美国种族主义现象的结构性剖析

A Structural Analysis of the Phenomenon of Racism in the United States

美国日益严重的种族主义现象与美国社会的种族主义结构密切相关。美国社会的种族主义结构大致经历了金字塔式的种族主义结构、"中心-边缘"式的种族主义结构以及当前的调整时期三个阶段。20世纪60年代前,美国社会的种族主义结构成金字塔式,居于顶层的白人群体排斥、驱逐和屠杀居于底层的印第安人、非洲黑人以及其他非白人群体。20世纪60年代至"9·11"事件发生期间,美国呈现"中心-边缘"的社会结构,享有特权的白人群体处于社会结构的中心位置,而处于边缘地位的有色群体在政治、经济、司法、教育和新闻媒体报道等方面受到不同程度的歧视。"9·11"事件至今,"中心-边缘"式的种族主义结构更加推崇白人至上的历史传统,占据人口多数的白人群体越发强调自身特权,有时甚至不惜采取极端手段来维护,并逐渐演变为白人极端主义运动。

The growing racism in the United States is closely related to the racial structure of American society,which has undergone three main development stages:the pyramidal structure,the“center-periphery”structure and the current period of adjustment.Before the 1960s,the racial structure of American society was shaped like a pyramid with the white people at the top of the social ladder,rejecting,expelling and slaughtering other racial groups at the bottom,including native Americans,Afro-Americans and other non-white groups.From the 1960s to“9/11”,the racial structure of American society was transformed into a“center-periphery”one,with the privileged white people at the center of the social structure,while the people of color were marginalized and subject to varying degrees of discriminations in politics,economy,justice,education,and media reports.Since“9/11”,the“center-periphery”racial structure of American society has entered a period of adjustment that puts high values on the historical traditions of white supremacy.The white people,who constitute the majority of the US population,are increasingly emphasizing their identity privileges,and sometimes even taking extreme measures to protect their taken-for-granted privileges,which has gradually led to a white extremist movement.