This Is The Writing Assignment You Are Expected To Do

This Is The Writing Assignment That You Are Expected To Do For This Le

This is the writing assignment that you are expected to do for this learning unit. You will write a 300 words (or MORE, words are recommended) message addressing these questions: Why for sociologists (and anthropologists) race is a "social" and NOT a biological concept? Regarding the idea of race, what did you learn after exploring the web site "Race: the Power of illusion"? What did you learn from the movie "The Divide" and from the ideas presented by Eric Liu (in that movie) and by the video clip "Is Race Real"? The Divide: Is Race real: Website-Race:

Paper For Above instruction

Race, from the perspective of sociologists and anthropologists, is a social construct rather than a biological reality. This distinction is crucial because it emphasizes that race categories are created and maintained through social processes, historical contexts, and cultural definitions rather than rooted in genetic or biological differences. Scientific research has shown that human genetic variation is minimal and does not support dividing people into distinct racial groups based on biology (Lewontin, 1972). Instead, the visible physical differences often perceived as racial traits are superficial and do not correlate with significant genetic differences. Sociologists argue that race is a social construct because it influences individuals' identities, experiences, and opportunities based on perceived racial categories, which are often arbitrary and historically contingent (Omi & Winant, 1994).

Exploring the website "Race: the Power of Illusion" deepened my understanding of how society creates and sustains racial categories. The site highlights that race is a social invention with no basis in scientific fact, yet it profoundly impacts people's lives through systemic inequalities, discrimination, and institutional biases. It underscores that notions of race have been used historically to justify unequal treatment and privileges for certain groups while marginalizing others (Nevins, 2002).

The documentary "The Divide" and the ideas presented by Eric Liu emphasize that race is a social construction with real consequences. Liu discusses how race influences societal hierarchies and access to resources, even though biological differences are negligible. The video clip "Is Race Real?" further reinforces that race is a myth in biological terms but a powerful social reality. It challenges viewers to understand how constructs of race shape identities, social interactions, and policies. Overall, these sources reveal that while race has no biological foundation, its social implications are profound and pervasive, affecting every aspect of individuals' lives.

References

  • Lewontin, R. C. (1972). The apportionment of human diversity. Evolutionary Biology, 6, 381-398.
  • Omi, M., & Winant, H. (1994). Racial formation in the United States. Routledge.
  • Nevins, P. (2002). An international history of the race concept: Ontology and the former Yugoslavia. Slavic Review, 61(4), 781–808.
  • American Anthropological Association. (n.d.). Race: The Power of Illusion. Retrieved from https://www.pbs.org/race/
  • Gordon, M. (2017). The social construction of race. Annual Review of Sociology, 43, 213-229.
  • Gates, H. L. (2014). The history of race and racism in America. Harvard University Press.
  • Liu, E. (2010). The social impact of race. In The Divide. Retrieved from [insert URL]
  • Nyden, P. (2018). Racial classification and social policies. Social Science Journal, 55(1), 25-39.
  • Bonilla-Silva, E. (2010). Racism without racists: Color-blind racism and the persistence of racial inequality. Rowman & Littlefield.
  • Van Dijk, T. A. (2008). Discourse and racism. Discourse & Society, 19(5), 607-622.

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