You know how people tend to sit with their own ethnic group in public area? Although I’ve seen this many times, until now, it is still pretty ironic and somewhat funny to me. I’m not saying that I don’t do this myself. In fact, intentionally or unintentionally, I would try my very best to stick to “my own group” if I have a choice!
In my anthropology class, we begin to cover the topic “race”. In the chapter I read, the author, who is also my professor for the class, said that anthropologists believe “there is no such thing as ‘race’”. Ok, I think it is very true considering the historical background of this word, but then, “how do you”, or the question may even be “how can you get rid of the idea of ‘race’”!
Ok, I don’t mean that the word “race” didn’t exist or anything. However, people did not use the word “race” the way they use it today—to classify Homo sapiens, or the human population. Here is a definition of “race” from the Britannica Encyclopedia—“…the idea that the human species is divided into distinct groups on the basis of inherited physical and behavioral differences. Genetic studies in the late 20th century refuted the existence of biogenetically distinct race, and scholars now argue that ‘races’ are cultural interventions reflecting specific attitudes and beliefs that were imposed on different populations in the wake of western European conquests beginning in the 15th century”.
As you can see, the new meaning of the word “race” was installed for people’s own desire during colonial period. Yet, people, including me, seem to regard “race” as a very common idea. In fact, people accept this idea and use it in their daily life. We make races jokes; we classify ourselves as a part of the “________” group; we even stereotype people using “race”. “Yeah, so she is so good at math BECAUSE she is Asian”; “he is such a good basketball player BECAUSE he is black”—this person is “blah blah” BECAUSE he or she is part of a certain group. Do we really think that? Well, yeah! Why else would we say such things? But is it true? Well…
In a place like the New York City, I would think that problems like racism would not appear as often. Well, actually it is somewhat true. It is also true that, however, in a place where diversity of ethnicities has become a daily part of our life, people tend to stereotype the “others” even more because we like to think that somehow one person can represent a whole group! Isn’t it just easier that way?
But then, since I’m already this far, I might as well just spill it out: what is race anyway?
This is a very thought-provoking post. I think that the word race should be substituted with the word culture to better fit into the context of what we say. It is true, most Asians are good at math. And that isn’t because they fill in the Asian bubble when completing forms, but because of they way their society raises them. In the modern day, students are taught to regard everybody equally, forget about the existence of “race”, and think of us all as one. Its a good way of thinking, but I think that race will never cease to identify you and me. The reason is that we need a word to account for all our differences. Hopefully, in the future more people will realize that our differences are exactly what bring to much color and interest into the world. It is a positive thing that our cultures are so unique.
I agree with the comment above. Our race is what makes it easy for people to identify us, while it is our culture which truly shapes who we are. I am brown so must like curry right? Weel, if you eat something at home five times a week you better like it! We need to realize that because there are some common mannerisms instilled in the daily lives of the cultures we are raised in, people coming from similar areas will always have similar characteristics as us.