Erasing Race

Beth E. Kolko’s chapter entitled “Erasing @race: Going White in the (Inter) Face" discusses the effect the Internet is having on race and identity. When online an individual is given something that doesn’t occur in regular society, complete anonymity. The only information others online have on you is what you give them. Many sites allow a user to pick a screen name along with filling out some information about them. Rarely however, do these sites ask an individual to enter their race. These sites request information on your age, hobbies, interests, and gender but the topic of race is not asked.
Race is something society puts a great of emphasis on and is a touchy subject, which may be why these sites leave the question out. This essay points out that leaving race out of the online community is a negative thing. Race is a part of our identity and is something an individual should acknowledge and be proud of, not ignored. There are online ventures that include race such as some role playing games in which a user picks a character to use. These characters have different abilities and talents and if someone wishes to be their race they must use those characteristics.
A person’s race is part of their culture and heritage and is not something that should be ignored. It should embrace no matter what background an individual comes from. Some online users use their anonymity to harm other races in prejudice websites but the solution is not to ignore the fact that we have differences, but to accept each other’s cultures and each other. The subject of race is touchy and people are often overly careful not to offend each other when we should be acknowledging but respecting differences.
So why do sites leave out the question of race? Race can be seen immediately in the real world upon meeting someone, so why not online? Makers of sites who ask questions, which should include race, may not include the question so not to offend others. The subject of race has become such a touchy subject that many people claim ‘not to see race”. Ignoring the differences between us is not right. We are different and those differences are what make us unique. Our individuality separates us from the crowd and people who ridicule others for their race creates a problem in society that can be corrected with acceptance.