Race Biological Theory

Race as it is defined by science it is associated with Biology, but as Stuart Hall mentions in his lecture on “Race, the Floating Signifier” when it comes to race we must set a barrier between both which he then proceeds to quote sociologist W. E. B. Du Bois who argued in his essay The Conservation of Races, that physical characteristics such as hair color, bone structure, etc. are barely related to cultural

Race is a social-constructed terminology where it categorizes people into groups that share certain distinctive physical characteristics such as skin color. However, race and racial identity is unstable, unfixed and constantly shifting, as race, typically, is a signifier of prevalent social conflict and interest. Although, many, particularly anthropologists and sociologists, argue in the aforementioned point of view, some – mainly white population -- believe that racial characteristics are biologically inherited.

Sociologists say race is a social construct, which is the way society can view a group, and their perception of the group. Race is a big example of this, as people could have the same genetic make-up, but be different races. Two people can have the same eye color, and even common DNA through blood. If two brothers had kids, one with someone of Asian descent, and the other brother having a child with someone of Native American descent, the kids who are cousins, are made up of different races. Race is more socially agreed upon, than being of a biological nature. A prime example of this, is most people will same someone is Asian, but they can be descendent of ant country in Asia, while being categorized as Asian. When we look at people from Europe,

It may be hard to understand, but race is not biological, rather it’s a social construction. Race is dynamic in which it varies over time, space, and even place. What is considered white in the United States may be different from what is considered white in China. There are three reasons for why race is a social construction and they are that race was not created by a single person rather a mass of people, as societies change so does race, and because race is different and defined differently from place to place.

Even though race is often confused with something having to do with biology it is not, instead race is a cultural construction. People commonly use biology to try and determine the race of another person by using physical characteristics and skin color to put them in a racial classification. Assigning race based on physical characteristics is problematic since traits vary independently they are not inherited as some sort of genetic package based on the race a person is. Therefore using biological concepts to explain race is problematic since society is the one who defines what race is and because those definitions change race is a cultural construct.

Throughout my research, the one thing that I am certain of is that the term “race” is the most complex word in the world. To this day, many people are divided on whether “Race” is a real concept. “Race” has many definitions, but the way I believe most people define it in today’s society is “A group or set of people or things with a common feature or features.” Most people including myself confuse the word “Race” with Ethnicity. However, the two words are very different. The definition of Ethnicity is “the fact or state of belonging to a social group that has a common national or cultural tradition.” The two words are distinguished from one another by their meanings. One of them represents outer appearances of populations and the other represents the cultural views of populations.

The lines between variations and what the different races mean is socially constructed. The fact that we consider races to be "social groups" is constructed. There are groups of people out there with blue eyes and brown eyes, but we don't consider them to be social groups, nor do we just a person's culture or make assumptions about a person based on eye color. We don't have to make race an important feature, but it seems like many people

What is race? It is defined as descendants of a common ancestor; one of the distinct variations of the human species; race or lineage. (Websters New Dictionary 1998). As our society becomes more educated, the debate on whether or not this is the true definition of race, or as today’s Sociologists see it, is race merely socially constructed. Race, as it applies across scientific lines, is determinate to represent the human species as a whole, therefore there is but one race…. Human.

The video goes into depth about proving that race is only skin deep, and that there is no biological explanation for it. It talks about many analysis that were done on African Americans to prove their physical differences against Caucasians such as analysis on their, hands, feet, legs etc. The video goes at great length to show that we are all genetically similar, but we focus on physical appearances to separate us into groups. The students in the video used DNA analysis and assumed that they would all have genetic similarities with those who look similar to them, when in reality Gorgeous was more similar to her white classmate than her black classmate. The video describes how there is simply no way to prove race biologically, and that superiors enforced race to create an inferior group.

Is Race Biologically Real? People often use the meaning of “race” like a sticker; race is defined by skin color, eyes and body shape, hair texture and facial features. However, there are no genetic markers which will prove that one race is different than another. The concept of race isn’t biologically real but “race” it’s a method to divide a group from another one. Race doesn’t have any genetic basis. There is no genetic characteristic such as; gene or feature to tell the differences between humans. In other words, the race isn’t biologically real because there is no scientific evidence which can prove that race is biologically real because there is no ‘genetic markers’ evidence-which cannot be denoted that one particular group is different than other.

On January 26, class begun by Dr. Mullins asking the class to spend the first few minutes answering the question what is race? The term race is difficult to define as a result of the belief that it is “racist” to talk about race. Although how do we know what race is if we do not discuss it within society. After much thought I defined race as an individual’s background that may be used to describe their ancestor’s demographics as well as their religion. However, today people tend to put more emphasis on race being the color of an individual’s skin. As discussed in class society does not understand what race is, but for some reason it is important to us. Deep down race is a social construction that we make exist through our behavior. It is important to educate people about race to help break down these boundaries society has created. If we created it we can demolish it, and education is key.

“And thus in the Land of the Color-line I saw, as it fell across my baby, the shadow of the Veil. Within the Veil was he born, said I; and there within shall he live, - a Negro and a Negro’s son. Holding in that little head- ah, bitterly! - the unbowed pride of a hunted race, clinging with that tiny dimpled hand – ah, wearily!- to a hope not hopeless but unhopeful, and seeing with those bright wondering eyes that peer into my soul a land whose freedom is to us a mockery and whose liberty a lie.”

I used to think that race was a social construct more of a biological reality until I read all these articles. They changed my perspective and I have come to realize different things. My opinion is now divided into two; I am in that middle point where I can see both ways of the argument as valid and reasonable and agree with both. First, I will explain why I think it is a biological reality, then, I will explain why it can also be a social construct, and lastly how have these debates shaped the views about the nature of ethnicity and consequently defined ethnic identity. We have to avoid viewing either explanation with a negative meaning. The negative history that comes attached to the word “race” is what I think makes us be defensive whenever we hear it and close ourselves up to any reasonable answer we might have to the question, is it a biological reality or a social construct?

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

Race has evolved through the scientific endeavor to forward knowledge, from a categorisation of people based on geographic origin and physical traits, to a hierarchical concept that is used as a tool to racially vilify, discriminate and marginalize particular races. The term race was introduced in the 16th century and referred to a group category of people (Smedley, 1999). From then, the concept of race was scrutinized and redefined by the western world. America bought about the concept of ‘race’ present in modern day, however the intellectual framework that served as a guide was European (Brace, 2005). Understanding of the evolution of race theories and its consequences are crucial to analyse how contemporary Indigenous Peoples are