Emerging Racial Categories/ Concepts

             The panel that gathered in Edward B was very diverse, for a change. There were African Americans, Indian American, as well as Iranian American panelists. And this diverse group had gathered to discuss racial agendas.

             An interesting point brought forward by the panel was how a physical feature like color of the skin was considered a defining factor in most societies in the world. From the US to South Asia, lighter skin was preferred over darker complexion and this practice had become very symbolic.

             The majority of conversation was focused around President-elect Barack Obama. Many panelists discussed Mr. Obama's decision to call himself a 'mut' during a press conference. The scholars in the panel agreed that this action was rhetorically problematic. Mr. Obama was perhaps trying to suppress the racial undercurrents but his off-handed gesture is going to lead to generalizations, especially children of bi-racial couples.

             The panel brought up an interesting point that the racial issue in the US is unique. Although the US is considered a diverse melting pot of the world, one minority - African Americans - defines race in the US. The panel also touched upon how the Arabs or Muslims are generalized post 9/11.

             The panel was very conversational and interactive with the audience. Many intriguing questions were asked. Plenty of interesting anecdotes were shared. For instance, a lady shared a story where a student applying for college admission selected 'African' in the race category. He happened to be a South African living in the US. These are the hidden stories of race, which are rarely explored.

             Another story like that was a story where an African American panelist was considered 'white' in Tanzania because she didn't speak Swahili. This story revealed the social and cultura constraints that define race outside of the US. She made a suggestion that if someone has experiences that challenged them, they should learn from it and find a platform to share the experience and empower others as well.

              The revelation of race issues through the lens of society and scholarship was truly fascinating and enriching.