Reading Hints
1) Notice that Fredrickson is NOT arguing here that racism is "hostile or negative feelings of one ethnic group or "people" toward another and the actions resulting from such attitudes." Instead, he is observing that some people use -- inaccurately -- the term "racism" in this fashion. Fredrickson thinks to use the term in this fashion is to use it sloppily. Read on, and Fredrickson will offer a more accurate way to define racism.
2) Keep in mind Fredrickson labels the attitude he describes in this paragraph as Xenophobia, which Fredrickson thinks is distinct from racism. Compare the attitude described in the previous paragraph (where Fredrickson describes racism) with the attitude in this paragraph -- what distinguishes the two?
3) Notice that Fredricson here is NOT providing a definition of racism; instead, he is describing two general components or characteristics of racism.
4) Notice that Fredrickson is arguing that
racism -- rather than having always been around -- emerged at a particular
time in Europe for a particular reason. Much of the rest of this reading
explores why and how racism emerged in Europe. The phrase "in
Europe" is important here because as Fredrickson will demonstrate,
racism will appear in other societies before it appears in
Europe. 5) Ask yourself why being "baptized
rather than killed was a real option" is significant here
for Fredrickson's distinction between racism and xenophobia?
Look back to reading hint # 2 above if it's not immediately obvious
to you. 6) By "Iberian colonies of the new world," Fredrickson means the colonies established in the North, Central, and South America by the mother countries located on the Iberian peninsula in Europe.
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