Final answer:
Racial formation, explained by Omi and Winant, is the sociohistorical process forming racial categories, which are culturally constructed and have changed over time, affected by historical contexts like slavery and laws.
Step-by-step explanation:
According to Michael Omi and Howard Winant, racial formation is a sociohistorical process that involves the creation, inhabitation, transformation, and destruction of racial categories. Racial categories have been observed to change over time and across different societies.
Highlighting the importance of understanding that race is not biologically determined but rather is a cultural construction. This process is crucial in how societies organize and identify groups of people, influencing how individuals are perceived and treated based on racial identity.
Furthermore, the role of certain institutions like the US Census Bureau in shaping these racial categories is significant. The United States' history with slavery and the subsequent Jim Crow laws are examples of how legal systems have used race to determine status and rights.
Racial classifications are not consistent worldwide; they vary greatly, emphasizing the cultural basis of these categories. Over time, the concept of race as a biologically determined attribute has been largely discredited by social science organizations, thereby asserting the social constructionist view.