ABSTRACT
‘Race’ is a term frequently used but not easily defined. Haralambos wrote that race is simply a group of people who see themselves, or are seen by others as a race (1983: 97). Black people do see themselves as a race and are seen by others as a race. Race plays a big part in group identity and it affects the belief systems of that group. Culture is also another factor influencing group identity and this is closely bound up with race. Marsella and Pedersen (1981) suggested that culture has to do with the passing on of a way of life from one generation to another – a way of life that becomes so ingrained within people that they become unaware of assumptions they make about themselves and others. As d’Ardenne and Mahtani (1989) suggested, it is very difficult to separate race from culture, and no attempt will be made to do so in this chapter. Fernando is correct in suggesting that ‘In a multi-cultural society where racism is prevalent cultural issues are not easily differentiated from racial ones’ (1988: 155).
