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Brittany Cruz
Teresa Potter
ANTH 1020
26 July 2014
Concept of Race
Concept of race can be defined from two different groups, one being biological, and the
other social perspective. The biological definition for race is categorized of various sets of
heritable characteristics for instance your skin color, eyes, and hair. A persons breed, stock,
ancestor and common heritage are additional examples of biological race as well. Website,
Introduction to Anthropology, defines social race by a group assumed to have a biological basis
but actually perceived and defined in a social context, by a particular culture rather than by
scientific criteria. Today, social race is typically replaced with the term ethnicity this refers to
a group which identifies itself based on common culture, shared religion, and nationality.
The difference between the two concepts is that one identifies itself based on inheritance
and physical characteristics; whereas, the other concept is based on the individuals preference.
Overtime race has been used to distinguish people into distinct categories such as blacks, whites,
brown, and yellow. Most groups which consisted of other races besides whites where
discriminated against and viewed as unworthy or an inferior species. Due to their outlook toward
race and the terrible treatment people received the civil rights movement evolved in 1960s. This
movement was the start in preventing acts in which slavery, genocide, and discrimination was
being practiced (Boundless). Categorizing people into distinct groups and creating the term
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race caused people to develop prejudgment to one another because of their skin color along
with other physical features. In order to put a halt to actions such as these laws where put in
place to protect a person from being discriminated against and categorized. Now, the definition
of race and how you treat others of a different race is approached carefully. Race today is
replaced with ethnicity Through time evolutionary scientist has established an individuals
ethnicity by their geographical location, culture, and heritage (White).
Biological concept of race has been dismissed by supported research found by genomics
which provide definitive evidence that race and ethnicity are social, not biological, classifications
(Foster & Sharp). A humans place in a
population determines their geographical
identify, for decades researchers have used
geographical locations as a tool to discover a
persons ancestral background. Additionally,
most if not all researches have abandoned the
idea of biological race because significant
genetic differences has not yet been found
between races. The picture in the left is an
example of different races migrating to other
countries, in the picture you are able to see the variety of races and how we are able to identify
them based off of appearances. The reason for this is because of the bodys ability to adapt to the
environment we live in and not so much because of our genetics. This is why you can often
determine a persons race based on the area in which they live.
(Photo: Wikipedia. Web. 28 July 2014.)
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Categorizing populations by race seems to be the only affective way humans are able to
identify themselves from another group with accuracy and without being discriminative. Before,
when scientist thought race was determined by a humans genetic makeup the idea of inferior
and superior species came into play which lead us to destructive behavior. Categorizing
populations by race is a way for us to further understand the person, the environment in which
they live, and how the individual responds/adapts to the environment. Whether a humans race is
defined by biological concept or social concept our social perspective should remain
unprejudiced against those of different races.











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Works Cited
Foster, Morris W., and Richard R. Sharp. "Race, Ethnicity, and Genomics: Social Classifications
as Proxies of Biological Heterogeneity." Race, Ethnicity, and Genomics: Social
Classifications as Proxies of Biological Heterogeneity. N.p., n.d. Web. 28 July 2014.
White, Michael. "Why Your Race Isn't Genetic." Pacific Standard. N.p., 30 May 2014. Web. 28
July 2014.
Indigenous Peoples of the Americas." Wikipedia. Wikimedia Foundation, 29 July 2014. Web.
30 July 2014.
"Social Definition of Race - Boundless Open Textbook." Boundless. N.p., n.d. Web. 27 July
2014.
"ANS 110 Glossary for Anthropology and Sociology." ANS 110 Glossary for Anthropology and
Sociology. N.p., n.d. Web. 29 July 2014.
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