I am sure if a martian would appear to you and ask, what race are you, you would respond " I am from the human race" si o no.....not going to say iam ecuadorian...
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.
RACE - The Power of an Illusion was produced by California Newsreel in association with the Independent Television Service (ITVS). Major funding provided by the Ford Foundation and the Corporation for Public Broadcasting Diversity Fund.
David and Lori are one of about five couple racing in TAR9. Similar to Joseph and Monica, they've been dating for about three years, but unlike Joseph and Monica, they're from Manhattan, Kansas.
When I first saw this team, I really enjoyed them as a pre-thought. They looked and acted like the so-called nerds. Then, following their CBS picture, it took a while to put it together. They look great, and I hope they do well, but I also fear that they could become another Ron/Kelly with Lori wanting to commit, but not David, for now.
We are all of the same specie (homo sapien); Race is a culturally accepted term to define certains physical and social characteristics among groups of people.
Genetically we are 99.99% alike. It's the remaining % of genetical differences that give us the qualities that define us as a group.
We latinos are not one race since we all know that we are too hot to keep it in the family.
E.g: Samy Soza, George Lopez, Cameron Diaz,etc,etc. ( We come in all colours and shapes)
Yes it does.......race is based on the characteristics of a group (race).....but under all of that we are all the same, u r human just like me and all of man kind.
Race as a political generalization does exist but Bistor is right... genetically, we're the same. We all came from the same people /person (if you are religious) and same with animals... all dogs came from the same 'breed' at one point.
From a genetic standpoint, human races don't exist, no.
The differences between human "races" (skin colour, coarseness of hair, eye colour, etc.) are too small, as a percentage of our total genetic makeup, for one to speak of human races. There is greater variability within races, than between. We all have different blood types, capable of digesting lactose (or not), more or less prone to heart disease, etc. That's also part of your genetic makeup... it just isn't as visible as skin colour.
Millions of years of humping will do that!
Races of cats, or horses, dogs, etc. have usually come about as a result of human intervention, where specific qualities were sought (ferocity, speed, size, etc.), and the gene pool was isolated from the rest of the population.
Since the beginning of time, the Human being has always wanted to be better than the next. Always get there faster, get the latest, be 'up to date'...This is perhaps where the word RACE came from. A race to get to the finish line before anyone else. To be the best of the best. That's the way i see it. I prefer the word Ethnic and/or nationality. If i want to know where someone is from i ask them "what's your nationality" not "what race are you from?" So yes it does exist. Maybe it makes it easier to classify, like we do with species. We are afterall, a 'human animal'...which sounds a bit odd.
Since the beginning of time, the Human being has always wanted to be better than the next. Always get there faster, get the latest, be 'up to date'...This is perhaps where the word RACE came from. A race to get to the finish line before anyone else. To be the best of the best. That's the way i see it.
I prefer the word Ethnic and/or nationality. If i want to know where someone is from i ask them "what's your nationality" not "what race are you from?"
So yes it does exist. Maybe it makes it easier to classify, like we do with species. We are afterall, a 'human animal'...which sounds a bit odd.
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The opinions expressed by this poster can be offensive and are mainly directed at Dogo. Delta gamma b i t c h-orama. Copyright 2008 All rights reserved.
I am perplexed by this question. There are some that say it exists, while others deny its existence saying it is an invention. I am confused. I mean I can see different races, like asians, white and all that. but why are there people who say race is just a figment of our imagination?
ACTUALLY....."RACISM" IS A FIGMENT OF OUR IMAGINATION....LOL
RACE DOES EXIST....MANY RACES EXIST AS A MATTER OF FACT.....OTHERWISE WE WOULD ALL BE OF THE SAME BACKGROUND, COLOUR, LOOK...ETC
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I think it does exists. I watched on tv a program about dogs. There's plenty of different kinds of dogs. They are all dogs but some of them are quite different. Lets say a chiguagua and a Great Dane. They still can score each other and have young since they belong to the same species; thus, creating some sort of weird looking dog but it would be another dog after all.
Same with humans, I think we complement each other; otherwise the world would be a very boring place.
I am perplexed by this question. There are some that say it exists, while others deny its existence saying it is an invention. I am confused. I mean I can see different races, like asians, white and all that. but why are there people who say race is just a figment of our imagination?
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