News: The Myth of 'Race' - Page 3

OprahIsBlack

Quote:

Originally posted by Qbuilderz

I mean...nobody is saying this, though. Legitimately nobody. You are the only person in this thread who is currently operating under the pretense that race=species, which is pretty insulting. I think you are missing what this article is implying and assuming still.

Think of it like bears.

The way you are approaching it is as follows:

Stop segregating bears. They are all bears, they all have the same anatomy; bearlike, omnivores, capable of crossbreeding. There is no such thing as a polar bear, or a black bear, or a panda bear. They are all bears at heart, because they share the same genetic make-up. Some like cold weather, some like bamboo, and others like salmon. Some are white, some are brown, some are black, and others are in between -- but none of that really matters, because a bear is a bear.

When really it should be looked at like this:

Bears do what they want. Some like to live in cold weather, some like bamboo more than meat, others eat clams and salmon. Some are black, some brown, some white, and some are in between. Some bears like to be in small groups, others prefer solitary settings. Humans are kind of like bears. They live in packs (known as "families".) Some like to live in cold regions, and some even prefer their local cuisine, like burgers, or rice, or pasta. Certain ones dress up in shorts and hoodies, others in robes and gowns, and others still paint or adorn their bodies with paint and jewels. This is known as culture! There is a high correlation of culture to skin tone in the human race, much like how the black and white spotted bears like to eat bamboo, and how white bears like to run through snow. Some humans are black, some are brown, some are white, and some are in between. These differences make these people who they are; but we do not call them separate species like we do with animals because they are not separate species. We are one collective species, made up of many races and cultures.

Race isn't a bad thing -- it is the equivalent of human diversity.

EDIT: Spelling and general polishing up, as this is a serious topic and want to treat it respectfully

Your intelligence is giving me an erection. Everything you said is well-put and true. Thread over.

Amira

I don't even know what race I am lol.

Jberg

Quote:

Originally posted by QueenBLadyG

That's why they say that's your ethnic makeup. Not your race. It's not rocket science. People of different skin colors all have the same anatomy. Everyone is a human being. There aren't different species of humans! There is only one race: Human. You're ethnic background is what makes us look different.

Thank you.

Quote:

Originally posted by OprahIsBlack

This is wrong, from a genetic standpoint, there are several distinct subcategories of humans which have distinct genetic differences from one another. Different "races" of people have different predilections to certain disorders and diseases, and knowing and acknowledging this fact can help prevent sickness and suffering, just to give one small example.

Sickle cell anemia is a genetic disease. ... so then the Greeks and the Central Africans must be of the same "race", right? Sickle cell which fights malaria is common in most Greeks (people from Greece) and Central Africans so they must be of the same "race" no? But how can that be when their skin color is different? You're contradicting yourself with such a stupid statement.

Hair texture, skin color, and things of the likes do not mean "distinct genetic differences."

Please, before you post something else, look at the biological definition of race.

Qbuilderz

You know, I am an econ major right now. I used to be a bio major, though. My year and a half of education in the field (before deciding I hated it) taught me a thing or two about a few principles:

1) Correlation and causation
2) Geography
3) Natural selection
4) Genetics (and not at the highschool, 2x2 punnet square level, the legit crossing-over, allele, dominant, recessive, geneticall reproducing modified bacteria level.)

All of these will be touched upon in this mini-essay. Let's learn!

OprahIsBlack said:
" there are several distinct subcategories of humans which have distinct genetic differences from one another. and knowing and acknowledging this fact can help prevent sickness and suffering, just to give one small example."

Let's distill this:

Different "races" of people have different predilections to certain disorders and diseases,

Now let's look at the example you gave:
"Sickle cell anemia is a genetic disease." ... so then the Greeks and the Central Africans must be of the same "race", right? Sickle cell which fights malaria is common in most Greeks (people from Greece) and Central Africans so they must be of the same "race" no? But how can that be when their skin color is different? You're contradicting yourself with such a stupid statement. "

Let's look at the point you are trying to make:
so then the Greeks and the Central Africans must be of the same "race", right?

Question 1:
Did, at any point, OprahIsBlack say that "All races that have the same diseases are clumped into one group?" Oh, no...she didn't! Would y- would you just look at that? This statement quite clearly and simply says "Different races have different predispositions"

Last I checked, Greek, Indian, and African (respectful of subcultures that I do not know) cultures are all different races who happen to share a similar predisposition to sickle cell (and if I had to guess, probably a history of malaria, too.)

Does this mean all Greeks are carriers? No! Does it mean all Africans are? Of couse not! Does it change the fact that these areas have the highest and most dense percentage of people that do? Not even a little bit.

This also doesn't mean that, just because the statistics clearly show this, these races should all be assumed to be the same, especially based on skin tone. You are the one still jumping to the conclusion that race must equal skin color. You are in here preaching about how it is wrong, when the people in here who are arguing against it are showing more moral respect for varying cultures than you are. Ironic, isn't it?

Question 2:
Stepping back from the argument, what does this data mean?

There is a higher percentage of people with hemoglobin S residing in African areas for a few reasons. Here they are! This is due to the presence of malaria. Those with malaria cannot have sickle-cell and vice-versa. Many people in this area who make it to the point of propagation tend to be carriers of hemoglobin s as opposed to malaria, a more life threatening disease. This is a process known as natural selection. There is tons of scientific data behind it -- very interesting stuff. Furthermore, since this is a hereditary disease, it gets spread down through to more and more people. People get the disease, breed with those proximal to them, and spread it further. Rinse, repeat. Happens in Africa just as much as it happens in Europe and USA.

Question 3:
What about Greece! You are probably thinking. Well, take a quick look at a map and find Greece for me. It is right above Africa, right? Oh and...would you look at that...sickle cell is a problem in southern Italy...and India...wow! Looks like it is a disease located around the equator if you ask me! Why could that be? You know what...I bet it is because of dirty, stagnant, warm, water, where mosquitoes breed!

What can we take from all the information in this post?

1 - More mosquitoes = more malaria -> Sickle Cell sufferers cannot contract deadly malaria = malaria carriers die off = higher percentage of reproducing sickle cell carriers.
2 - This process is known as Natural selection.
3 - It continues because people mate with others proximal, thus centralizing the afflicted to certain geographic areas.
4 - The fact that the disease is more dense in certain races, in my opinion, makes it okay for a doctor to ask "What race are you" in order to properly and quickly diagnose.
5 - Don't be a rude and cocky little punk when you didn't understand the point being made. Please, before you post something else, do research. Don't feed the loop you are stuck on any more. You clearly don't understand the argument you are agreeing with, nor the counter argument.

XLR8

Amen! Because of how ignorant people are to that, caught up in these non-existent notions of "race", they will continue to perpetuate this misconception and live under the false umbrella that was coined by spiteful, oblivious ass racists

Kamil24

Quote:

Originally posted by Eaten By Lions

It's very strange how white people try to erase the culture of others and call that getting rid of racism. It's very strange.

I knew the fist negative post would be about white people.

James Maslow

This thread is