In "Racial Formations," Omi and Winant argue that race is a social construct that is created and maintained through social and political processes. They suggest that race is not a fixed biological category, but rather a fluid and constantly changing set of ideas and practices that are used to categorize individuals and groups. They argue that race is quantified through various social and political practices, such as census-taking, racial profiling, and affirmative action policies.
The quantification of race has had a significant impact on minority groups. For example, census-taking has historically been used to categorize individuals by race, and these categories have been used to allocate resources, determine political representation, and enforce social hierarchies. The racial categories used in the census have changed over time, reflecting changes in social and political attitudes towards race. For example, in the early 20th century, the census used a "one-drop rule" that classified anyone with any African ancestry as "black," regardless of their actual ancestry. This rule was used to maintain racial hierarchies and to enforce segregation and discrimination against African Americans.
Similarly, affirmative action policies have been used to address historical discrimination against minority groups, but they have also been criticized for reinforcing racial categories and for creating new forms of discrimination. The use of racial profiling by law enforcement has also been criticized for reinforcing stereotypes and for leading to discriminatory practices. Overall, the quantification of race has had both positive and negative effects on minority groups, and it continues to be a topic of debate and controversy in contemporary society.