Is everyone racist?

[Alexander III]

Until the last 50 years or so, the standard anthopological wisdom was that "race" was a reasonable way of thinking about human genetic diversity. However, since then -- and in particular since DNA testing became possible -- the notion has been discredited. The four so-called "races" (caucasoid, negroid, mongoloid, and aboriginal) have been clearly demonstrated to be a very lousy description of human genetic diversity.

In fact, a great many "caucasoids" are gentically more similar to some "negroids" than many other "negroids" are (my apologies for the old-fashioned racial terms). Phenotype (and anthropologists used to measure skull shapes and phenotypic characteristics other than skin color) just turned out to be a lousy predictor of genotyple.

Now (or back 25 years ago, when I was in grad school in anthropology) gene clines are used, because they are more accurate descriptions of human genetic diversity than the old racial designations. "Clines" are overlapping circles. Supposed "caucasoids" from Northern Africa, for example, are more similar to 'negroids" from Northern Africa than those same negroids are to negroids from southern Africa, when one looks at their actual genetic make-up.

Of course human genetic diversity does exist -- and genetic tenedencies vary from place to place. It's just that the old racial categories are a very inaccurate way of describing them.

But, this is a case were scientific evidence shall not influence the way we think as it goes against every impulse of human nature.

Ok so some whites are genetically more similar to some blacks than those blacks are similar to other blacks. So instead of judging by phenotype we should judge by genotype. Makes perfect sense, but completely awkward on a human nature level.

The only people we judge from the inside out are those within our close circle of friends and family, everyone else is always judged from the outside in - and I don't see that changing as it is the way human are. I mean everyone knows and it has been undoubtedly scientifically proven that war is detrimental to societies, yet we continue to have them, because it is such an integral part of human nature.

Facts don't change the way we think, humans are a lot less rational in behavior than that - personally I am glad for it, if we were all guided by reason and not passion, sure the world would have less suffering, but it would be also a lot duller and lifless, think 1984 or Brave New World.

[Ecurb]

I never suggested we "should" judge by either phenotype or genotype. I'm just pointing out why race is not longer considered a reasonable or effective way of thinking about human genetic diversity. Also, to the extent that people think "race" is a reasonable way of thinking about human genetic diversity, they are wrong.

Of course that does not suggest that "race" doesn't "exist". It exists as a cultural phenomenon. In the past, Europeans would talk about "race" as a linguistic or political grouping ("as a race, the French are noted for their...."). Many Native American groups (the "Apache" or the "Sioux") were not political groups, but were lumped together on the basis of their language. Obviously, genetics is one of many possible ways of talking about human diversity.

[Big Dante]

First of all is setting the scene. I'm coloured as seen in my avatar and a swimmer.

Okay now I went to the hospital one time and three different nurses throughout the day said, "you're athletic, do you play basketball?" It's not racist but it suggests that they were inclined to think due to my skin colour, basketball is the more likely sport I play.

[tonywalt]

True, you have to roll with it.

I'm from the West Indies and I was buying fish at the market and the fellow selling said "are you in the tennis club?" I said, "yea, I am". He was predisposed to think that I was a member of the club. He was so right!

I love tennis, and I love that club.

[Scheherazade]

I'm a black swimmer as seen in my avatar.

Was that photo taken in the pool?

[Big Dante]

Was that photo taken in the pool?

Indeed. Underwater cameras give such a clear photo these days.

Now let me go reword that....

[hoope]

Racism existed ever humans were ! And when a person says the word " Racism or Racist " it always comes in mind .. Hatred, terrorism , slavery , separations ,,, whatsoever..

Differences exists between the people .. no one denies it ! Rich , poor , white , black , smart , genius.. .. this is nature and God created us that way .. to learn from eachother and appreciate what we have ..
But when humans take those difference in the wrong way .. and they see themselves above the others.. dicriminations .. and when we fight and kill each others for such things.. HERE racism becomes wrong.. and is not a belief then !

[leemadison11]

Racism is not always bad, its the negative racism which should be promoted. Dave Chappelle is one of my favorite stand up comedians and he puts up this point amazingly in his own way. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uCbD9o948ec