Reflection One

Reflection One: Miles’ Use of “Race”

In his article, “Racism”, Robert Miles constantly refers to the term “race” within quotation marks. Generally, quotation marks are used to indicate speech or to put emphasis on a particular word or phrase. In this case it is used to draw particular attention to use of the term. Miles feels that “race” is not something that can be used arbitrarily but something that should be seriously considered before being put to use. In fact, he almost uses the term “race” ironically as he does not really believe there is such a thing, though, he does believe in the theory of racism, or racialization. He puts the term “race” into quotations because so many people feel that the idea of race is the real threat to the equality of people when he believes that really it is the process of racialization that is more harmful. According to Miles, “race” does not exist. Most people can agree that race is not a natural process by which we divide the worlds population, but a socially constructed process. Thus stating that “race” is not a real or tangible thing, so therefore it as itself should be
given no concern. It is his theories of racism or racialization that should be the focus of the worlds ever growing concern for equality.  

Of course, that being said, one cannot totally discount the idea of race, simply because it is a social construction. Miles does not want us to forget about it, he merely wants the reader to allow it to take the back burner while we focus on these processes. This move both strengthens his theory and at the same time weakens it. He wants us to look closely at the process by which people are classed rather than what they are being classed as. According to different governments though, different races get different privileges, abide by different by laws and sometimes live in different districts because of “race”, the Indian Act in Canada can be seen as an example of this. At this point has it not become more than a social construction? Has it not become a tangible thing? It would seem that Miles thinks not. He believes that more importantly we must focus on the process by which these people are classed. Yet, does it not still come down to the fact that people are classed as such?

In the end I feel he creates a legitimate theoretical move within his discourse. His theory of “race” not really existing comes across quite strongly with the use of quotation marks. Without his use of punctuation his alternate meaning for the word race may become lost upon readers. It is important to note that Miles uses “race” in a way that many may find to be different from the way that they use it in everyday life, thus the quotations become an important part of his theory. His use of quotations allows his thinking to be seen as something that is contrary to regular stream of thought. In my personal experience, people focus more on the concept of race than of the process of racism or racializing someone.

Miles uses the quotations to indicate a theory of race that the average person may not consider. He provides the reader with a new perspective of an age-old concept, a feat that sometimes is not easily accomplished. To say his use of punctuation creates a legitimate theoretical move may not be so far from the truth. The accessibility it creates, to allow the reader a starting point in the article, makes it easier to immerse oneself in it. If a person who had never heard of the concept of race were to sit and read Miles’ article, having a working knowledge of punctuation it would be recognizable to said person that Miles is imposing a new idea on to the word. That being said, he also seems to turn the notion of race against itself by using the quotations.  He undermines it so many times, saying that the process is the important thing to be conscious of that he even goes so far as to say in his conclusion on page 16 that he seems to be saying that “race” is not the issue at hand, but are mislabeling racism as such. While indeed race is a socially constructed thing, it cannot simply be removed from society and replaced with another word. As a sociologist he may use quotations and reform his own definition of race but that does nothing to educate the masses on the subjects of race, racisms and racialization and all their differences. To change the meaning of one word by using quotations does not change that socially constructed or no, it exists.  


Racism by Robert Miles