1 Lecture comments pick up from the folder (sorted by first initial of last/family name) Write on it today Give it back at the end of class into the SAME folder you took it out of Please reserve back row for Tas Sections: No room in 8:50, 1:20, 3:30 unless someone drops. Multiple seats in 9:55 openRace is Socially ConstructedDiscuss: What ideas do we start with? What have you learned before about race? What does “race” mean? How many races are there? What are the races? How do you know what race somebody is? Are there differences between races? What are they? TO PBS site Go to PBS site: guessing races, distributions of traits http://www.pbs.org/race/002_SortingPeople/002_00‐home.htm2Race & Ethnicity definitions “Race” refers to groupings among people that are understood as [note my stress on social construction] having a physical basis Genetic: Breeding populations, lineages, ancestry groups, geographic groups People who have common ancestors tend to be genetically more similar, have common physical traits Broad continental origins “Ethnicity” refers to groupings among people based in cultural differences Language, religion, customsRace & Ethnicity Overlaps People COULD adopt any culture (ethnicity) regardless of ancestry (race), but they don’t People of common ancestry (race) tend to have similar culture (ethnicity) People of common culture (ethnicity) tend to marry each other and thus produce physically different ancestry lines (race) Thus, “race” and “ethnicity” tend to get blurred in practice, even though they are logically different Historical discussions of “race” always included cultural differences People commonly attribute physical differences to different cultural groups“Race”: the physical underpinnings 99.9% of human genetic characteristics are common to all There is a small proportion that varies, and much of this variability is heritable (I.e. people with more recent common ancestors will be more similar than those whose common ancestors are more distant) Groups are more physically distinct when geographic or social barriers prevent their intermarriage across generations: this is the physical basis of “race”Physically, common‐ancestor groups nest & overlap: do not form distinct groups Single common origin in Africa. More variation WITHIN one region of Africa than between “races” Sub‐groups within larger groups Migration & intermarriage throughout human history People from different parts of the world differ in appearance, but with ill‐defined boundaries and relatively minor differences between them Outward markers such as skin color, eye shape are found in all “races”3“Race” as a social construction ‐physical Statistical patterns seen as group boundaries Belief that there are 3 (or 4 or 5 or even 10) distinct non‐overlapping “races” with well‐defined differences Belief that people “really are” one race or the other Reality of mixed ancestry and within‐race diversity is downplayed Categories are seen as distinct: you “are” one or the other“Race” as social construction ‐cultural Physical differences are seen as the CAUSE of cultural differences The racial” groups are seen as ranked: some are superior to others. Europeans rank them as: European > Asian > African & American Tied to popular ideas of biological evolution developed in “scientific racism” of 19th century: higher “races” are more evolved or more fitRacial construction is ongoing and changing Racial categories & boundaries are not natural but created in response to political boundaries and pressures Constructions of race and politicized nature of language go together There is always political contestation over categories who is in a group, who is out, what their boundaries are, how many groups there are, what their names are Group names & definitions & boundaries in the US today are fluid, shifting “Race” was created as a social construct to justify domination Race as the concept we use today created in the wake of European colonial conquests as justification for domination. In US, specifically as justification for African slavery and displacement of American Indians Old contrast was Christian vs. infidel. Debate was whether baptized “Indians” had the rights of personhood. Old ideologies accepted hierarchy, you could enslave or dominate others without needing to justify it. “Race” drew on Darwin, used the new biology to create an ideological justification for hierarchy despite Enlightenment ideals of equality: some people are “naturally” superior to others The idea that race is biological IS the social construct4Racial boundaries are socially defined In US, there is a strong boundary around “Black” and “White” versus others “Black” = any known Black ancestor Many “Black” people have lighter skin than many “White” people Despite mixed descent, “correct” classification as “Black” or “White” is socially important “White” people with dark skins upset if classified as “Black”, often ditto “Blacks” with light skin “Passing” = a light‐skinned “Black” person “pretends” to be ‘White” “Mixes” between other groups are more recognized in the US. Other countries have other “rules” & systemsRace is Social But it is Still “Real” Things that are believed to be real are real in their consequences In some societies, religion or language or culture is the barrier. The barriers are still real. What “race” you are in the US has enormous social, economic, and political consequences that will affect you whether you “believe” in race or not. Example: religion is entirely social but it is still “real” & in some place/times determines your lifeNaming Is Not Trivial But There Is No Way to “Get It Right” Races in US originate in European ideology justifying domination. Other groups became race conscious in response. Subordinate groups contest names & rename themselves as part of political struggle. Always disputes within a group about how to name themselves, tied to political struggle. 5White NHBlack or AfAm NHAmInd + Alaska Native NHAsian NHNatHawOPI_NHOther race NH2+ races NHHisp. WhiteHisp BlackHisp AmIndHisp AsianHisp
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