Multiculturalism and anti-racism

Multiculturalism and anti-racism are two socially progressive concepts. Though they are distinct, multiculturalism and anti-racism are closely linked. Multiculturalism is a societal phenomenon that advocates for the acknowledgment that every cultural and ethnic group within a larger society has a right to practice its beliefs. It works against the creation of a homogeneous society, celebrating differences instead of shunning them. Multiculturalism acknowledges that the dominant cultural group of a society may use its power to encourage or force others to conform to its preferred culture. Proponents of multiculturalism instead work to encourage diversity in all spaces, providing a space for all cultures to coexist.

Anti-racism refers to the active and continuous resistance to racism. Racism is the belief that one cultural or ethnic group is inherently superior to another. This commonly involves the persecution of what racist thinking views as lesser races and the eventual creation of a homogenous society. By its nature, multiculturalism is an anti-racist movement, and anti-racist activism tends to encourage multiculturalism.

Background

Many early societies were culturally diverse, including some of the civilizations of classical antiquity. Ancient Greece included communities that had different identities from the majority, practicing their own traditions, speaking distinct dialects, and sporting their own styles of clothing. The Muslim-majority Ottoman Empire included other religious groups including Christians and Jews.

Many minority groups suffer from the continued erasure of their cultures by dominant social groups. In some cases, this process happens slowly and unintentionally, as members of a culture assimilate into the larger culture over the course of many generations. In other instances, it happens intentionally, when a government or people make a concentrated effort to wipe out another culture. They may outlaw speaking a language, forbid the teaching of cultural histories, or separate children from parents to ensure that they are raised as part of the dominant culture. For example, in the 1800s and early 1900s, the American and Canadian governments tried to force assimilation of Indigenous peoples by requiring their children be enrolled in schools that banned their native languages, dress, and cultural practices. In a multicultural society, care is taken to ensure that all cultures are respected and preserved.

In some ways, multiculturalism contradicts modern liberalism. In a liberal democracy, all members of a society should be treated equally, having common legal rights and social responsibilities. However, over time, this may lead members of the dominant culture to homogenize society. They assume that everyone is like them, sharing their experiences, beliefs, and characteristics. Those that are different are sometimes assumed, as minorities, to be less important or less impactful than people who belong to the dominant culture. As liberal democracies develop, they must ensure they avoid cultural homogenization.

Overview

Anti-racism means actively fighting against racism. Though race is a human construct and has no basis in biology, many people discriminate based on skin color, ethnic group, or the cultural identities of others. These people often believe that their group is superior to others, or that a particular group is inferior to other local groups. They may work to remove a minority group’s rights, or to discredit the opinions and feelings of target groups.

Multiculturalism fundamentally opposes racism. It acknowledges that all cultures, regardless of how many people are members, are entitled to their place in a larger society. Whereas racists believe that one culture is superior, multiculturalism argues that the differences between people make society stronger. For this reason, proponents of multiculturalism tend to welcome immigrants and the construction of inclusive, diverse societies. By contrast, racists tend to prefer cultural homogenization, including shunning immigrants, minorities, and others who may hold different views. By building diverse, inclusive cities, social groups, and societies, activists make it more difficult for racists to advance their goals.

Anti-racism requires teaching members of the dominant culture to listen to the concerns and struggles of smaller groups. In many cases, members of the largest cultural group may face fewer struggles than members of smaller groups, as traditionally they have the largest influence in shaping society’s laws and systems. This privilege allows them to shape the system in a way that benefits and supports them. However, members of the dominant cultural group often assume that the system they’ve constructed supports everyone just as well as it supports them. Concerns and complaints from other groups may be pushed aside or dismissed.

Listening to members of smaller ethnic groups helps actively fight racism, particularly systemic racism, by showing others how the system is failing parts of the community. Once the dominant cultural group recognizes and validates the struggles of smaller cultural groups, it can help allocate societal resources to alleviate those struggles. This might include providing government funding, improving access to necessary resources, or providing additional opportunities for representation.

Members of multicultural societies acknowledge that multiculturalism is a powerful tool for fighting racism. They work to promote diversity and other forms of anti-racism across the planet. This process can involve raising awareness of multiculturalism and anti-racism, or it can involve helping develop better multicultural practices at a local level.

Both multiculturalism and anti-racism are often tied to governmental policies. Though local community activism can bring about positive change, governmental policies have a prominent impact on the lives of many members of the community. They can restrict or promote immigration, acknowledge or deny the rights of various cultural groups, and provide assistance or oppression to struggling peoples. To ensure that governmental policies that uphold systemic racism are examined and broken down, activists for both multiculturalism and anti-racism must remain actively involved with all levels of government.

Bibliography

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