O Yuko Naka 1997

The Black Savage and the Yellow Peril: The differing consequences of the racialization of the Blacks and Japanese in Canada Yuko Naka Department of Sociology Submitted in partial fulfilment of the requirements for the degree of Masters of Arts Faculty of Graduate Studies The University of Western Ontario London, Ontario June 1997 O Yuko Naka 1997 National Library Bibliothèque nationale du Canada Acquisitions and Acquisitions et Bibliographic Services services bibliographiques 395 Wellington Street 395. rue Wellington Ottawa ON K1A ON4 Ottawa ON K1A ON4 Canada Canada The author has granted a non- L'auteur a accordé une licence non exclusive licence allowing the exclusive permettant à la National Library of Canada to Bibliothèque nationale du Canada de reproduce, loan, distribute or sell reproduire, prêter, distribuer ou copies of this thesis in microfom, vendre des copies de cette thèse sous paper or electronic formats. la forme de rnicrofiche/lfilm, de reproduction sur papier ou sur format électronique. The author retains ownership of the L'auteur conserve la propriété du copyright in this thesis. Neither the droit d'auteur qui protège cette thèse. thesis nor substantial extracts fiom it Ni la thèse ni des extraits substantiels may be printed or otherwise de celle-ci ne doivent être imprimés reproduced without the author's ou autrement reproduits sans son permission. autorisation. Abstract The different levels of success of Blacks and the Japanese in Canada was examined, because although both populations suffered similar experiences of exclusion. one group was able to overcome its exclusion. Michael Lyon's definitions of racial and ethnic groups were used to show that the in-group effectively constructed both the Blacks and the Japanese as racial and ethnic out-groups, based upon their physical or "racial" characteristics. However, the Japanese in Canada did self-define as an ethnic comrnunity, and they gained protection and support from their ethnic group, which gave them economic, social, and health benefits. Blacks in Canada have always lacked a strong ethnic community; hence. they have still not been able to overcome the racial and ethnic definitions imposed by the in-group. The contents of the construction of the Blacks and Japanese were also examined. It was proposed that the characteristics attributed to the Japanese "other" facilitated their success, while the images in the conceptualizations of the Blacks hindered their prosperity. Key words: Lyon, racial group, ethnic group, race, social construction, out-group. in- group, the "other", Bonacich, split labour market iii Acknowledgernents Although my name appears on the title page of this thesis, there are many people that were integrai to the cornpletion of this projed. I would like to thank my primary advisor, Anton Allahar, for the tirne and assistance he has given to me in the past several years. Since my undergrad years, I have learned a great deal in his entertaining and enlightening courses. And although he was incredibly busy with his own projects and endeavours, he was able to guide me, so that I was able to complete my MA thesis when I wanted to. Paul Maxim also was integral to the completion of my thesis. His willingness to read over my work, often in a very short period of time, and his suggestions were valuable. I also owe a great deal of gratitude to my family, who were able to endure my hectic work schedule. They have always been supportive of rny academic pursuits, and they have never doubted my potential or capabilities. Without the help of my parents, I would never have been able to complete the university degrees that I have earned. I would also Iike to thank my friends, both in Strafford and at Western. People such as Stephanie, Kate, Peter, Elle, David, and Andrea have been there for me, offering words of encouragement and support and never questioning my goals or pursuits. Finally, I want to thank Walter, for providing the motivation for me to complete my thesis quickly. He has also never doubted my ability to finish this project, and his optimism helped me to stay focused and inspired. Although I am proud of rny accomplishment, I am also well aware that without the people I have mentioned, I would have never been able to complete this thesis. iv TABLE OF CONTENTS ............. ......................................................... CERTlFlCATE OF EXAMINATION .. ii... ABSTRACT .................................................................................................................. III ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS............................................................................................ iv TABLE OF CONTENTS............................................................................................... v ... LIST OF APPENDICES ............................................................................................... VIII CHAPTER 1: INTRODUCTION................................................................................... 1 BIOLOGY AS DESTINY.................................................................................... 1 Opposition to sociobiology..................... .. ................................................... 4 PRIMORDIAL TlES AS AN INDICATOR OF THE "OTHER"............................. 1 PHYSICAL CHARACTERISTICS AS AN INDICATOR OF THE "OTHER" ........ 11 "RACE" AS AN INDICATOR OF THE "OTHER"................................................ 12 LYON'S "RACIAL" AND "ETHNICn GROUPS .................................................... 15 CHAPTER 2: BLACKS AS THE "OTHER" .................................................................... 21 BLACKS AS THE "OTHER" BEFORE COLONIALISM...................................... 21 EXPLANATIONS FOR THE "OTHER" ............................................................. -23 COLONlALlSM AND SLAVERY .........................................................................24 Colonialism and the "other".............................................................................. 26 Debate over slavery and the "other"................................................................ 27 SCIENTIFIC CONCEPT OF RACE & THE PHYSICAL AND CULTURAL OTHER .........................................................................................-29 AFRICANS AS AN ETHNIC GROUP ..................................................................35 CANADA AND COLONIALISM.......................................................................... -35 Definition of the in-group.................................................................................. 38 BLACKS IN CANADA ......................................................................................... 42 Who is Black?.................................................................................................. 42 The black "other" as property in New France & British North America ............ 45 Slaves of Loyalist settlers and free black settlers ............................................ 46 Abolition in Canada......................................................................................... 47 Refugees and the Fugitive slaves ..................................................................-47 BONACICH'S SPLIT LABOUR MARKET AND THE BLACKS ...........................49 BMCKS AS A CULTURAL OR ETHNIC "OTHER"........................................... 52 Blacks as a burden 52 . ......................................................................................... Blacks as criminals.......................................................................................... 54 Blacks as objects of humour........................................................................... 55 The lack of a black ethnic group..................................................................... 56 BLACKS AS THE PHYSICAL OR RACIAL "OTHERn....................................... 57 Blacks as inferior ............................................................................................ 57 SEGREGATION AND DISCRIMINATION......................................................... 59 REPATRlATlON OF BLACKS........................................................................... 61 BLACKS IN CANADA TODAY .......................................................................... 62 The in-group today ............................ .. ........................................................ 63 Blacks today ................................................................................................... 65 Blacks and poverty......................................................................................... 66 Blacks and job discrimination......................................................................... 67 Blacks and the educational system................................................................ 68 Blacks and crime ............................................................................................ 70 Blacks as an ethnic group .............................................................................. 72 CHAPTER 3: THE JAPANESE AS THE "OTHER"....................................................... 77 ORIENTALS AS THE RACIAL AND ETHNlC "OTHERn.................................... 77 The imagined and experienced "othef........................................................... 77 The seclusion of Japan ................................................................................... 77 THE JAPANESE RACIAL AND ETHNIC "OTHERn............................................ 78 JAPANESE IMMIGRANTS TO CANADA ...........................................................80

Load more