PART LVI: The Concept of “Race” Is it Valid? Is it Fair?; Part 1

Introduction

Key words: race, racism, racialization, racial classification, racial/ethnic classification, classification, public health research, public health, monitoring, public health research

What comes to mind when you hear the word “race”? Grab a piece of paper and pen or pencil and jot down words or phrases that the word “race” evokes.

Nearly 165 years since the Civil War ended, racist ideal ideologies still affect all facets of society even though they are rooted in pseudo-scientific false beliefs that there are biological differences in humans sufficient enough to result in various “races”. The sad part is that even many scientists and medical professionals embrace these misconceptions and thus perpetuate the problem.

            Educators, according to Marcial O’ Donnell et al, , are in a unique position to debunk the myth. They raise four questions that surround the false assumptions. Paraphrasing;

1. How have such myths become so ingrained in our daily life?
2. How have scientists’ approach to taxonomy changed. since Linnaeus’s human classification in the 1700’s?
3. What does biology now say about variation within humans?
4. Why is it so important to debunk this myth?

We have been to the moon and back, landed robotics on other planets, fought the COVID 19  viruses, have decoded the human genome but have yet to solve the problem of “race” and racism.(O’Donnell, M. et.al.)

History

The concept of race emerged in the 1600’s, according to one source, with the American colonial trans-Atlantic slave trade which was used to exploit and decimate people of colored skin. (Hirschman, C) According to another source, the well-known and equally, well respected Swedish botanist, Carolus Linnaeus in his book “Systema Naturae“(Linnaeus 1735) classified all living “things” into a hierarchical arrangement (see Essay XI) in which he grouped species into larger categories called genera, genera into larger groups  and so forth.  Initially he grouped humans into four skin color categories. White European, Redish American, Asian ,and Black African. Later, however he opinionated himself by adding. positive and negative traits.  He depicted White Europeans as “muscular, wise, and governed by “rites”” while characterizing Black Africans as “lazy, sly, sluggish, and neglectful, and governed by reprice.” Additionally, Linnaeus got caught up in the times which relied on religion to explain natural things The current explanation at the time was that nature proceeded in a “Great chain of Being” that descended in a hierarchy from God.” It became a logical extension to continue that line from white European to Red American. and Black African. (O’Connell, et al)  (see Essay XI)
Gradually, the separate notion of “race” arose.  Slowly, the separation of groups into fundamentally, “superior and inferior” races have been used to justify discriminatory laws, policies, and practices, practices that deny equal rights and opportunities based on “race.”

Types of racism

The discriminatory constructs include “Jim Crow” Laws in many southern states, and the “Black Laws” in northern states, both of which prevailed for 100 years after the Civil War ended. (Hirschman) Beyond the obvious discrimination, let’s look into the effect of the underlying biological belief for “race”. Official birth and death records, health and census forms have  a 4-6 race component. and this just a short list. Now, sometimes this can be an asset if it serves in the apprehension of a criminal person-of-interest or a “race” related genetic defect or medical condition. But too often it is a detriment. Besides “race”, other  criteria include age, sex, and sometimes religion. However, except for religion, the other three do represent a fundamental difference in biology. (Hirschman, C.)

Turning to a related term, the pseudo-scientific term “race” leads to the social construct of “racism” and racism leads to racial discrimination, unfair practices or treatment, even though it is technically illegal. Socioeconomic and health Inequities still exist because of long standing, deeply- rooted archaic laws, customs, and beliefs. It is a well  documented fact.  Because age and gender do reflect essential biological differences, it is assumed that “race” determines certain fundamental differences in humans. And I might point out that certain inheritable conditions do run in certain “races”. Sickle Cell Anemia, for example, is much more common in dark skinned populations and Tay Sachs disease is prevalent in certain Jewish populations. But if you accept. the premise that what we usually call different races more accurately represents different ethnicity, then you eliminate one reason for “race” and, therefore, racism.  However, the aforementioned represent cultural differences more than biological ones. Researchers have identified the genetic code to kinds of individuals representing different ethnic groups: Hispanic, Asian, Caucasian, and African American. They determined that there is no genetic basis to support the belief that the “races” differ genetically. This does not mean that people from different geographic ancestry can’t differently genetically, but rather, it means that differences in superficial secondary characteristics such as skin color and facial features, do not constitute different racial groups. Taking sickle cell anemia as an example, one  inherits the condition through a recessive gene from both parents  or a mutation. Sickle-shaped red blood cells (erythrocytes), become shaped like a “C” resulting from deformed hemoglobin molecules. The affected hemoglobin molecules are incapable of carrying sufficient amounts of oxygen and the irregularly shaped red cells can’t pass through the tiny microscopic capillaries resulting in oxygen deprivation of tissues and organs which can result in early death.  (Hirschman, C.)

Credit to: IStock

However, this mutation became more common in just three West African areas, inhabitants of the Mediterranean, Middle East, India, and some people of non-African ancestry. Heterozygotes (carriers) of the defect are protected from malaria. giving them an evolutionary advantage. Why would it be more prevalent in just those areas in the first place? Probably because of religious practices of not marrying outside their geographic area.
It is noteworthy to mention that even with isolated genetic differences between groups of populations with different geographic ancestry, those differences might not be expressed unless people are exposed to particular environmental factors such as stressors which, themselves, are shaped by social forces which may determine whether genetic differences are expressed or suppressed.  Once again, the social nature of “racial” categories comes into play.

Now, think about this. The words “Hispanic” or “Latino” are regarded as an ethnic group, whose members can be of any “race”. but African- American,  Black, American Indian, Native Hawaiian, Pacific Islanders, and European Americans are considered to be races”.  Explain that!

End Part 1