definition+of+race



RACE! It's everything and nothing. To some people, like the Nazis, all that mattered was being a superior race. To others, race doesn't matter at all. But what exactly is race? Does it actually exist or is it just a figment of people's imagination?

Preliminary Personal Definition (before research): I personally do not feel that race has a defined definition because people have immigrated, emigrated, mixed, mingled, moved, stayed, and just about everything else so there is no clear cut way to define race. There might be a way on the biological level, but if so I am not aware of it.

Online Definition: A local geographic or global human population distinguished as a more or less distinct group by genetically transmitted physical characteristics.

[] [] has the same definition

Ethnicity Vs. Race Ethnicity is basically the same thing as race. It is defined as certain cultural and physical characteristics that are largely different from other groups. This is basically the same as this websites definition of race. However, if these words are used interchangably why is race such a more common word? ([|O'Neil])

Physical Vs. Social According to most people, race is defined by physical differences. They use this information to decide what that person will do (stereotyping). This is similar to the definition of scientists, who define race as not only difference in physical characteristics, but also differences in biological characteristics. This information is, however, not used to determine what people's actions will be when used by scientists. According to scientists, race does not actually exist and is merely something defined by the way that a society defines it (socially and politically). However, people have found that there is some truth to the stereotyping. ([|Graves])

Skin tone changes progressively from dark to light going away from the equator so there are not two separate races. Social status/possible roles affect racial stereotypes and are affected by racial stereotypes. Each rank has a social class associated with it. Each social class has possible jobs associated with it. It is not because of the actual "race" but because of what the society has allowed people of that race to do in the past. Race's affects are based more on popular opinion and what people allow than on what each race is physically/mentally capable of.([|Dench])

Outside the U.S. Different countries view race in different ways. Brazil for example has a view of race completely dependent on physical characteristics (not ancestry). This is so to the extent that a parent can have kids of different races. Quote: "These racial distinctions, called tipos, are drawn along increments of complexion from louras “with straight blond hair, blue or green eyes, light skin color, narrow nose and thin lips” to brancas, morenas or mulatas “with tight curly hair and a slightly darker range of hair colors and skin colors” to pretas who “look like a mulata, except with dark brown skin, broad nose and thick lips.” They also acknowledge groups that do not fall on this single dimension." ([|Dench])

Inside the U.S. There are many racial divisions in the United States. On censuses the races listed are: white, black/African American, American Indian and Alaska Native, Asian, Native Hawaiian and other Pacific Islander, other, and two or more of the above. White is classified by having ancestry from Europe, the Middle East, or North Africa. A black/African American person is a person with origins from Africa. American Indians and Alaska Natives are people from North or South America. People with the race Asian are from the Far East, Southeast Asia, or the Indian subcontinent. The Pacific Islander race is very self explanatory and includes people from pacific islands. Other is everything else and two or more is a mix of races. ([|Wikipedia]) After Research Personal Opinions: I think that many of the American racial definitions are completely incorrect because most people are two or more races. According to science, everyone has origins in Africa. Even if someone does not go back that far, many people have origins from all over which would make their kids two or more races. Also, what race are you if you are the kid of two parents who are each two races? The American classifications of race are not really divided by appearance but more so by genetic/ancestral information by definition, but in actuality, people react differently to people who //appear// to be of a different race and not just people who genitically //are// of a different race. I believe that race only exists because people have allowed it to. At one point there may have been racial distinctions, but in modern times there does not appear to be a large enough biological difference for race to be definable. Despite this fact, I believe that, at least in America, racial differences/distinctions are so ingrained in people's backgrounds and daily lives that it is impossible for people to ignore race. The only way that this could happen would be if past racial differences were to be removed from people's minds and if people started ignoring physical differences.

Next: After this I would like to research a bit more on what other countries think about race and how it impacts their societies. Also, I would like to try to find a way to, if not stop acts of racism, then at least drastically decrease their numbers. If it is possible, it would also be quite interesting to me to try to figure out why people still believe that different races have different mental capacities and act in different (usually inferior) ways even though this has been shown to be false time and time again.



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