The Influence Of Race Biology

However there is no discernible difference in genotype between perceived ‘races’, as the variation observed in the morphologies and cultural patterns of geographically distinct groups are physical markers that are interpreted through social practice.1 Renowned geneticists, Francis Collins and Craig Venter after initially mapping the human genome, announced in June 2000 that 99.9% of humans are genetically identical despite perceived race.2 Subsequently, evolutionary biologist Richard Lewontin, then further substantiated that within that 0.1% of difference, 85% of phenotypical variation was prominent inside geographically distinct groups, while only 15% occurs between them.3 It has been proposed by academics such as Naomi Zack, that to continue to refer to race as a purely biological notion is detrimental to social understanding as it reinforces a false notion.4 Although observable difference between groups does exist as variation caused by the evolutionary process of random drift and adaption5, these differences are phenotypical and only become salient to racial philosophy when interpreted socially. DeSalle and Tattersall explain that variation is driven by environmental influence on genotype, highlighting that insights into cultural practice are more productive in discussions about difference. A case study provided by DeSalle and Tattersall uses the example of lactose intolerance, explaining that, “Among norther European populations, only about 1 to 15 percent

According to “How Real is Race,” the three fundamental racial premises that are rejected by contemporary scientists are that there is no distinction between subspecies of archaic humans, it is not possible to separate humans into biological races, and race is a concept that is not important in understand the biology of a human body. The authors of “How Real is Race,” suggest that educators handle the concept of race in classroom by teaching students that there is potential to change the perspective in society about the definition of race. They believe that race is not a determining factor of a human. Race is a concept that was made in countries to create social and cultural standards. The goal is to teach students that race should categorize individuals and associate them to social stereotypes. Therefore, having educators being social transformers and develop a system that stops racism. The authors suggest that educators avoid racial classifications, teach the success of movements

Dr. Loring Boring and Dr. George Gill fall on the opposite sides of the argument about race. Dr. Brace view is one that say’s “There is no such thing as biological entity that warrants the term race.” (Brace) While Dr. Gill

Race is a hot topic in our world. We all think we know what race is. After all, we are constantly being bombarded with it whether it be from media, politics, or sports. The truth is that race does not revolve around the idea of biological traits or characteristics. It is a modern concept that we as a society have created to divide people into categories. I will argue that race is socially constructed from a biological, political history, and sociological standpoint, and how it may impact other areas of our society.

Biological advancements such as Darwinism and Mendelian genetics had a profound impact on the study of race in the scientific community. These new concepts eventually led some scientists to question the validity of traditional notions about race. The resulting debates continue even today. The idea of race, especially in citizens of this country, evokes strong feelings because of the enormous social implications associated with racial identity. The social connotations of racial categories have had a profound influence on the way scientists understand human variation. Early ideas of race were colored by these connotations, and they still play a critical role in the way we understand race today. This paper will

The Sami people are an indigenous group spreading through parts of Norway, Sweden, Finland, and Russia. The majority of them are reindeer herders and migrate with herds across many national borders. The global population of indigenous peoples is estimated at 300 million people, including over 5,000 different groups across 70 countries. The total Sami population is at an estimated population of 70,000, more than half, 40,000 live in Norway, 20,000 live in Sweden, 6,000 in Finland and 2,000 in Russia. Almost 10,000 are involved in reindeer husbandry and cover an area of 157,487 square kilometers (Sami People, 2013).

Throughout this week’s discussion, the topic of race was thoroughly reviewed. Even though race was a large part of the discussion, the topics of history and biology both came up in the reading and on “Understanding Race”, which is an interactive website. The topic of History was brought up, as a way to explain how anthropological research has evolved. In the 19th century, anthropologists were known as “compilers”, according to Nanda and Warms. They would compile data that was already given to them, instead of collect their own data like they do today. Today, anthropologists are known more as “fieldworkers”, because they physically go out, and meet new cultures and races as a way to collect data. The topic of Biology was also brought up when

However, as a researcher debating this argument, one should choose a side. The academic stance chosen by the researcher should also be substantially supported by scholarly research and references. However, it can be proposed that the reason for such a long drawn out debate is because it appears race identification may be both biologically and socially constructed. Until further research

Today, social scientists refer to race as a “social construct” and there is no shortage of definitions that refer to race as a social construct. (Gabbidon & Greene, 2013, p.2) “Race and ethnicity are social constructions because their meanings are derived by focusing on arbitrary characteristics that a given society deems socially important… and are social products based on cultural values not scientific facts. (Gallagher, 1997, p.2). It is my firm belief that race is something man made in definition and as such so is the results related to racial issues.

At the turn of the 20th century, much of American society was dominated by perceived ideologies embedded in the scientific studies. One of the leading fields of study at the time was eugenics. Scientists believed that by analyzing the works of Mendel and his contemporaries, researchers could effectively weed out humanity’s most undesirable traits (Norrgard, 2008). In a noble quest to alleviate genetic flaws the inadvertent perversion of ideas became the foundation for what appears to be the social construction of race. Somewhere along the lines, eugenics became more about isolating certain human characteristics, like skin color, and relegating them to a hierarchy of societal importance (Norrgard, 2008). Race is simply defined as a pattern-based concept that allows for the general public to draw conclusions based on an individual’s geographical location and thereby predetermining their inclusion into a particular social group (Yudell, et al., 2016) The philosophies embedded in social ideas about race has long been at the heart of contentious discussions throughout the last century. It has led to individualized implicit personality theories by which people tend to link certain attributes together because of an apparent frequency in a particular racial group (Greene & Heilbrun, 2015).

Racial injustices are what have made America the powerful nation it is today. America was founded on the genocide of Native Americans and built on the backs of African slaves. In modern day America, strides have been made to provide all Americans equal opportunities to ensure assimilation and success in society however there is still significant work to be to ensure equality. In this paper I have researched the anthropological perspectives on race and ethnicity globally. I have also compared and contrasted varying researcher’s works to ensure I have a thorough understanding of this topic

This article is an examination of the invention of race. Throughout the article the author is trying to enlighten the readers to the history of the creation of race and its evolution throughout history and it progresses throughout time, from the Egyptians, to the 21st century. There were many important points made throughout the article. Some of the main points and arguments, including the discussion of where race began, the inconsistency in our ideas of race, racism in science, the use of eugenics to identify race in biology and the disenfranchising of the connection of race and biology. A huge part of the argument was telling the history of the creation of race and how it evolved into what we know now. The idea that the government created

Smedley, Audrey, and Brian D. Smedley. "Race as Biology Is Fiction, Racism as a Social Problem Is Real: Anthropological and Historical Perspectives on the Social Construction of Race." American Psychologist 60.1 (2005): 16-26. JSTOR. Web. 23 July

The concept of race and the meanings associated with the term have continuously changed and evolved throughout history. Many negative connotations have been associated with the word race and these are evident as one reflects on the historical origins of the term. Commonly the term race is closely connected to the notion of ‘racism.’ Racism is a specific form of prejudice which focuses on physical variations between people. It describes the ideological belief that a person, or groups of people can be classified into ‘races’ which can be ranked in terms of superiority and inferiority (Spoonley, 1988:4). Giddens defines racism as “the attribution of characteristics of superiority or inferiority to a population sharing certain physically inherited characteristics” (1997:584). This supports the idea that racism is a manner of prejudice or animosity against people who have different physical characteristics. It is in virtue of circumstances such as these that Anthropologists find it necessary to make a distinction between the concepts of race and ethnicity.

The Sami, are indigenous peoples in Norway, Sweden, Finland and the Russia in the Kola peninsula. Sapmi, the ancestral homeland of the Sami was split and or partitioned during the Sami colonization, modern state creation and border partitioning of state borders in Norway, Sweden, Finland and Russia’s north. Majority of the Sami population reside in Norway, followed by Sweden, Finland and Russia.