Race as it stands

Nyveah Fuller                                                                                      September,21,2016

                                        Race as it stands 

Race is often something that is seen as skin deep and nothing more. Race as a scientific concept is viewed as a population of people who have similar characteristics and these populations are perceived different based on those characteristics that are shared. To classify races scientist consider features such as, hair type, skin color and face shape just to name a few. Scientist conceptualize race based ones appearance For example, “On the basis of skin color, we might be tempted to label these people as African, but on the basis of hair and facial shape they might be classified as European,”  (Relethford, 2016). In the documentary “Race: The Power of an Illusion, Episode 1” As Evelen Hammods stated something within the effect of Scientists are part of their social of their social context and that their idea are not solely based on science but from the society in which they live. Which makes sense because many people view races based on their society, where they live where they grew up or from things they were taught early on.

My racial identity is African American and I see myself as an American black woman my mom is a black woman from Brooklyn and my dad is a black man from Augusta Georgia. This may be confusing to some however; I don’t really feel like I identify with calling myself African American because I am personally not from Africa nor is my family. Ancestors yes but I feel like I ‘d be more comfortable claiming to be African American if I were born in Africa or my parents or possibly family members were from there opposed to be just being an American black woman from Queens New York. However, if I am being honest sometime I wonder if I should identify as African American because it’s politically correct and it is how I identify myself on application for school, work or any other important documentation.

From the evidence that I have researched and the evidence from the documentary I do not view my identity any different. However, my views on race have changed because it is eye opening and it bought a broader perspective or race to me for example, learning that there is no real biological evidence of race I have never thought about race in biological conditions. It has opened me up to remember that race runs deeper than just the color of one’s skin or the texture of their hair. I do feel like there are many aspects that go into racial populations such as cultures, rituals and more according to “Biological Aspects of Race” Physical, cultural and social environments influence the behavioral differences among individuals in society. Although heredity influences the behavioral variability of individuals within a given population, it does not affect the ability of any such population to function in a given social setting.” (Published in the American Journal of Physical Anthropology, vol. 101, pp 569-570, 1996)

Refrences 

American Association of Physical Anthropologists. (n.d.). Retrieved September 21, 2016, from http://physanth.org/about/position-statements/biological-aspects-race

H. (2016). What Science Says Race Is Compared to How Society Defines It. Retrieved September 21, 2016, from http://racerelations.about.com/od/understandingrac1/a/WhatIsRace.htm