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Yahoo
3 days ago
- Science
- Yahoo
Can We End Racism by Ending the Idea of Race Itself?
The Raceless Antiracist: Why Ending Race Is the Future of Antiracism, by Sheena Michele Mason, Pitchstone Publishing, 256 pages, $17.95 Is race real? In The Raceless Antiracist, a follow-up to her 2022 book Theory of Racelessness, Sheena Michele Mason argues not only that it isn't, but that trying to stop racism while keeping the concept of race is like fighting "a flood by pouring water on it." Mason, a literature professor at SUNY Oneonta, suggests that these futile approaches fall into two categories: "anti-racist resistance" and "color-blindness." While the first reifies race by making it the key to understanding most social phenomena, the second reifies it by treating it as a real thing that ought to be ignored, thus downplaying the reality of the racism that relies on it. The Raceless Antiracist asks us to do something very uncomfortable: to adopt a new mental model, to think in a completely different set of categories. It doesn't deserve a snap judgment. It's a book for chewing on and wrestling with. It may puzzle or even disturb you. Mason notes that our ancestors migrated at levels that most people grossly underestimate, leading to far more genetic mixing than people typically assume. She points out that our current understanding of DNA undermines a lot of assumptions that arose from observing external traits, such as skin color, nose shape, and eye shape, since such traits can arise from the same genetic allele but be inherited from entirely different people. Furthermore, thanks to the random genetic recombination that happens with every new generation, 75 percent of your genetic makeup is attributable to only 5 percent of your ancestors. A 23andMe test will tell you about only 8 percent of your ancestors, because they're the only ones left represented in your DNA today. In fact, it's possible that two dark South Africans can be more genetically divergent from one another than one of them is from a white Swede. Even if race is a biological fiction—and I think Mason makes a strong case that it is—it could be real in the sense that money is real: constructed by us but constrained in its "nature" by the purpose it serves. People treat it as real, particularly the people who created the category as a rationale for dehumanizing those they oppress; and that, one might argue, makes it a social fact. Mason rejects even this argument. We can build franchises, merchandise empires, and little girls' dreams out of princesses who create ice castles, but that does not mean those princesses themselves exist. So too, race is simply imaginary. It is racism that is the social construct: a social hierarchy based on an imagined category. Mason sees this as an important difference, because she believes that people trapped in the ideology of race are fated never to actually end racism. We cannot beat the sin by embracing its core mistake. The word trapped is instructive here. Think of how defining one's blackness as resistance to whiteness just prioritizes whiteness. What happens if the "whiteness" of Whiteness Studies programs—that is, the association of peach-colored people with legal and economic privilege—were actually to disappear? Would the meaning and purpose found in celebrating gospel music or soul food or the Civil Rights Movement disappear too? Obviously not! Those "black" things are not a celebration of race at all; they're a celebration of a culture shared by a particular ethnic group from a particular part of the U.S. who underwent a particular set of historical circumstances that shaped them in important ways. Mason calls this "translation": Once one embraces racelessness, she says, one must translate what people really mean when they talk about "race" into actual insights about culture, ethnicity, class, or other categories. Consider Denzel Washington's comment when he was asked about why it mattered that the director of Malcolm X be a black man. "It's not about color," he replied: "It's about culture." He then went on to describe how a certain group of people know how the smell of a hot iron on their woolly hair makes them think of Sunday mornings and getting ready to go to a certain kind of church service. Martin Scorsese could make a great film out of the story of Malcolm X too. Just not that film. By reifying race, thinkers like Ibram X. Kendi create a trap in which black Americans only matter as a group that's oppressed. By constantly referring to the disparate effects of this or that policy on "black and brown" people, when what we actually mean is poor people, we reinforce the false idea that black and brown people are all poor. By homing in on black men shot by police even though more white men are shot by police (here, Mason cites the work of Harvard economist Roland Fryer), the media reinforce a fear of being gunned down by police that far, far outstrips its statistical likelihood and could itself lead to dangerous consequences. Mason believes her framework will help people avoid such adverse outcomes without downplaying actual instances or effects of racism. In an environment like ours, where racial categories are ubiquitous, this constant work of translation will require a toolbox—something Mason calls the togetherness wayfinder. Here, Mason's tone shifts from a prominently philosophical one to a literary one. She leans heavily on writers, from the African-American novelist Toni Morrison to the Chinese-American author Maxine Hong Kingston, from the Jim Crow–era black conservative George Schuyler to the 19th century poet Walt Whitman, as she offers ways to break out of false dichotomies, to refuse assigned categories, and to remember how complex and storied our identities really are. Mason also argues, I think rightly, that many of our struggles with questions of identity, uniqueness, and belonging are grounded in our ability to receive and give love. In a deeply moving section, she relates her experience of being beaten with a broomstick handle by her adoptive mother, as well as being rejected emotionally and called a devil, despite her constant attempts to please through perfect grades and acts of service to her parents. I found it interesting that Mason does not relate whether her adoptive parents are white or black (or, as she would say, "racialized as white or black"). The experience of being abused and rejected by one's parents is, sadly, found in every society, every class, and every ethnicity. But it can undermine one's ability to love oneself in ways that send one searching for something to identify with, to be proud of, and to fight for. Much of that comes out as hatred—from racists, from anti-racists, from anti-anti-racists. It can be conquered by love, but only through an internal healing that every person must pursue for themselves. I can quibble with much in this book. While Mason is politically independent and draws on a number of heterodox thinkers, she is ultimately a leftist and I a classical liberal; when she calls for fighting hierarchical oppression, she isn't necessarily imagining the same hierarchies that I do. But she is vague enough in those concerns that they have little effect on how I respond to her theory of racelessness. If she's right about the ways the concept of race traps us into multiple iterations of the same boring, and ultimately despairing, conversations, then it's worth working together to "translate" that race talk into something more precise—into insights about economic circumstances, ethnic heritage, or culture—and to jettison the rest. After that, the arguments we might have about economics and public policy can look to what's actually happening rather than what we merely imagine. The post Can We End Racism by Ending the Idea of Race Itself? appeared first on
Yahoo
19-05-2025
- General
- Yahoo
SUNY Oneonta graduates 1,100 students
Family, friends, faculty and staff gathered on the SUNY Oneonta campus Saturday, May 17 for the university's spring commencement exercises Saturday, May 17. According to a SUNY Oneonta news release, visitors gathered inside the Alumni Field House during three ceremonies to recognize the 1,100 students — 870 undergraduate and 230 graduate — expected to complete their requirements for graduation this semester. University President Alberto Cardelle told the members of the Class of 2025 that this marked his fourth commencement and that the class "will always hold a special place in my heart." "Many of you and I began our journeys here around the same time," he said, "making your class the first I've had the chance to know throughout your entire college experience. ... Your time at SUNY Oneonta hasn't just been about finding answers; it's been about developing the curiosity, the courage and the tools to face new questions. You're equipped to tackle new challenges. ... And wherever your path takes you — whether into a lab, a classroom, a business, a nonprofit, or a community — you'll continue to push the boundaries of what's known." Catskill Brass provided musical selections for the event, the Leatherstocking District Pipe Band and Catskill Brass performed the processional and graduating senior Spirit Alves sang the national anthem and alma mater, according to the release. Other speakers during Saturday's ceremonies included Senior Class President Yesenia Perez and Senior Class Vice President Amanda Balich Metakis, Associate Professor of Mathematics and Presiding Officer of the Faculty Keith Jones, Alumni Association President and Class of 2010 alumna Alice Maggiore, and Class of 1985 alumnus Thomas G. Capek, Corning Incorporated's senior vice president and chief engineer. Capek received an Honorary doctor of science degree" in recognition of his groundbreaking work in engineering, dedication to educational access, and exceptional service to SUNY and society," the release stated. Capek told the students they are now "part of a large, close-knit family" and that their accomplishments are not just their own but part of a larger tradition. "For many of us here today, Oneonta is not just a school — it's a legacy," he said. "My family has a close connection to this great institution: My brothers George and Frank, my daughter Rebecca, and I, all had the privilege of passing through these pillars. ... Because of our experiences at Oneonta, my brothers and I became more prepared and well-rounded engineers. Our classes, and our classmates, gave us a strong foundation that we carry with us today." Capek also encouraged the class to "get good at self-discovery, embrace the process of continual learning, and keep challenging yourself to focus on creating and delivering what the world needs," the release stated.
Yahoo
01-05-2025
- General
- Yahoo
SUNY Oneonta professor wins Horizon Award
SUNY Oneonta Assistant Professor of English Sheena Mason is one of 10 recipients of the inaugural Horizon Award for Faculty Research and Scholarship, announced this week by State University of New York Chancellor John B. King Jr. The award honors early-career tenured and tenure track faculty across SUNY's 64 colleges and universities whose scholarly or creative activities have achieved significant recognition and hold strong promise for field-defining impact in the future, according to a news release from SUNY Oneonta. Mason is a scholar whose work in race theory and antiracism has earned international recognition for its approach and real-world impact, the release stated. "Her research transcends disciplinary boundaries, shaping critical conversations in Africana Studies, philosophy, literature and the social sciences," the release stated. She is the author of two books, 'The Raceless Antiracist' (2024) and 'Theory of Racelessness' (2022), "which challenge conventional paradigms of racial identity and are contributing to a global reevaluation of race and racism," according to the release. In the classroom, Mason "integrates her research into her teaching, offering students a cutting-edge understanding of race theory and social justice," the release stated. Her approach to assignments, such as student-led discussions and creative projects, "encourages students to engage deeply with the material," according to the release. On campus, she has earned Scholar of the Year, a student-nominated Pillar Award, and the Esther Hubbard Whitaker Prize, which recognizes dedication to student learning, passion for their chosen field and a strong commitment to community service. Candidates' portfolios were reviewed by Distinguished Academy faculty who made recommendations to the SUNY Provost, the release stated. As many as 10 awards will be conferred each year.
Yahoo
25-04-2025
- General
- Yahoo
Local SUNY campuses receive grants for trees
Gov. Kathy Hochul celebrated Arbor Day on Friday by announcing $15 million in grants through New York state's new Community Reforestation (CoRe) program. 'Resilient urban forests support community health, well-being and sustainability,' Hochul said. 'I'm celebrating Arbor Day 2025 by awarding $15 million in new grants to support projects across the State that will bring the countless ecological and economic benefits of trees to urban areas.' Two of the grants were awarded locally. The Research Foundation for the State of New York received $484,910 for SUNY Oneonta Forest Restoration. SUNY Oneonta will plant more than 9,600 native trees and remove invasive species to enhance carbon sequestration and recreation opportunities on campus, as well as host student internships and service-learning opportunities, the release stated. The Research Foundation for the State of New York also received $423,092 for SUNY Cobleskill Forest Restoration. SUNY Cobleskill will create natural areas on campus by planting more than 5,300 trees across five acres of abandoned agricultural land, providing hands-on educational experiences for students, according to the release. All CoRe-funded projects will record tree planting input into DEC's Tree Tracker, a GIS tool available for the public to upload every tree planted in New York state. Every New Yorker who uploads a tree planting to the Tree Tracker in April and May will be automatically entered in a sweepstakes for a chance to win a year-long subscription to The Conservationist magazine and 25 Million Trees merchandise, according to the release. DEC is awarding more than $7.4 million to municipalities, particularly to restore woodlands in public parks. "Invasive species removal and expansion of native forests in these open spaces intends to enhance the ecosystem services provided to local residents, particularly enhanced canopy that provides shade and recreational opportunities," the release stated. A total of $5.3 million is awarded to not-for-profit organizations for a variety of volunteer-driven projects focused on promoting forest health at the ecosystem-level, from riparian zone enhancement along the Upper Susquehanna watershed to protecting Bronx River ecological health, the release stated.
Yahoo
23-04-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Oneonta becomes first SUNY school powered with locally-sourced energy
ONEONTA, NY (WUTR/WFXV/WPNY) — In the wake of Earth Day, Governor Kathy Hochul announced on Wednesday that SUNY Oneonta has become the first SUNY School powered with locally-sourced energy. The announcement — made on Wednesday, April 23 — made Oneonta the first SUNY school to purchase Tier 1 Renewable Energy Certificates from the New York State Energy Research and Development Authority (NYSERDA) voluntary sales program. 'New York State continues to demonstrate its commitment to advancing clean energy solutions and sustainability,' Governor Hochul said in a statement. 'I applaud SUNY Oneonta for powering its campus with clean energy. Not only does this program bring the university one step closer to reaching carbon neutrality, but it also provides a blueprint for other SUNY campuses to follow.' The governor's office says the purchase will provide enough locally-sourced clean energy to power four 200-bed residence halls on campus fully. 'I commend SUNY Oneonta for being a leader amongst SUNY institutions in using locally sourced clean energy,' Assemblyman Brian Miller said in a statement. 'By becoming the first campus to fully power residence halls using NYSERDA's voluntary sales program through the purchase of Tier 1 Renewable Energy Certificates, they are setting a powerful example of what's possible when we prioritize sustainability, innovation, and local impact,' said Assemblyman Brian Miller. 'This is a model that institutions and energy users across New York can look to as we work toward a cleaner, more resilient future.' Established in 2023 and implemented by NYSERDA, the program creates an opportunity for organizations to purchase renewable energy certificates from NYSERDA through a competitive process. The certificates represent the environmental attributes of one megawatt-hour of energy derived from renewable energy resources. To qualify for this program, organizations must show that their renewable energy sources are Renewable Energy Standard-eligible and come from new generators that began operation on or after January of 2015. Through their purchase of the energy, the college will now claim 1,000 megawatthours of new renewable energy this year. 'In my role as co-chair of the SUNY Sustainability Council, I have the opportunity to work alongside leaders across the SUNY system to develop the SUNY Climate and Sustainability Action Plan,' SUNY Oneonta president Alberto Cardelle said in a statement. 'Buying Tier 1 Renewable Energy Certificates is one positive action we are taking at SUNY Oneonta to lead the way in addressing climate change and sustainability. Our campus community, from students to faculty and visitors, values sustainability and appreciates that it is one of our core values as an institution.' The purchase is part of SUNY Oneonta's Clean Energy Master Plan, which charts a roadmap for carbon neutrality by the year 2045. It will allow the college to offset the school's electrical usage and reduce their greenhouse gas emissions. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
