because it carries themes of activism, family, bravery, and identity in the Black community.
