Monday, October 31, 2016

Onwuachi-Willig Response

In her article “Race and Racial Identity Are Social Constructs,” Angela Onwuachi-Willig uses statements given as facts to support her argument. She does not allow the opposition a voice in her piece. Her sentences have a tone of such finality, crafted so simplistically, that it hard to argue against her point. For example, she opens with, “Race is not biological. It is a social construct.” While her argument may be valid, she presents it as fact, disregarding the actual genetic factors that may play a part in race or racial identity. 
In the article, she discusses the implications of white people feeling racially discriminated against because of their love or proximity to a person of another race. Because they or their loved ones are discriminated against, they no longer feel the strong tie to their base race. She describes the fluidity of racial identity in contrast to the rigidity of institutionalized racism and society’s view on race.
Onwuachi-Willig backs up her statements by providing the links in her article to other sources that back up her points. It is a simple form of citing where the reader can just click the link and read the source she got her information from. She uses it more for examples than key points in the article, though. 

Angela closes the article by writing, “Where will we be 50 years from now? Need I answer that question? It definitely won't be in a post-racial society.” She asks a seemingly rhetorical question, leading enough as it is. She then implies that she doesn’t even need to answer the question, then proceeds to do so anyway. This makes it seem that although she views race as fluid, she doesn’t think enough progress is being or will be made now or in the future.

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