In visual representations, racial and ethnic minorities are often portrayed as animalistic or subhuman, many times as monkeys or chimpanzees. According to your understanding of Chapter 8, why would racist imagery so often use animals?
A) For Europeans, representing someone as a primate is the worst possible insult.
B) Many minority cultures have cultural associations with monkeys.
C) Racists aren't really very imaginative, so they simply recycle the same stereotypes.
D) Animal imagery guarantees that even people who don't read much can still be exposed to racist stereotypes.
E) Animal imagery supports the assumption that differences between groups are innate, or biologically based.

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

Animal imagery supports the assumption that differences between groups are innate, or biologically based. By portraying racial and ethnic minorities as animalistic, racists reinforce the idea that these groups are inherently different and inferior, rather than recognizing that societal and cultural factors play a role in shaping differences.

In Visual Representations, Racial and Ethnic Minorities Are Often Portrayed