Race, Power and Prejudice: An exploration of social and political vision of J.K Rowling in the Harry Potter series
Background to the research:
Generally speaking, it is very difficult to give an apt definition of racism. Race, however, can be defined as a group of individuals belonging to certain ethnicity. The reason for one’s inability to give a proper definition of racism is that the concept in itself at its roots stems out of distinctions based upon one’s own mentality, outlook or social construct that they were born in. So, racism or rather ‘prejudice based upon someone’s colour, caste or creed’ is a concept that is and will forever remain a matter of debate or contention. It was, is and will always will be subjective and remain in
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In a similar vein, where racism in “The Untouchable” by Mulk Raj Anand is more caste based, as it is found in India. Similarly, the theme finds an expression in ‘The kite runner’ by Khaled Hosseini, where it has been examined from various angles, religious intolerance, class, economic conditions etc. In ‘The Bluest Eye’ a novel by Tony Morrison, race has been discriminated on sexist and racial grounds. In the novel Pecola Beedlove, the protagonist is a young black girl who is raped by her father. This tragedy leaves her pregnant, distraught and broken throughout the work and towards the end she ends up becoming mad. As one can see, prejudice can arise out of any number of sources and not just race per se. However, ‘Differentiation based on Race’ is one of the most prominent themes that finds and has found expression in the literature so …show more content…
Over the 7 year long duration in which the work was written by her, she personally went through a series of life changes like: the death of her mother, birth of her first child, her first divorce and a spell of poverty. By 1995, she had finished her manuscript of “The Harry Potter and the Philosophers’ Stone “, the first instalment of the series. It should be noted that the books have been written in 7
Racism is prejudice or discrimination directed against someone of a different race based on such a belief. An example of racism in the public services comes from a news report on channel 4 earlier this year. The report tells how there has 120 racism cases in the Metropolitan Police over the past decade, but only one officer was dismissed as a result. This shows that racism is common in the public services but is not necessarily dealt with as it should be.
The Cambridge Dictionaries Online (2011) defines racism as “the belief that people's qualities are influenced by their race and that the members of other races are not as good as the members of your own, or the resulting unfair treatment of members of other races.”
Merriam-Webster fully defines racism as “a belief that race is the primary determinant of human traits and capacities and that racial differences produce an inherent superiority of a particular race”. In his article, Balkaran points out that racial discourse can be inferred to be aversive, academic, scientific, legalistic, bureaucratic, economic, cultural, linguistic, religion, mythical, or ideological. He states that racial discourse and expressions have been prevalent towards African-Americans. “Race matters exist in different places and at different times under widely varying conditions,” he writes. This pushes into the understanding of racism in the history of the United States.
Racism isn’t hating someone because of their race. Prejudice is not a misconception of who a person is. Racism is being prejudiced because a person believes their race is superior; and, prejudice is a preconceived opinion not based on any prior experience. In other words, racism is when a person has a preconceived opinion about another person because they feel their race is superior. Racism and prejudice are probably two of the most talked about and controversial words 60 years ago and still today. When Rosa Parks refused to give up her seat and Martin L. King marched on Selma they didn’t think we would still be in such a place today; we are in a place where people are not allowed to be themselves without facing judgment. This is the same prejudice and racism members of society face in schools, by students and educators which limits their ability to progress in a world full of competition and rise above what demographics say they are destined to become. As the great Charles Albert Tindley once said, “We Shall Overcome!”
level. The film,American History X, tells the story of two brothers who are both involved with a
Fantasy appeals to us, to put it crudely, because of the relationship between magic and morality. An alternate world filled with strange and wonderful things, a world defined by imagination, gives us a setting in which to lose ourselves within. J.K. Rowling has done this and has captured the minds and hearts of readers all around the world with her bestselling series “Harry Potter”. As we engage in the engrossing narrative following Harry Potter and his friends, some may be able to relate to the lives of such characters. J.K. Rowling takes an undeniably riveting approach to showcasing the round characterizations throughout her novel "Harry Potter and The Sorcerer's Stone" to such a degree that the reader can personally identify with such characters.
Racisms itself is defined as prejudice, discrimination, or antagonism directed against someone of a different race based on the belief that one's own race is superior. The way to get away from racism and stereotyping is by taking a stand yourself; each person can donate their time, acceptance and open arms to each other.
Racism can be “defined as the hatred of one person by another or the belief that another person is less than human because of skin color, language, customs, place of birth or any factor that supposedly reveals the basic nature of that person. It has influenced wars, slavery, the formation of nations, and legal codes” (“What”). The face of racism over the past 50 years has changed but yet, some still stay the same. People made laws against racism and it is not as blunt anymore. But opinions and stereotypes will remain which will cause others to still be treated differently.
Racism can be defined by the formula prejudice + power = racism. Racism is when racial prejudice is turned into action that harms others. Racism is the belief that one race of people is superior to another because of their colour or race. Racism is simply based on the colour of a person's skin. Racism is destructive and it disembowels people by shattering their identity.
The belief that one race by nature stands superior to another defines racism. Racism can be traced back to the beginning of civilization and has always existed as a horrible issue in our society. Many attempts and reforms have occurred in hopes of eliminating racism and much progress has been achieved. Yet, even after the emancipation proclamation, equality laws placed within the constitution, small
Let’s start with the definition of racism. Racism refers to the belief that race is the primary determinant of human capacities, that a certain race is inherently superior or inferior to others, and/or that individuals should be treated differently based on their ascribed race.
Racism is the belief that one race is superior to another. Discrimination has been going on for generations among generations. Many years ago people of different races were divided from each other. Public places were segregated. Colored people had to use specific water fountains, schools were segregated, and blacks had to sit at the back of the buses. If they were to disobey then there would be consequences and repercussions. Equality was a figment of imagination, a dream the the minority groups had. Throughout the years racism has decreased and many things pertaining to racism were made illegal but that doesn’t mean racism disappeared. Although the separation of the races are more organized, racism can lead the world back to inequality,
J. K. Rowling has long been lauded for her inventive implementation of underlying complexities within the Harry Potter series. Further analyzation reveals how, through magical and metaphorical racial themes, she also evaluates contemporary and historical racial ideologies outside of the wizarding world. The series perpetrates antiquated racial constructs with no hint of satire on the surface. However, she takes advantage of the readers ' willing suspension of disbelief, effectively penetrating psychological defences, in order to offer contradictory examinations explicitly encompassing race-related issues. As opposed to dealing specifically with skin colour and nationality, Rowling safely explores under the guise of magical species and blood purity. Per contra, the conversely related metaphorical and literal interpretations are complementary; the metaphorical elements create a deeper layer of insight into the Eurocentrism than a surface observation would provide.
Racism is a belief or doctrine that inherent differences among the various human races determine cultural or individual achievement, usually involving the idea that one's own race is superior and has the right to rule others. This trend has been around for a long time, from slaves, to discrimination, etc. Although in many cases, people in the time period
In society there is a lot of misconception of the term racism. According to the merriam-webster dictionary members of one race are intrinsically superior to members of others race which many people would agree with. What is racism? The normal person if asked will simply reply, not liking someone for their color of their skin. Racism from my attitude which is substantiated by historically events is a system of power .Thus is a system of power i.e. to control the world and its people. Employed by Europeans to subjugate and discriminate against other groups, in particular Africans/black people. Racism is a power which ran thru a systemic way to hinder and sabotage other groups. The system is so elaborate that it almost seems nonexistence