Looking at Each Other

The Origin of Negative Ethnicity

Abstract

In this paper^[1], I discuss the origins of negative ethnicity and racism in the society by taking the social, historical, psychological and linguistic dimension. I look at the way we “look at each other”, the reasons why we are  always biased against each other, the relationship between negative ethnicity, the shadow, archetype, scapegoat, stereotype, nepotism, prejudice, racism and language. I argue that almost every aspect of language is replete with ethnic significance and associations. I conclude that prejudice can only be minimized. It cannot be eliminated. It is our way of life.

[1]This paper is an adaptation of a presentation  entitled “The African image as a Shadow  in  European   travel Literature”, which I gave on 16^th November, 1996 at a conference organized by Nordiska Afrikainstitutet, Helsingör, Denmark ; “La Imagen Africana on los Libros de viajes Europeos” (The African image in European Travel Literature), held on 18^th March, 2003, Dépôt. Antropología Social de la Facultad de CC. Politicas y Sociología, Universidad Complutense de Madrid, Madrid, Spain and “Vivir sin papeles, Esterotipos, Prejuicios y Racismo” (Scapegoatism, Stereotypes, Prejudice and Racism), held on 11^th March, 2003, Dépôt. Antropología Social de la Facultad de CC. Politicas y Sociología, Universidad Complutense de Madrid,  Madrid, Spain.