Hum/111 Week 2 Research Paper

Race is not an element of human biology (like breathing oxygen or reproducing sexually); nor is it even an idea (like the speed of light or the value of π) that can be plausibly imagined to live an external life of its own. Race is not an idea but an ideology. It came into existence at a discernable historical moment for rationality understandable historical reasons and is subject to change for similar reasons (101).

A relatively recent topic, meaning in the last one hundred year, within society is the concept of race and if it is biologically true, this meaning that evidence suggests a biological reason behind the different categories of race that are independent from social, economical, or personal views. This type of discussion can raise many concerns, questioning the possible social constructs revolving around race and its reason for being used in society today.

Race is a political and loaded topic that can be easily misunderstood. For example, when Barack Obama was running for president, there was a range of responses from voters. To some he was “too black” and others said that he was “not black enough”. Even in these social groups there were disagreements. For some black Americans, he was not black enough since he did not descend from slavery in an American context.

Whether it’s filling out forms for the doctor, financial aid, or even job applications, the one question that we almost unconsciously answer is the question of race. Race is a prevalent and influential part of our everyday life that surprisingly many do not even understand. What is race? For years race has been used as a tool in the subjugation of human populations on the perceived notion of biological superiorities. Race by definition is a population “that develops distinct characteristics differing from other populations of the same species”, while these variations may have social and cultural implications, genetic evidence suggests race has no biological significance (Biology-online.org, 2014).

Race is a category or group of people having hereditary traits that set them apart from other groups of people. Based on skin color, hair texture, eye shape, ancestry, name and even identity performance; race is known as a social construct with real consequences and effects. Ethnicity is based on a shared cultural heritage.

According to Michael Omi and Howard Winant, “Race is a concept, a representation or signification of identity that refers to different types of human bodies, [from the] phenotype markers of difference and the meaning and social practices that are ascribed to these differences...” (Omi and Winant, pg. 111). The term race is a very controversial concept to define not only because of its underlying relations to different ideologies and historical events but also due to the various levels of analysis. Throughout history race has played a rather significant role in distinguishing racial hierarchy within a society.

Race, such a subjective matter that most classify solely on observable traits based on traditional race concepts. However race exists in humans through cultural and biological concepts. In other words, race is based on its scientific meaning, which is taken from its visual and genetic signs of human variety. “After all it is an idea with a measurable past, identifiable present, and uncertain future”. St. A SHORT HISTORY OF THE RACE CONCEPT Michael Yudell, PhD, MPH. Through observing the human genome project that explores human molecular selves, skin color variation, and lastly race/human variation as a whole, a clear picture of race can be scientifically explained.

Throughout history, the word race has changed across cultures. It’s been used to classify humans in a variety of ways such as traits and behaviors. There is no gene in our human body that can define what race we are. But in today’s society people categorize individuals According to Barba Fields, "racism is an action, not an attitude, bigotry or prejudice”.

In addition to this conclusion, I propose that our society can acknowledge variety of perspectives such as scientists’ biologists’ and cultural perspectives to change our misconception and oversimplification of race. It is common for us to follow the social norm. However, once we learn to be skeptical about what we think, what science tells and what our society comes up with, it will open up our minds to accept diversity and stop sticking with the social viewpoints of race which usually are negative or likely to separate groups. Although race will probably remain in our society, the important thing is that each individuals have their own aspects and thoughts on race. We should be careful to avoid misunderstanding what science tells us and abstain from misinterpretations of

The subject of race in the world is a topic that is extremely sensitive to discuss and analysis. Ever since man evolved enough to think, comprehend, speak, and portray emotions; that was when the division of race began. The brain was able to make out the differences in people and whoever looked the same began to group up. Communities started too form all over the globe and individuals become groups of people. Over time, the human species advanced with great pace eventually, leading up to the present day and what we know about life today. The human mind is a wonderful thing to understand how it works and observe its changes throughout the evolution of man. To see race in a broader spectrum, I will use the lens of psychological to see how race works at Elizabethtown College.

Attention must be given to the idea that race is a social construct. For the purposes of this

The English term ‘race’ is believed to originate from the Spanish word raza, which means ‘breed’ or ‘stock’ (Race). People use race to define other groups, this separation of groups is based largely on physical features. Features like skin color and hair don’t affect the fundamental biology of human variation (Hotz). Race is truly only skin deep, there are no true biological separations between two ‘racial’ groups. Scientifically speaking, there is more variation between single local groups than there is between two large, global groups; the human variation is constantly altering (Lewontin). The majority of today’s anthropologists agree that race is a form of social categorization, not the separation of groups based on biological

He thinks and writes his review based of an anthropological view that better explains observations of what makes human so different and unique. He thoroughly explains without even claiming that race does not measure a humans behavior. Race cannot be a valid biological concept if there are no boundaries nor predictive value. Human races may have existed in the past just as there are subspecies of a number of different mammals, including chimpanzees—and they could exist in the future. Nonetheless, to this point the history of Homo sapiens has not led to a known emergence of distinct races. We evolved recently, spread quickly, and in many regions interacted readily. Race is a powerful and important social construct, and in that way it is very real, but it is not a biological useful concept for understanding human

Race is a social construct that was created by the Europeans in order to minoritize different racial groups. In the reading by Bonilla-Silva, he defines race to be manmade, “This means that notions of racial difference are human creations rather than eternal, essential categories… racial categories have a history and are subject to change.” For example in a lecture by Dr. Aguilar-Hernandez, he stated that the Irish, Italians and Jews were called black before but are now considered white, Mexican-Americans were also considered white up until the 1980s. These ideas lead to the racialization of racial groups.

Race is something that people identify with and to some, it is an important part of themselves that helps build a strong attachment to their identity. However, others also use race as a form of differentiating and even as a form of judgment which in turn may result in racism. Altogether there is so much history to every race which is why some feel so passionate and why many connect so strongly with their race. Because of the history and important events and accomplishments that each individual race has gone through, it is important to understand everyone’s racial background to be more accepting of them.