Racism in America. Henry James' Turn of the Screw

For all intents and purposes, the concept of race is a socially constructed concept. Despite appearances, the human species is one of the most similar of all species, but concepts of race and racism based on prejudice arose in societies to "give people different access to opportunities and resources" based on skin color or other differences (Quist-Adade 69). At the same time the concept of all men being created equal originated in U.S. society, the U.S. economy depended on slavery. As Quist-Adade maintains, notions of race leading to racism are part of an overall ideology "which holds that the white race is superior to the non-white races" (69). Despite emancipation and Civil Rights, racism is still pervasive in U.S. society, even if more covert than in previous generations.

Governments and other social institutions reinforce racism by providing different access to opportunities and resources based on racial differences. In society, white superiority compared to other races has long been a norm. Toni Morrison explains, "Race has functioned as a �metaphor' necessary to the �construction of Americanness: in the creation of our national identity, �American' has been defined as �white'" (Takaki 771).

Whether we look at CEOs of major corporations or educational attainment in U.S. society, it is obvious that whites far outnumber African Americans with respect to upward mobility and greater access to opportunities and

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This demonstrates how social institutions provide different access to opportunities and resources based on the concept of race. According to Takaki (774), one method of alleviating such disparities stems from "society's various ethnic groups developing greater understanding of each other." This will only occur when education and other social institutions undermine the socially constructed and artificial notion of race that positions "white" as superior to other ethnic groups. ESSAY TWO: Turn of the Screw Introduction In Henry James' Turn of the Screw, we see that the Governess is fairly isolated in her position as caretaker of Bly and the two children Miles and Flora. While caring for the children, the Governess has a number of alleged encounters with ghosts. Her "visions", however, stem from her isolation and her awareness that women in her era are seldom permitted full or free expression. While it is unknown if the apparitions she "sees" are real or imagined, it is obvious that James is demonstrating the negative psychological effects of oppression on women during the Victorian era. Body Women during the Victorian era lived in a male dominated society. The patriarchy constructed rigid codes of behavior and expression

Category: Literature - R