Entry #6 PPD Chapter 3 "Capitalism, Class, and the Matrix of Domination"

Brian Gerker
ETHN 101
Reading Journal Entry #6
9-11-2007

Johnson, A PPD Chapter 3 “Capitalism, Class, and the Matrix of Domination”

In “Capitalism, Class, and the Matrix of Domination,” Johnson’s apparent thesis is that Capitalism, throughout the years, has formed slavery, classes, and social differences. Johnson states that “Capitalism played a major role in the development in white privilege,” and he also raises an important question, “What did Capitalism have to do with the origins of white racism?”
To summarize “Capitalism, Class, and the Matrix of Domination,” Johnson begins by explaining what Capitalism is, and why it had a big role in creating class, slavery, and privileges. Capitalism began by people, mainly whites at the time, wanting to make a profit. A way slavery is connected with Capitalism is that white men sold Africans to make a profit, and it became their business. Chinese were also used as cheap labor in making the railroads. This is also the first steps in creating social order and classes amongst the Capitalist system. This set up that whites were above the enslaved peoples. Capitalism also created differences among gender as well as race. Women were, and are, not treated or compensated the same as men. Capitalism seems to have put men above women in working society. Also, the moving of businesses, and threatening employees is another way the Capitalism has led to differences. Moving a business over seas will allow a business to possess very cheap labor, but it takes those jobs away from those who deserve them more. Capitalism, and peoples craving to make money seem to create classes essentially. The fact that the bottom 60% of people in America are fighting over ¼ of the nation’s wealth is quite significant. This is another reason why classes are so different, that the upper class is hording 75% of the wealth and letting the middle and lower classes dog fight over the bones that are left.
A question that can be raised against Johnson’s thoughts on Capitalism, in reference to moving jobs overseas, is if we kept all jobs here in America, wouldn’t it inflate prices of everything? Johnson states that moving jobs is an unfair advantage to white workers and that it is one way for capitalists to just make money. However, using this cheap labor is a way for Capitalist society to provide cheaper goods to consumers. If we kept the jobs in America and gave them all to white workers, they would expect wages and benefits far beyond that of foreign workers. Therefore, if production costs more, so will the goods, and that will cause inflation of prices, and possibly even more poverty. This is one aspect of Capitalism that could cause much controversy.
Personally, I was not too enthused about this reading. I already knew about mostly everything discussed. Also, I may have interpreted some portions differently, but I don’t believe Capitalism has as much of a negative impact that Johnson makes it seem. Capitalism is formed to produce the best for the greater good. Sure it makes only a few people significantly wealthier than others, but it also makes the standard of living better for America.