REVISION: Social Illusion of Race
Karen Del Carpio Oct. 3
, 2016
Today many people
think that human groups can be divided easily by distinct races. It is not a
surprise that throughout history many scientists have done numerous studies on
humans in order to classify the different populations based on their racial
traits. As we have studied, race is a concept based on the attempt to
categorize the observable differences between cultural groups. Microbiologist
Pilar Ossorio explained in “Race: The Power of an Illusion, Episode 1” that
there is no biological explanation that links race and genetics, and that there
is more genetic variation within people of the same ethnic group than there is
between various ethnic groups. Also in the article “Race: Biological Reality or
Social Construct? By Andreasen, we see the same idea of a greater genetic
variation within racial groups as it is between multiple racial groups. This
evidence is based on the theory that traces our ancient origin back to Africa
that states that through evolution we all carry old and new genetic variations
that are vital for our survival.
I am from South
America. Where I grew up the majority of families were mestizos. These families
were either of Spanish or other European descent. In my case my grandfather was
from Jewish Sephardic origin. Church was a big component of my identity. I
always considered myself as racially mixed. I was never conscious about race
differentiation until I got to New York. Here it was hard for me not to see the
social cliques among different racial groups. The concept of racial identity
for me is based on the different culture contexts. The article “Theories of
Culture in Racist Discourse” (pg.93) explains that different countries have
different ways of perceiving race and that societies have incorporated new
forms of racism after WWII. These forms of racial notion emphasize race as a
culture product rather than biological.
Angela James in her
article “Making Sense of Race and Biological Classification” explains how
people identify physical traits as part of their definition of race. “While
race is a dynamic phenomenon rooted in political struggle, it is commonly
considered a fixed characteristic of human populations; ..people routinely look
to the human body for evidence about racial identity; while it is a biological
fiction, it is nonetheless a social fact” (pg. 236). Based on this evidence and
on Ossorios’s statement, my view on race has changed. Now when it
comes to defining race I need to think of the different factors influencing
development, factors such as: beginning from the womb to our neighborhoods, our
culture, economic status, family, geography and history. These various factors shape
us not only physically but also spiritually, shape our identity.
We can agree that
racial stereotypes have been used as a medium to preserve hegemony. The
techniques used by scientists today resemble methods used by scientists such as
Linnaeus, who through classification of biological structures he attempted to
attach imaginary components to his analysis, using this as a base upon which to
formulate his theories. Racial differences, class status, socioeconomic
conditions are some of the many tools used by the white supremacy to preserve
social inequality.
Image by Myne Whitman on her blog {link to http://www.romancemeetslife.com/2015/03/meet-
black-and-white-twins-everyone-can.html}
Image by Geledés
Instituto da Mulher Negra
References
Andreasen, R.O.,
(2000). Race: Biological Reality or Social Construct? Philosophy of Science Association,2, 653-666.
James, A. (2001).
Making Sense of Race and Racial Classification. Race and Society, 4(2), 235-247.
Durrhem, K., Dixon,
J., (2000) Theories of Culture in Racist Discourse. Race and Society, 3(2), 93-.339.
Afful, S. E.,
Wohlford, C., & Stoelting, S. M. (2015). Beyond 'Difference': Examining the
Process and Flexibility of Racial Identity in Interracial Marriages. Journal Of
Social Issues, 71(4), 659-674. doi:10.1111/josi.12142
Jobling, M. A.,
Rasteiro, R., & Wetton, J. H. (2016). In the blood: the myth and reality of
genetic markers of identity. Ethnic & Racial Studies, 39(2), 142-161.
doi:10.1080/01419870.2016.1105990
Coleman, S. (2011). Addressing
the Puzzle of Race. Journal of Social Work Education, 47(1), 91-108.
doi:10.5175/JSWE.2011.200900086
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