Maddenation
Race: The Power of Illusion
PBS has an amazing website focusing on Race. It’s based on the series, “Race: The Power of Illusion” - a video series. This is the companion website. I offer it as a topic of discussion, continuing from the article Dad sent us and Pat posted from NYtimes on race. I found out about it from Kitty Hooper, she teaches science here at Ignatius and also African American studies.
I haven’t checked out the entire site yet, but have found a number of eye-opening parts. I was surprised when I read TEN THINGS EVERYONE SHOULD KNOW ABOUT RACE. I pasted the list of ten things into the extended area. Explore.
TEN THINGS EVERYONE SHOULD KNOW ABOUT RACE
Our eyes tell us that people look different. No one has trouble distinguishing a Czech from a Chinese. But what do those differences mean? Are they biological? Has race always been with us? How does race affect people today?
There’s less - and more - to race than meets the eye:
1. Race is a modern idea. Ancient societies, like the Greeks, did not divide people according to physical distinctions, but according to religion, status, class, even language. The English language didn’t even have the word ‘race’ until it turns up in 1508 in a poem by William Dunbar referring to a line of kings.
2. Race has no genetic basis. Not one characteristic, trait or even gene distinguishes all the members of one so-called race from all the members of another so-called race.
3. Human subspecies don’t exist. Unlike many animals, modern humans simply haven’t been around long enough or isolated enough to evolve into separate subspecies or races. Despite surface appearances, we are one of the most similar of all species.
4. Skin color really is only skin deep. Most traits are inherited independently from one another. The genes influencing skin color have nothing to do with the genes influencing hair form, eye shape, blood type, musical talent, athletic ability or forms of intelligence. Knowing someone’s skin color doesn’t necessarily tell you anything else about him or her.
5. Most variation is within, not between, “races.” Of the small amount of total human variation, 85% exists within any local population, be they Italians, Kurds, Koreans or Cherokees. About 94% can be found within any continent. That means two random Koreans may be as genetically different as a Korean and an Italian.
6. Slavery predates race. Throughout much of human history, societies have enslaved others, often as a result of conquest or war, even debt, but not because of physical characteristics or a belief in natural inferiority. Due to a unique set of historical circumstances, ours was the first slave system where all the slaves shared similar physical characteristics.
7. Race and freedom evolved together. The U.S. was founded on the radical new principle that “All men are created equal.” But our early economy was based largely on slavery. How could this anomaly be rationalized? The new idea of race helped explain why some people could be denied the rights and freedoms that others took for granted.
8. Race justified social inequalities as natural. As the race idea evolved, white superiority became “common sense” in America. It justified not only slavery but also the extermination of Indians, exclusion of Asian immigrants, and the taking of Mexican lands by a nation that professed a belief in democracy. Racial practices were institutionalized within American government, laws, and society.
9. Race isn’t biological, but racism is still real. Race is a powerful social idea that gives people different access to opportunities and resources. Our government and social institutions have created advantages that disproportionately channel wealth, power, and resources to white people. This affects everyone, whether we are aware of it or not.
10. Colorblindness will not end racism. Pretending race doesn’t exist is not the same as creating equality. Race is more than stereotypes and individual prejudice. To combat racism, we need to identify and remedy social policies and institutional practices that advantage some groups at the expense of others.
David • Ideas • 09/04/03 • 1 comments
Comments
Dad • 09/04/03 • 5:49 PM:I’m sure there will be more to come, even from me, but he’s my first shot over the bow. I was on board (no pun intended) pretty well with the 10 points until the last one. The first nine seem to be based on good research, and I don’t doubt that there is historical and scientific evidence to support their accuracy. Number ten, however, comes out of the blue (from left field?) and seems like an afterthought by a writer who suddenly realized he hadn’t been political enough and couldn’t overcome his temptation to get on the soapbox. First is the unprovable statement that colorblindness won’t end racism. I personally think it would be a great start. Then he refers to colorblindness as, “pretending race doesn’t exist.” Isn’t that classic misstatement of your opponent’s position so you can slap down the straw man you just created? He goes on to say that race is more than “stereotypes and individual prejudice.” I buy that, but saying more about what race IS and why “racism” is bad would help me follow the argument. Finally, he says “to combat racism, we need to identify and remedy social policies and institutional practices that advantage some groups at the expense of others.” What groups? Doctors at the expense of ditch diggers? Engineers at the expense of cashiers? Well educated, law-abiding citizens over criminals? I’m only aware of one institutional practice that advantages one group at the expense of others, and that is affirmative action, a policy at the center of our government’s social action agenda.
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