Dennis Myers

ANTH 1020
Research Paper/The Concept of Race
The concept of Race has been critically discussed by a good
number of scholars throughout history. However there is no specific
definition that can describe the word itself. Given all the contradictions
that the definition of this concept has faced, its meaning is really
vague. According to Fowlers Modern English Usage: Now, as OEDS
remarks, The term is often used imprecisely; even among
anthropologist there is no generally accepted classification or
terminology. In practice, the word has retreated by such words as
nation, people(s), and community. As a minor curiosity the ultimate
origin of the word race is obscure.
Despite all of the numerous biological and scientific studies that
have taken place over the many years, race can still not be defined or
given a real concept. Because of all the traits and genetic information
that human beings from different places around the world share. There
is no real proof that race can be defined from a biologic perspective,
because we as human beings are all related in someway or another by
sharing genetic information in our DNA. For instance, a person that
looks completely white does not necessarily belong to, what some
insist to define as, a specific Race, because this same person can
have ancestors from Asia, Africa, etc. This is why we cannot say this
persons race is white because if we look into his/her DNA information

we would consider the term a complete fallacy given the fact that
he/she could share genetics from people that look way different than
him/her. If we were to define race we would define it as a pure blood; a
group of human beings that have specific traits and genetic
information in their DNA that no other group of people would share.
From the scientific, genetic, and biological perspective there is no
proof that race as pure individual groups exists. Regardless where we
come from, we are all from the same roots. Even research master
pieces like Darwins (The origin of species) supports the idea that we
all come from the same human kind that evolves and mutates, and
that is when variations take place, however he does not define them as
races, instead he calls them variations, but not races as world
societies insist to call it.
Race in this case is more likely to be a Social term created,
widespread, and supported by scholars, politicians, and scientist
influenced by individual, ethnic and cultural interests that were and
still are far from being objective whom concepts are mostly provoked
by patriotism and cultural pride. Between the 18th and 19th century the
definition of race ended up in an outbreak of horrific events like the
discrimination and genocide of certain ethnic groups during the Second
World War. The Nazis based scientific studies, theories and social
movements similar to the Eugenic, and Social Darwinism by tried to
create a pure race and type of human with the strongest genes and

physical traits capable to survive and prevail more than any other
group of humans. According to them this would lead humanity and
future societies into perfection. In this case theories like Darwins were
misled and twisted subsequently conducting millions of Jews into a
dark era of suffering and extermination.
However, these ideas about a unique and superior race or
supremacy were not only considered in some of the Western European
countries such Germany, it was also happening in other places around
the world like here in the United States. Immigrants such as Jews,
South Asians and some from certain parts of Europe that did not fit the
physical and social traits of the superior race were banned from
entering the country. A TROUBLESOME INHERITANCE GENES, RACE
AND HUMAN HISTORY Page 31 The eugenicists had inspectors
installed in the major capitals of Europe to screen prospective
immigrantsWhen Jews in increasing numbers tried to flee Germany
after 1936, US. Consuls refused to grant visas to them and other
desperate refugees.
If we look at the merits of the biological concept of race, I would
say that all the discussions that have taken over the years about this
concept have helped most contemporary societies to understand that
biologically and genetically we all come from the same roots, our
differences vary on the different mutations and changes that human
beings experience during their evolution. Evolution at the same time is

determined by the environment that we live in, our adaptation to a

specific environment and ultimately but not the least important by the
mix among individuals from different places and genetic charges.
Despite all the research and documentation done during all these
centuries about the concept of Race, it still continues to be misled by
todays societies. What biology defines as variations societies call
Races. This term is the result of social movements and events that
have stricken individuals and cultural groups considered inferior;
misleading societies into racism and discrimination. If we look at
history the definition of race has caused more harm than benefit
because it has taught societies how to look at each other as different
groups classifying individuals from the highest position to the lowest
ones considering some group of people superior than others, ignoring
the fact that regardless how we look we all come from the same
human roots.

Works Cited
Wade,Nicholas.ATroublesomeInheritance:Genes,Race,andHumanHistory.N.p.:n.p.,n.d.Print.
Mukhopadhyay,CarolChapnick.,RosemaryC.Henze,andYolandaT.Moses.HowRealIsRace?:A
SourcebookonRace,Culture,andBiology.N.p.:n.p.,n.d.Print.
Haviland,WilliamA.,HaraldE.L.Prins,DanaWalrath,andBunnyMcBride.Anthropology:TheHuman
Challenge.14thed.N.p.:n.p.,n.d.Print.
Fowler,H.W.,andR.W.Burchfield.TheNewFowler'sModernEnglishUsage.Oxford:Clarendon,1996.
Print.