The concept of race is deeply ingrained in society, but it is not a fixed, biological reality. The term has no official scientific definition, and our preconceptions about what race truly is have changed dramatically throughout history. Scientists assert that race is fundamentally a social construct—a set of ideas created and maintained by society.
The Illusion of Biological Difference
Despite the common perception that race is based on biological facts, genetic science proves this is untrue:
Homogeneity: Humans are one of the most homogeneous species on the planet, possessing far less genetic variation than chimpanzees.
Genetic Overlap: There is no single gene that exists in all members of one race and not another; there is no "black gene" or "white gene". Human groups overlap completely in their genetic variation.
Fuzzy Similarity: While individuals might have a "fuzzy genetic similarity" to family members, this similarity is so weak at the continental level (the typical definition of race) as to be almost meaningless. It is statistically possible for a person to have more in common genetically with someone of a different racial heritage than with someone of the same heritage.
Genetics is complex, being the product of many genes interacting with each other and their environments. The desire to look at a genome and find simple, unchangeable, and concrete racial categories is based on a misunderstanding of how genetics works.
The Historical Manifestation of Power
The idea of race as we understand it—based on distinct skin color and continental origin—is relatively new, originating no more than a few hundred years ago. It arose specifically during the age of colonialism in the 17th century.
This era saw figures like Carl Linnaeus begin to categorize people. While his earlier work simply distinguished four varieties corresponding to the four continents, his later work, which became the foundation of scientific racism, added moral character to these categories. This process created enduring, negative stereotypes—such as categorizing the African as "black, phlegmatic, and lazy".
These racial categories have always been political tools that change depending on their usefulness to those in power. If a group of people is to be stripped of their rights or deemed "not people," a concept like race is needed to justify that power dynamic.
Race, Identity, and the Future
Despite race being a social construct, it has very real meaning and impact in people's lives—like money, democracy, or the nation-state. Race influences access to healthcare, education, and how individuals are treated in society.
The reality is that racism is real, and society is not "post-racial". Although the biological basis is nonexistent, centuries of living with the idea of race have created genuine cultural similarities among people who share a racial identity, often born out of shared hardship.
Moving forward, the goal should not be to find new boxes to put people in. Instead, society now has the opportunity to understand that all of these concepts exist on a spectrum. Race is a story that is handed down; by understanding its constructed nature, we can choose to exist better together and shape the stories we tell.
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