Is Race Real - Essay Example

Racism as a construct for demographic and socio-political analysis is increasingly being contested.  Today, urbanization has become the norm due to the process of industrialization, and cities are getting very cosmopolitan.  This makes it necessary that people from so-called ‘different races’ cohabit and cooperate to achieve their shared objectives. Most advanced industrial societies today exhibit some degree of tolerance and adaptability when it comes to issues of race. But the situation is far from perfect and race continues to be a simmering point of contention.  In this backdrop new scientific and anthropological evidence on the veracity of race assumes significance.  They help demystify and demythologize race and racism as previously understood.  In this process, the very legitimacy of racial classification is questioned. 

The American Anthropological Association’s (AAA) consensus on the subject of race is a rebuke to historical perceptions of race.  The esteemed AAA has articulated the fact that trait differences and variation are more pronounced ‘within’ a particular group (ex. national or ethnic) than ‘between’ two such groups.  In its Statement on “Race” the AAA contends that 94% of genetic variation is found within conventional groupings and only 6% outside.  The AAA does not merely stop with the scientific rationale but delves into the socio-history of race.  It makes a damning assessment of the history of race, terming it a politically and socially constructed institution for economic exploitation. 

While race is a subject for biology, evolution and genetics, the subject of racism belongs to anthropology.  In other words, while race is a more concrete construct, racism is a product of culture and is hence more abstract and fluid.  Article 33 from the reading, titled Skin Deep by Jablonski and Chaplin reveals the superficiality of classification based on skin colour. While the colour of the skin is the most ostensible trait that could physically distinguish human groups, treating it as the primary marker for racial identity is problematic. There are various factors that have had a bearing on the evolution of skin colour.  These include the latitude of the geographical location (its distance from the equator), local climatic patterns, presence of Vitamin D in the diet of a localized group, invention and use of clothing to protect from sunlight, etc. Considering that these factors have no correlations among them, the results they have produced in terms of skin colour distribution is quite predictable.  Research has shown that two groups located quite far from one another – geographically or climatically could still share striking similarities in skin colour if they both had access to a Vitamin D-rich diet.  But this similarity in one trait does not make their gene pools closely related.  In other words, two same-collared people could be very different from one another in terms of genetics. Such findings give a crushing blow to skin-colour-based discourse on race. 

The article by Loring Brace titled Race Is A Four-Letter Word (Article 4.2) is another strong indictment of racism.  The author presents a detailed analysis of the evolution of physical trait differences among regional groups and comes to the same conclusions as that of the American Anthropological Association (AAA).  There is overwhelming scientific proof to dismantle any concrete notions of race, for such a classification is technically nonexistent.  What the author suggests through his chosen title is that ‘race’ as a term is inherently abusive, for it is an artificial conception.  This view is in agreement with the historical analysis of race given by AAA.  Against this backdrop, those who insist on segregating people on the illusory lines of race face a heavy burden of proof.  This point is reiterated again in the reading titled Does Race Exist? (Article 4.5) by George W. Gill. 

As a panel member responsible for giving direction to race-related policies in the country I would make it a priority to create awareness of such telling facts.  It is a sad fact that despite mounting scientific evidence racial stereotyping and discrimination are as rampant today as it ever was.  In light of this imbalance, it is imperative that the government take proactive steps in educating the general public.  The need of the hour is nothing short of a sweeping change to dominant myths and misunderstandings surrounding race.

Finally, it is not an exaggeration to claim that there are moral implications.  Beyond the well-acknowledged social, political and economic motives for using race in daily life, there is the fundamental question of human dignity.  American history provides robust proof that ‘separate but equal’ does not work.  So to fully realize equality in society and public policy, we must purge the idea of race in the future. But this is not to say that historical justice and compensation should not be attempted.  It is imprudent to abandon affirmative action programs because they are concerned with race. On the contrary, affirmative action should be seen as the beginning of the end of race and racism in modern societies.  The achievement of this goal depends on the prospect of social harmony in the future.  The immediate task is to disabuse ourselves of notions of ‘race’ so that we can eradicate ‘racism’ in the long term.