race

[mellowtigger]

There is no such thing as "race". If you want my official skin hue, then surely we can create devices that would shine a light on our skin and then measure the color that's reflected back. Skin color is real, but race is not. If you want to know about the slant of my eyes and the form of the skin folds there, then surely we can create a way to accurately record that information as well. Eye shape is real, but race is not.

Science has been repeating this opinion for many years now, and new studies just keep confirming the notion.

"Scientists have found more than 500 genes that account for variations across human populations including skin color, height, and vulnerability to disease, according to a study released Sunday."
...
"But the genes that explain the phenotypic differences between populations only represent a tiny part of our genome, confirming once again that the concept of 'race' from a genetic standpoint has been abolished," he added."

Back during the 2000 census, that form made the mistake of asking me for my race. I answered the same way that I answered other forms that asked for this information. I provided the response that accurately reflects the population that most influences my language, my outlook, and my history. I selected "Other" and then wrote in "Texan".

The Census Bureau responded by sending a nice old man to my door to help me fill out a new census. I was then classified as white/Caucasian/whatever. *SIGH* Like I know anything about them.

There is no such thing as "race", okay?  When can we finally put this bad idea to rest? I think that the South Park parody about "gingers", people with red hair and freckles, is a good exploration of this nutty idea.

Comments

[joshuwain.livejournal.com]

So "culture" would be a more realistic term?

[mellowtigger]

Yes, culture would be a lot more accurate. Even there, however, it might be problematic to force people to pin down a single dominate cultural influence in their character (body and mind).

[kauko.livejournal.com]

Its nice to hear someoen articulate what I've thought for years, race is a completely made up concept rooted in the ethnocentric imperialism of 19th century Europeans. I like the term ethnicity better, but even that has its issues.

[mellowtigger]

As long as I can still fill in "Texan", then yes ethnicity is a satisfactory term. :)

[dodecadragon.livejournal.com]

I like "ginger" :o)

On another note, I wish they'd add another option under hair-color in profiles, "salt and pepper" will never describe my hair color as I get older. "Cinnamon sugar" would describe me better.

[mellowtigger]

Most redheads come with freckles. (Those without freckles and pale skin are called "daywalkers" in that South Park episode.) There's a Deep Space Nine episode where an alien with spots is admiring Jadzia's spot patterns. He traces the sight of them down the sides of her neck, and he asks her, *seductive voice* "Do they go all the way down?"

My last boyfriend (we're talking a decade ago) wasn't exactly freckled in the typical sense, but I discovered that his upper shoulders included large freckles. I kept thinking of that DS9 episode when I first looked at them. I was thinking to myself:

"Oooh, spots!" *pause* "I like spots!"

:D

When it's my turn to design humans, we're definitely getting spots (and stripes and mottles) added to our repertoire of diverse features.

[dodecadragon.livejournal.com]

Yeah, that was one of my favorites too.

I've always thought if I were ever to get tattoos it would be some kind of subtle pattern like spots or strips like Jadzia's, or maybe some kind of geometric penrose tile sequence, but organic looking.

[furr-a-bruin.livejournal.com]

Hmm... organic, like Shmuzzles (http://shmuzzles.com/shmuzzle_resources.htm)? (Ok, ok, they're not Penrose tiling, they're just a cute tessellation.... ;)

[dodecadragon.livejournal.com]

Well, M.C. Escher is one of my favorite artists, his "Reptiles" (http://www.mcescher.com/Gallery/back-bmp/LW327.jpg) being one of my favorite drawings. The other is "Gravity" (http://www.mcescher.com/Gallery/back-bmp/LW380.jpg):o)

[furr-a-bruin.livejournal.com]

The way I like to put it is, "There is only one race: Human."

[mellowtigger]

Well... eventually there will have to be more than one human species. It's a natural consequence of evolutionary theory. Even if one genetic pattern survives for millions of years, it still spawns off other attempts at new branches of life.

But, yes, it ain't a matter of superficial issues like skin color.

[furr-a-bruin.livejournal.com]

I don't know about that; how far from what we currently consider Human would beings have to get to be considered a different race?

Generally, creatures are considered different species when they can no longer successfully interbreed... where does the line indicating a different race get drawn?

And for that matter - here comes the SF geek in me - I just recently re-read a story where there are all sorts of variants of humanity - genetically engineered for a specific purpose (PSmIth, to create a group intelligence) or simply to adapt to a particular planet (Hoffmanites, engineered to thrive in the three gravities of New Hoffman). In this setting, everyone from Hoffmanites to centauroids from Silverrun were considered "Human" because they all traced their ancestry back to Earth.

Of course... there is the semantic point that the word "Human" is used both in the context of "species" and "race", so....

[dodecadragon.livejournal.com]

I think when humans use the word "race" they really mean "breed" as various breeds of dogs can interbreed, but "race" also has a geo-political connotation to it.

I would think a Species would include the entire range of breeds or races.