Racial transformation
Encyclopedia
Racial transformation is the process by which someone changes their appearance with respect to race, either from their current race to another race or to a new category. These changes are currently done through a variety of methods including surgery
or chemical treatments.
Racial transformation is similar to passing
; however, it requires someone attempt a medical procedure, rather than lying about one's race or a physical disguise such as in the movie White Chicks
. Racial transformation refers to something surgical, medical, or an attempt at permanence.
Attempted full physical transformation is exceedingly rare, but some see a number of controversial appearance-changing practices as motivated by racial assimilation, though most practicing them claim their motivation is purely aesthetic.
. In Greg Bear
's books Eon
and Eternity
, new human consciousness is created in a virtual realm
and the parents choose the race of their children when it is time for them to be 'birthed' into the real physical world. In this work as well, many humans do not conform to the standard human shape and choose a variety of form and sizes in which to exist both in the physical world and in the virtually.
In an episode of the animated TV show South Park
, Kyle tries out for the basketball team, but is not very good. Wanting to be better, he goes to a plastic surgeon and asks if there is a surgery to make him tall and black. The doctor recommends a "negroplasty" for Kyle. The surgery is done, but Kyle's knees bust during the basketball game. The doctor decides to revert him back to his normal white self, for a "small fee".
In another example, the movie Soul Man from 1986 involved race transformation of a white applicant to Harvard Law School
. Unable to pay for tuition, the main character received a scholarship under the pretense of being black. http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0091991/
The cast of the MTV
reality TV show Jersey shore
openly voice their preference for having darker skin/ tanning. They openly discuss their dislike of having light/ pale skin, so they tan themselves to a more ethnic skin color.
offers a course on racial transformation, including references to Michael Jackson
.
or coloring
has been seen by the Black is Beautiful
movement as an attempt at racial assimilation.
Skin whitening
, often with harsh and potentially dangerous bleaches, is common in some parts of the world particularly in China, and some parts in Asia, Africa and Jamaica. In the U.S.A. and Europe tanning is very popular although tanning has shown many times to be very dangerous and harsh to the skin. Also in white/European communities tanning is not seen as trying to change one's race.
Propaganda such as racial transformation in minority groups trying to look more white/European is a negative view point because of history primarily in the U.S.A.and the Americas. During the time of slavery having lighter skin was seen as more acceptable than darker complexions and was used to separate people of color. Lighter skin was used as a survival method because for many it mean't they had more privileges and many used those privileges to help darker slaves, particularly escaping to freedom.
In today's society (mostly in minority communities) skin lightening/whitening and hair coloring/straightening are seen as trying to become white/European. In many cultures such as in Asia's many cultures lighter skin was seen as someone of wealth and who did not have to work in the fields and was also a sign of beauty. Skin lightening had taken place in Asia and various places before the slavery in the U.S.A. and the Americas.
However, this movement has become rather fashionnable today, and now some more criteria have appeared. This new fashion now also deals with eyes and hair color, since in many minority communities, it has become common to dye one's hair, have it straight and sometimes use color lenses. Surgery is also commmon, and minority magazines promote a new kind of beauty, using widely pictures of non-Caucasian persons (and celebrities) who abide by this fashion, changing their appearance to look less ethic and more Caucasian, like Beyoncé or Tyra Banks
(who admitted it in a TV show, presented in The Modern Racist Paradigm, a documentary).
Therefore tanning may not be regarded as racial transformation.
However, in some southern European countries with warm climates such as Italy, Portugal and Spain (particularly the southern regions of these countries), many people have olive skin complexions. The same can be said of white Latin Americans who live in warm climates who primarily descend from this groups. Interestingly, despite being thought of as white, their skin complexions are viewed as dark and the ideal skin tone goal of tanning for white people who wish to get a tan.
, a surgical process designed to create an upper eyelid crease in people of East Asia
n descent, or rhinoplasty
to change the appearance of an "ethnic" nose, can also be seen in a racial context. Lip augmentation (lip collagen and lip implants) is a very popular surgical procedure choice of white women, this surgical procedure enlarges the patients lips to a fuller lip size, changing their lips from Caucasian to ethnic/ black. Another surgical choice of white women is buttock augmentation
(buttock implants and buttock enlarging injections), which gives the surgery patient buttocks that resembles a black woman's buttocks.
Surgery
Surgery is an ancient medical specialty that uses operative manual and instrumental techniques on a patient to investigate and/or treat a pathological condition such as disease or injury, or to help improve bodily function or appearance.An act of performing surgery may be called a surgical...
or chemical treatments.
Racial transformation is similar to passing
Passing (racial identity)
Racial passing refers to a person classified as a member of one racial group attempting to be accepted as a member of a different racial group...
; however, it requires someone attempt a medical procedure, rather than lying about one's race or a physical disguise such as in the movie White Chicks
White Chicks
White Chicks is a 2004 American film directed by Keenen Ivory Wayans and written and produced by Keenen Wayans, Shawn Wayans and Marlon Wayans. The film was produced by Columbia Pictures and Revolution Studios...
. Racial transformation refers to something surgical, medical, or an attempt at permanence.
Attempted full physical transformation is exceedingly rare, but some see a number of controversial appearance-changing practices as motivated by racial assimilation, though most practicing them claim their motivation is purely aesthetic.
Race choice and transformation in pop culture
Fictional studies of race choice and transformation have often occurred in drama and literature and especially in works of science fictionScience fiction
Science fiction is a genre of fiction dealing with imaginary but more or less plausible content such as future settings, futuristic science and technology, space travel, aliens, and paranormal abilities...
. In Greg Bear
Greg Bear
Gregory Dale Bear is an American science fiction and mainstream author. His work has covered themes of galactic conflict , artificial universes , consciousness and cultural practices , and accelerated evolution...
's books Eon
Eon (novel)
Eon is a 1985 science fiction novel by Greg Bear. It is the first story written in The Way fictional universe.Events in Eon take place in 2005, when the U.S.A. and U.S.S.R. are on the verge of nuclear war. In that tense political climate, a 290 km asteroid appears within the solar system...
and Eternity
Eternity (novel)
Eternity is a science fiction novel by Greg Bear. It is the second book in his The Way series, dealing largely with the aftermath of the decision to split Axis City and abandon the Way in the preceding book, Eon.-Plot summary:...
, new human consciousness is created in a virtual realm
Virtual reality
Virtual reality , also known as virtuality, is a term that applies to computer-simulated environments that can simulate physical presence in places in the real world, as well as in imaginary worlds...
and the parents choose the race of their children when it is time for them to be 'birthed' into the real physical world. In this work as well, many humans do not conform to the standard human shape and choose a variety of form and sizes in which to exist both in the physical world and in the virtually.
In an episode of the animated TV show South Park
South Park
South Park is an American animated television series created by Trey Parker and Matt Stone for the Comedy Central television network. Intended for mature audiences, the show has become famous for its crude language, surreal, satirical, and dark humor that lampoons a wide range of topics...
, Kyle tries out for the basketball team, but is not very good. Wanting to be better, he goes to a plastic surgeon and asks if there is a surgery to make him tall and black. The doctor recommends a "negroplasty" for Kyle. The surgery is done, but Kyle's knees bust during the basketball game. The doctor decides to revert him back to his normal white self, for a "small fee".
In another example, the movie Soul Man from 1986 involved race transformation of a white applicant to Harvard Law School
Harvard Law School
Harvard Law School is one of the professional graduate schools of Harvard University. Located in Cambridge, Massachusetts, it is the oldest continually-operating law school in the United States and is home to the largest academic law library in the world. The school is routinely ranked by the U.S...
. Unable to pay for tuition, the main character received a scholarship under the pretense of being black. http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0091991/
The cast of the MTV
MTV
MTV, formerly an initialism of Music Television, is an American network based in New York City that launched on August 1, 1981. The original purpose of the channel was to play music videos guided by on-air hosts known as VJs....
reality TV show Jersey shore
Jersey Shore
The Jersey Shore is a term used to refer to both the Atlantic coast of the U.S. state of New Jersey and the adjacent resort and residential communities. . The New Jersey State Department of Tourism considers the Shore Region, Greater Atlantic City, and the Southern Shore to be distinct, each having...
openly voice their preference for having darker skin/ tanning. They openly discuss their dislike of having light/ pale skin, so they tan themselves to a more ethnic skin color.
University studies
University of California, BerkeleyUniversity of California, Berkeley
The University of California, Berkeley , is a teaching and research university established in 1868 and located in Berkeley, California, USA...
offers a course on racial transformation, including references to Michael Jackson
Michael Jackson
Michael Joseph Jackson was an American recording artist, entertainer, and businessman. Referred to as the King of Pop, or by his initials MJ, Jackson is recognized as the most successful entertainer of all time by Guinness World Records...
.
Cosmetics
Hair texture and color can have racial undertones, and straighteningHair straightening
Hair straightening is a hair styling technique which involves the flattening and straightening of hair in order to give it a smooth, streamlined, and 'sleek' appearance. It may be accomplished by using hair irons and hot combs, chemical relaxers, Japanese hair straightening, or Brazilian hair...
or coloring
Hair coloring
Hair coloring is the practice of changing the color of hair. Common reasons are to cover gray hair, to change to a color regarded as more fashionable or desirable, and to restore the original hair color after it has been discolored by hairdressing processes or sun bleaching...
has been seen by the Black is Beautiful
Black is beautiful
Black is beautiful is a cultural movement that began in the United States of America in the 1960s by African Americans. It later spread to much of the black world, most prominently in the writings of the Black Consciousness Movement of Steve Biko in South Africa...
movement as an attempt at racial assimilation.
Skin whitening
Skin whitening
Skin whitening, skin lightening and skin bleaching refers to the practice of using chemical substances in an attempt to lighten skin tone or provide an even skin complexion by lessening the concentration of melanin...
, often with harsh and potentially dangerous bleaches, is common in some parts of the world particularly in China, and some parts in Asia, Africa and Jamaica. In the U.S.A. and Europe tanning is very popular although tanning has shown many times to be very dangerous and harsh to the skin. Also in white/European communities tanning is not seen as trying to change one's race.
Propaganda such as racial transformation in minority groups trying to look more white/European is a negative view point because of history primarily in the U.S.A.and the Americas. During the time of slavery having lighter skin was seen as more acceptable than darker complexions and was used to separate people of color. Lighter skin was used as a survival method because for many it mean't they had more privileges and many used those privileges to help darker slaves, particularly escaping to freedom.
In today's society (mostly in minority communities) skin lightening/whitening and hair coloring/straightening are seen as trying to become white/European. In many cultures such as in Asia's many cultures lighter skin was seen as someone of wealth and who did not have to work in the fields and was also a sign of beauty. Skin lightening had taken place in Asia and various places before the slavery in the U.S.A. and the Americas.
However, this movement has become rather fashionnable today, and now some more criteria have appeared. This new fashion now also deals with eyes and hair color, since in many minority communities, it has become common to dye one's hair, have it straight and sometimes use color lenses. Surgery is also commmon, and minority magazines promote a new kind of beauty, using widely pictures of non-Caucasian persons (and celebrities) who abide by this fashion, changing their appearance to look less ethic and more Caucasian, like Beyoncé or Tyra Banks
Tyra Banks
Tyra Lynne Banks is an American model, media personality, actress, occasional singer, author and businesswoman. She first became famous as a model, but television appearances were her commercial breakthrough...
(who admitted it in a TV show, presented in The Modern Racist Paradigm, a documentary).
Tanning controversy
Some consider tanning as an attempt to attain an ethnic skin color by looking darker. However, tanning is a natural skin process, especially for European peoples in summer (unlike skin whitening, which is unnatural). European people who are willing to get a tan are less willing to adopt other non-eureopean features such as black eyes and hair (unlike some non-European people who also want to get straight hair, use color lenses and sometimes even ressort to surgery to erase their ethnic features). What is more, it is not widely promoted in magazines (mainly for health reasons) unlike white transformation in minority magazines and media. It is more a seasonnable fashion, since European people are not usually keeping their tan all year long but merely keep their natural skin color after summer.Therefore tanning may not be regarded as racial transformation.
However, in some southern European countries with warm climates such as Italy, Portugal and Spain (particularly the southern regions of these countries), many people have olive skin complexions. The same can be said of white Latin Americans who live in warm climates who primarily descend from this groups. Interestingly, despite being thought of as white, their skin complexions are viewed as dark and the ideal skin tone goal of tanning for white people who wish to get a tan.
Plastic surgery
Some plastic surgery procedures, such as Asian blepharoplastyAsian blepharoplasty
Asian blepharoplasty, also known as "double eyelid surgery", is a type of cosmetic surgery where the skin around the eye is reshaped . The purpose of the procedure is to create an upper eyelid with a crease from an eyelid that is naturally without a crease...
, a surgical process designed to create an upper eyelid crease in people of East Asia
East Asia
East Asia or Eastern Asia is a subregion of Asia that can be defined in either geographical or cultural terms...
n descent, or rhinoplasty
Rhinoplasty
Rhinoplasty , also nose job, is a plastic surgery procedure for correcting and reconstructing the form, restoring the functions, and aesthetically enhancing the nose, by resolving nasal trauma , congenital defect, respiratory impediment, and a failed primary rhinoplasty...
to change the appearance of an "ethnic" nose, can also be seen in a racial context. Lip augmentation (lip collagen and lip implants) is a very popular surgical procedure choice of white women, this surgical procedure enlarges the patients lips to a fuller lip size, changing their lips from Caucasian to ethnic/ black. Another surgical choice of white women is buttock augmentation
Buttock augmentation
thumb|right|250px|Gluteoplasty: the pre-operative, back and oblique-right aspects , and the like post-operative aspects , of a combined procedure of buttocks augmentation and thigh contouring.Gluteoplasty thumb|right|250px|Gluteoplasty: the pre-operative, back and oblique-right aspects (left), and...
(buttock implants and buttock enlarging injections), which gives the surgery patient buttocks that resembles a black woman's buttocks.
See also
- Black Like MeBlack Like MeBlack Like Me is a non-fiction book by journalist John Howard Griffin first published in 1961. Griffin was a white native of Mansfield, Texas and the book describes his six-week experience travelling on Greyhound buses throughout the racially segregated states of Louisiana, Mississippi, Alabama...
- Black. White.Black. White.Black. White. was a reality television show on FX. It premiered on Wednesday March 8, 2006 at 10 p.m. Eastern. The series followed two families of three, one white, and the other black. Through studio quality make-up, the two families—the Wurgels and the Sparks—traded races and...
- Black is beautifulBlack is beautifulBlack is beautiful is a cultural movement that began in the United States of America in the 1960s by African Americans. It later spread to much of the black world, most prominently in the writings of the Black Consciousness Movement of Steve Biko in South Africa...
- Racial PassingPassing (racial identity)Racial passing refers to a person classified as a member of one racial group attempting to be accepted as a member of a different racial group...