Racial Misconceptions
Society is driven by an illegitimate concept that causes social and political turmoil. That concept is race. Although the idea of race is believed to be eternal, it was actually created by society. Believe it or not, people were not always socially ranked by their skin tone, hair texture, or clothing style. This concept came with time and political unrest. There are many biological and psychological misconceptions and flaws associated with the term “race” that create unnecessary conflict and confusion.
Although it is ingrained in people’s brains to categorize ideas like gender and social class, it is not innate to separate people based upon their racial identity. In fact, it is difficult to depict one’s race, because, in order to do so, race …show more content…
People argue that genetics and ancestral background are the determinants of who belongs to what racial group; however, this way of thinking is flawed. Upon first glance, people make a general assumption based on physical appearances and immediately start trying to decipher to which racial group someone belongs. Many people believe that people differ genetically because they are categorized in different racial groups; however, it is scientifically proven that there is only a 6.3% variation among the genetic makeup of people (qtd. in Goodman). Society created the image that people are extremely different. When in fact, scientifically they are incredibly similar. The proof is in the DNA. One reason people look differently is because the human body adapts to its environmental conditions. For instance, it is commonly believed that colored people are genetically different from those with a lighter complexion. In reality, if their ancestors were from Africa, their skin naturally became darker to protect itself from the UV rays blazing from the sun (“The Difference Between Us”). With that being said, why does something as miniscule as family origin determine the way of life in which people live? Just because humans differ physically does not mean they should be treated as different creatures, especially when they are biologically
Although it is ingrained in people’s brains to categorize ideas like gender and social class, it is not innate to separate people based upon their racial identity. In fact, it is difficult to depict one’s race, because, in order to do so, race …show more content…
People argue that genetics and ancestral background are the determinants of who belongs to what racial group; however, this way of thinking is flawed. Upon first glance, people make a general assumption based on physical appearances and immediately start trying to decipher to which racial group someone belongs. Many people believe that people differ genetically because they are categorized in different racial groups; however, it is scientifically proven that there is only a 6.3% variation among the genetic makeup of people (qtd. in Goodman). Society created the image that people are extremely different. When in fact, scientifically they are incredibly similar. The proof is in the DNA. One reason people look differently is because the human body adapts to its environmental conditions. For instance, it is commonly believed that colored people are genetically different from those with a lighter complexion. In reality, if their ancestors were from Africa, their skin naturally became darker to protect itself from the UV rays blazing from the sun (“The Difference Between Us”). With that being said, why does something as miniscule as family origin determine the way of life in which people live? Just because humans differ physically does not mean they should be treated as different creatures, especially when they are biologically