Racism is a social construct, argued Dr. Mónica Moreno Figueroa at La Catedra de la Interculturalidad y Seminario de Epistemologías Decoloniales, during the conference held at the Universidad de Guadalajara in September 2017, which discussed the structure, practises and impact of racisim.
During her talk, Dr Moreno Figueroa was joined by Dr Emiko Saldívar from the Department of Anthroplogy at the University of California, Santa Barbara. The duo discussed racism in Mexican society, arguing that the media has a huge part to play in advocating the idea that white skin represents superiority. Across Mexico, the notion of racial difference are portrayed in daily life; even in television soaps the main character is often white, with European features. If a person with white skin is seen driving a nice car- they are rich. If a dark skinner person is seen driving the same car, they are the chauffer or they have robbed it.
This relationship between skin colour and class hierarchy is not new. In the Christian Church, for example, Jesus, Virgin Mary and the Saints are all white, with European features. Whilst during the Mexican colonial era, those at the top of the social pyramid were the white European colonists.
This relationship between skin colour and societal hierarchy is a common notion across the world the Researchers argued. In recent years, we have seen the friction this causes in societies across the world; Brexit, the recent riots in France and the rise of the right in Germany, can all, in some way, be attributed to the social constructs of race and class.
More information about the talks can be found:
