We all know the concept of “Race.” Most of us identify it, and it’s even used as a form of classification on official documents and forms by Governments around the World. With that classification, it’s also been used as an excuse for wrongdoings and injustices, from Slavery in the United States to Eugenics being used in Germany and the U.S. too. With all that being said, it has mostly been an excuse. “Race” has also crossed with Ethnicity and Nationality; Examples being British Colonialism in Africa and, following the decolonization of the Continent in the 20th Century, Apartheid in South Africa, which was the Racial Segregation enforced by Dutch & Boers. Even though we may use “Race” to identify ourselves and the people around us, we are all still humans and fellow citizens at the end of the day. THIS article is not meant to be interpreted as a manifesto or indoctrination on those who identify with the concept of Race; this article is meant to be an explanation on how Race has shaped our perception of not only those around us, but ourselves too.
Race first developed in the 16th century as a synonym for “type” or “kind.” However, by the 18th century, it became a term to refer to distinctions of people based on their physical appearance, such as Eyes, Nose, and even Skin Tone. Overtime, Race would divide mankind into 4 “races”: Europaeus albus, American rubescens, Asiaticus fuscus, and Africanus niger, as all coined by Swedish Biologist & Physician Carl Linneaus. Eventually, these 4 “varieties” would be simply known as White, Native American, Asian, and Black. This is further explained by placing attributes, from behavior to physical traits, onto the “races” that would be considered “stereotypes” today. Linnaeus’ work on man’s differing appearances would be considered “Scientific Racism” today. Overtime, the concept of “Race” would expand, even officially on forms and documents such as the United States Federal Census, with the category of “Native Hawaiian or Pacific Islander”.
With the Concept of “Race” being recognized as a form of distinction between those of different looks, it became (and still is) an excuse for various methods of bigotry, such as Slavery, Genocide, & Racial Segregation. Most countries, including the U.S., have done one, a combination of the 3, or all 3 methods. The United States is notorious for our various methods of putting those who aren’t “white” below, such as lynching, police brutality, & even minor methods like redlining. Sometimes, we repeat the same exact method, therefore repeating history. However, this doesn’t stop people from getting close with those outside of their ¨race.¨ It’s even subjected to hypocrisy, such as Thomas Jefferson writing the Declaration of Independence, which declared ALL MEN are created equal, yet being a slave owner & being the “father” of his slave’s children. The landmark Supreme Court sase, Plessy v. Fegurson, in 1896, declared all men are “Separate but equal,” making “Race” even more hypocritical. However, with “Race” comes change, being the reason for many lasting impacts and changes throughout history, such as the Abolitionist Movement and later, the Civil Rights Movement.
While on the subject of lasting impacts and changes, “Race” has also been a subject to change and progress throughout history. One example is the Haitian Revolution of 1791–1804, which resulted in the first successful slave revolt in colonialism and thus, making Haiti the only known nation where the oppressed & shackled founded a nation. Another example would be the Civil Rights Movement of the mid 20th century, which resulted in the Civil Rights Act of 1964, the Voting Rights Act of 1965, & the 24th Amendment, the latter of which revoked the literacy tests & poll taxes that were implemented almost 100 years earlier. Furthermore, “Race” being used as a way to diminish others hasn’t stopped people from different “races” from getting together and getting married, and even having kids of their own.
With all these events in mind, it’s important to remember that “Race” doesn’t mean subspecies, nor does it indicate humanity is divided biologically. So, if anything, it’s better to distinguish ourselves by ethnicity, nationality, or even just human; Ethnicity is a form of classification where you have an ancestry evident by language, culture, or even religion, and nationality is a form of classification where you’re considered a citizen to a country through a document like a passport or a birth certificate. “Race”, however, is much broader than that, with no exact definition on what it means to be “white,” or “black,” or “asian.” With ethnicity & nationality, it’s possible to pinpoint what group you are a part of and are related to. Furthermore, those who identify with more than one ethnicity and/or nationality are not only mixed, but specific in their identity.
“Race” is one of those things where we don’t think about but still recognize it as a form of identity. Like religion, it has divided humanity more than anything. With the bigotry and hatred on this planet, we call Earth, one can use the concept of “Race” less when identifying others & themself is one way to change view on others with different looks; but at the end of the day, anyone can identify with any accepted beliefs they have.
References:
https://www.britannica.com/topic/race-human
https://www.linnean.org/learning/who-was-linnaeus/linnaeus-and-race-easy-read