Race: Is It a Valid Issue? Essay -- Sociology Racism Prejudice Essays

Race Is It a Valid Issue? Biological advancements such(prenominal) as Darwinism and Mendelian genetics had a profound impact on the study of race in the scientific community. These new concepts flushtually light-emitting diode some(prenominal) scientists to question the validity of traditional notions about race. The resulting debates continue even today. The idea of race, especially in citizens of this country, evokes strong feelings because of the enormous social implications associated with racial identity. The social connotations of racial categories have had a profound influence on the air scientists understand human variation. Early ideas of race were colored by these connotations, and they still play a critical role in the way we understand race today. This paper will explore, with an emphasis on historical context, the current debates over whether to continue to inlude race in scientific, and especially medical, studies. Recently, some scientists have advocated the elimi nation of race from scientific studies altogether. They argue that it is not a useful category for the study of human subjects. Others argue just as strongly that it is. It will be helpful to first examine the historical development of the concept of race before examining the usefulness of race in scientific investigations. Race is a relatively new concept. Ancient civilizations, though they encountered and included people from many different parts of the world, did not shop social distinctions based on physical appearance. They distinguished people harmonise to customs and religion not race. Acclaimed classicist Frank M. Snowden writes The Egyptians, whose contacts with Nubia dated tolerate to the Old Kingdom, did not usually designate Kushites by color terms. though the monarchs of... ...ction. New York G. P. Putnams 1940. Sauer, Norman J. Applied Anthropology and the Concept of Race A bequest of Linnaeus Race, Ethnicity, and Applied Bioanthropology. Ed. Claire C. Gordon. Arli ngton, VA National Association for the Practice of Anthropology 1993. Shanklin, Eugenia. Anthropology and Race. Belmont, CA Wadsworth Publishing phoner 1994. Smedley, Audrey. Race in North America Origin and Evolution of a Worldview. San Francisco Westview Press, Inc. 1993. Snowden, Frank M., Jr. Before Color Prejudice The Ancient figure of Blacks. Cambridge, MA Harvard UP 1983. Stepan, Nancy. The Idea of Race in Science heavy(p) Britain 1800-1960. Hamden, CT Archon Books 1982. Williams, David R., Risa Lavizzo-Mourey, and Rueben C. Warren. The Concept of Race and Health Status in America. humanity Health Reports. 109, no. 1 (January/February 1994) 26-41.