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Defining Race: A Question

Hijinx

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Sometimes I like to stand around in the shower and ask myself questions. It's fun at times to hear out my own thought process, but it gets embarrassing when people pass by and overhear me. One topic I've thought about recently is race. Specifically what does race mean to us? I understand the definition: a classification system used to categorize people based on various traits and in this case ethnicity. For example I'm Caribbean-American and due to my skin, I'm labeled as black.

To me, black isn't just a categorization. It has effected my way of life. Race is seen as a factor in crime, health and even sports (to name a few). Even though I try not to, I always see life through a "black lens". My view on certain subjects is different, some people just won't "get" it. People expect certain things because of my race as well.

While I urge you to think about this subject, I should note that my overall relationship with race is fairly humorous. At one point in high school I was told by a Hispanic girl, no less, that I didn't act black enough. What did it mean for her to be black? I was quiet and well-studied in high school...did she want me to be the opposite!? That's messed up.

Where am I going with all this? What does race mean to you? How much of your life or viewpoints is effected by race? Is it an injection used to hype issues (think Trayvon Martin)? Or are you like the great Stephen Colbert and don't see race/color at all? *salutes*

For reference: bit.ly/16gKxgQ
 
It is American crap, based on a sick history. There is only one 'race' - the human one.
 
Nice platitude.

Scientific fact. Race is not a genuine biological category. It's a social category. That's why Obama, although he has a white mother, it defined as black. It has nothing to due with genes (as if you could identify genes by race in any case). It has to do with how dominate groups define themselves and define minorities.

Remember this Star Trek episode:

star-trek.jpg
 
Scientific fact. Race is not a genuine biological category. It's a social category. That's why Obama, although he has a white mother, it defined as black. It has nothing to due with genes (as if you could identify genes by race in any case). It has to do with how dominate groups define themselves and define minorities.

Sorry, I don't buy that. Racial characteristics exist beyond skin color; i.e., bone structure...hair texture...eyelids...eyes...etc., etc. DNA testing can often identify a person's race.
 
Sorry, I don't buy that. Racial characteristics exist beyond skin color; i.e., bone structure...hair texture...eyelids...eyes...etc., etc. DNA testing can often identify a person's race.

Nope. "Racial characteristics" as you call them, are merely phenotypes that appear with lessor or greater regularity among all populations. Because you are trained to notice them as racial categories, confirmation bias makes you see them as a racial package. You don't notice kinky hair in light skinned people or pointed noses in Asians because social norms have trained you not to see them as racial characteristic, when other characteristic exist.

The issue of whether race exists as a biological category is a genuine discussion among anthropologists, but not in the way you are framing it. It's not surprising that populations living in isolation for long periods of time would have genetic variations specific to that population (or over represented in that population). But "race" as some kind of biological category in which you can put Causcasian, Negros, Asians, American Indians, etc. is meaningless. Human populations can't be sliced up that way. There as much genetic variation between certain populations of Caucasians (from say Norway versus Yemenis) as there are between certain Caucausians and Asians. So the category doesn't fit reality. Geneticists and forensice anthropologists can look at genes and skeletons and tell us something about the population they came from (assuming the accuracy of the data base), but not in broad categorical terms.


NOVA | Does Race Exist?
 
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Sorry, I don't buy that. Racial characteristics exist beyond skin color; i.e., bone structure...hair texture...eyelids...eyes...etc., etc. DNA testing can often identify a person's race.

Your claim has been disproven by the many people who have "passed" as members of other racial groups.

There is no scientific definition of race that can be determined by DNA. What you are referring to is the ability of geneticists to identify genes in your DNA that are found in groups considered to be members of a certain races. It's a subtle difference
 
Sometimes I like to stand around in the shower and ask myself questions. It's fun at times to hear out my own thought process, but it gets embarrassing when people pass by and overhear me. One topic I've thought about recently is race. Specifically what does race mean to us? I understand the definition: a classification system used to categorize people based on various traits and in this case ethnicity. For example I'm Caribbean-American and due to my skin, I'm labeled as black.
Are you white like Desi Arnaz Jr.? You're white.
Are you black like Tony Oliva? You're black.

It is American media that drums up this notion that "race" is based solely on skin color. In actuality, it should be more about culture. Perfect example is Desi Arnaz Jr. He was white as snow, but racially was "Hispanic" or at least "Cuban." There's also the misnomer about "hyphenated" race. You say you're "Caribbean-American." Were you born in the Caribbean? You're Caribbean. Were you born (or are a citizen) in America? You're American.

To me, black isn't just a categorization. It has effected my way of life. Race is seen as a factor in crime, health and even sports (to name a few). Even though I try not to, I always see life through a "black lens". My view on certain subjects is different, some people just won't "get" it. People expect certain things because of my race as well.
Again...media generated. If it's all they're given, the masses are bound to start believing it.

While I urge you to think about this subject, I should note that my overall relationship with race is fairly humorous. At one point in high school I was told by a Hispanic girl, no less, that I didn't act black enough. What did it mean for her to be black? I was quiet and well-studied in high school...did she want me to be the opposite!? That's messed up.
That's a good outlook to have. People need to quit beating around the bush about race (and culture). The less honest we are (even with ourselves), the more racism has a foothold in our society.
 
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