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USING THE RACE CARD: CONSTRUCTING REVERSE-RACISM WITHIN THE ANTI-IMMIGRATION DEBATE

Martinez , Karen M.
http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=kent1501488212368347

Abstract Details

2017, MA, Kent State University, College of Arts and Sciences / Department of Sociology and Criminology.
Immigration is one of the most polarizing issues in our society, despite the vital role it has played in the structuring of the United States. The literature surrounding immigration has primarily focused on the economic reasons that motivate both negative and positive attitudes towards immigration. Yet, very little research examines how post-racial America talks about immigration. Therefore, by conducting a secondary data analysis of 116 qualitative online threads, this paper explores how members of a self-proclaimed‚ nativist extremist group conceptualize the use of the `race card’ within the immigration debate. I find that ALIPAC members’ view the 'race card' as a form of reverse-racism in three unique ways: (1) as a token of affirmative action, (2) as a defense mechanism, and (3) as a way for politicians to push a liberal agenda. Through the use of colorblind racism, ALIPAC members’ successfully de-racialize the issue of immigration to avoid the stigma associated with being called a racist and focus instead on how this is an issue of law and order. However, this paper seeks to show how their argument against the `race card’ ignores how their own white privilege affects their feelings of victimization.
Tiffany Taylor , PhD (Committee Chair)
Nicole Rousseau, PhD (Committee Member)
Katrina Bloch, PhD (Committee Member)
32 p.
Sociology
Race, Racism, Race Card, Reverse-Racism, Immigration

Recommended Citations

Citations

  • Martinez , K. M. (2017). USING THE RACE CARD: CONSTRUCTING REVERSE-RACISM WITHIN THE ANTI-IMMIGRATION DEBATE [Master's thesis, Kent State University]. OhioLINK Electronic Theses and Dissertations Center. http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=kent1501488212368347

    APA Style (7th edition)

  • Martinez , Karen. USING THE RACE CARD: CONSTRUCTING REVERSE-RACISM WITHIN THE ANTI-IMMIGRATION DEBATE. 2017. Kent State University, Master's thesis. OhioLINK Electronic Theses and Dissertations Center, http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=kent1501488212368347.

    MLA Style (8th edition)

  • Martinez , Karen. "USING THE RACE CARD: CONSTRUCTING REVERSE-RACISM WITHIN THE ANTI-IMMIGRATION DEBATE." Master's thesis, Kent State University, 2017. http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=kent1501488212368347

    Chicago Manual of Style (17th edition)

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© 2017, all rights reserved.
This open access ETD is published by Kent State University and OhioLINK.