Acceptable minority identity requires denying the racism one faces

Evidence

As the judge noted, Pourghoraishi initially attested that “any reasonably aware” person would identify him as Middle Eastern, and as evidence offered his own lawyer’s affidavit of him being “not Caucasian.” The purpose of this testimony, and Pourghoraishi’s adoption of it, was to distinguish the plaintiff from the defendant, the uncontestably white Flying J manager, for the purposes of the Morris test. Yet when the deposition interviewer asked Pourghoraishi if he “looks different than anyone else,” Pourghoraishi said no. Pourghoraishi seemed comfortable stating that his Middle Eastern descent was clearly identifiable but uncomfortable stating that his descent made him look “different than anyone else,” meaning in this case, any other white person. — Neda Maghbouleh, The Limits of Whiteness, 105 (#complicates, via linked claim)

As a process, the marginalization of ethnic minority students is anchored ideologically through explanations associating them one-sidedly with problems: less intelligent, language deficiency, lack of cultural sophistication, insufficient work ethic or social skills. Some ethnic groups, notably Asians, are accused of an exaggerated work ethic compared to the white norm. The status quo of marginality is maintained through the repression of resistance. A major form of everyday repression concerns the privileging of the definition of reality through the denial of racism. Accusations of oversensitivity about discrimination, continuous ethnic jokes, ridicule in front of others, patronizing, rudeness, and other attempts to humiliate and to intimidate can all have the effect of discouraging action against discrimination. — David Theo Goldberg, John Solomos, A Companion to Racial and Ethnic Studies, 1482 (#corroborates, via linked claim)

The claim of the evaporation – the death – of race is really a claim not about racial death but about “the end,” the disappearance, of racism, seeking to evade thus the violent and deadly ends, all those threats, large and small, geopolitical and everyday, in the service of which racisms continue to be pressed into practice. — David Theo Goldberg, The Threat of Race, 147 (#expands, via linked claim)

Categorization

• XREF: connects to: Racecraft naturalizes hierarchy so the subordinated consent to their own subordination — Cyra Akila Choudhury, Racecraft and Identity in the Emergence…, 461; Racial self-identification can conflict with claiming discrimination status — Neda Maghbouleh, The Limits of Whiteness: Iranian…, 105; Denying racism serves as a prime tool for repressing resistance — David Theo Goldberg, John Solomos, A Companion to Racial and Ethnic Studies, 1482 (+4 more)

Broader Connections

• Racial self-identification can conflict with claiming discrimination status #complicates (0.85) — Neda Maghbouleh, The Limits of Whiteness, 105
• Denying racism serves as a prime tool for repressing resistance #corroborates (0.80) — David Theo Goldberg, John Solomos, A Companion to Racial and Ethnic Studies, 1482
• Post-racial claims actually deny ongoing racism rather than racial identity #expands (0.80) — David Theo Goldberg, The Threat of Race, 147
• Convincing people racism is over ensures that racism persists #exemplifies (0.75) — Ibram X. Kendi, Stamped from the Beginning, 1142