Sidestepping Class: A Marxist Critique of Race Formation Theory

ABSTRACT

This article critically examines the racial formation theory proposed by Omi and Winant from a Marxist perspective. It contends that the theory overlooks the class dimension of the social construction of race and the dynamics of racial formation in the United States. The article traces the historical role of class in the process of racial formation and shows how race and racism are linked to the evolution of capitalism in American society. It argues that the colonial ruling class created race and used racism as a tool to fragment the labouring class along racial and ethnic lines, preventing them from uniting against the colonial capitalist system. The invention of race set the stage for the persistence and reinforcement of race formation and racism by the subsequent American ruling class from post-independence to the present day. This article also challenges the idea of a racial state and asserts that it is a false concept that fails to capture the reality of racism and its solutions. It concludes that the theory is inadequate, biased, and ineffective in addressing and resolving the issues of race and racism in the social and everyday lives of the oppressed minorities in the United States.

KEYWORDS:

• Class
• capitalism
• racism
• racial formation
• racial state

Disclosure Statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).

Notes

1 See https://www.archives.gov/founding-docs/declaration-transcript.

Additional information

Notes on contributors

Ayodeji Bayo Ogunrotifa

Ayodeji Bayo Ogunrotifa completed a PhD in Sociology at Royal Holloway, University of London. His current research is on sociology of social movement, black studies, and sociology of race, racism and ethnicity.