In this episode, we investigate how race functions as a primary organizing feature of the modern world, drawing on Chapter 9 of George Ritzer’s Contemporary Sociological Theory and Its Classical Roots (2022). We move beyond biological myths to explore race as a social construction forged through the history of European colonialism and the "primitive accumulation" that fueled early capitalism. Our discussion traces the evolution of racial theory, from Frantz Fanon’s analysis of the psychological dehumanization of the colonial subject to Edward Said’s critique of Orientalism as a tool of Western power. We also tackle contemporary frameworks, including Critical Race Theory’s focus on systemic law, the persistent myth of a "postracial" society, and the subtle frames of color-blind racism. Finally, we look toward global alternatives through Southern and Indigenous theories, highlighting the concept of resurgence and the profound connection between land and social thought.
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#Sociology #RaceTheory #Colonialism #FrantzFanon #CriticalRaceTheory #IndigenousResurgence #Orientalism #SocialJustice #RacialFormation #Postcolonialism #GeorgeRitzer