Title: The origins and demise of the concept of race.

POPLINE Document Number: 276980

Author(s):

Hirschman C

Source citation:

Population and Development Review, 2004 Sep;30(3):385-415.

Abstract:

To MODERN EYES, especially American ones, the reality of race is self-evident. Peoples whose ancestors originated from Africa, Asia, and Europe typically have different appearances in terms of skin color, hair texture, and other superficial features. Although racial differences may be only skin deep, it is widely assumed that races have been a primordial source of identity and intergroup antagonism from the earliest societies to the present, with ancient hatreds, exploitation, and discrimination among the most common patterns. Even in modern societies, which have exposed the myth of racism, race remains a widely used term for socially defined groups in popular discourse- and, in some countries, also in scholarly research, and public policy. A basic problem with this perspective is that it is increasingly difficult to define and measure race as a social category. Are Jews a race? What about Muslims in Europe or Koreans in Japan? If Filipinos and Samoans are official races listed in the US census form, why can't Arab Americans or Middle Easterners be included? And how might the golfer Tiger Woods respond to the standard question about his racial identity? (excerpt)

Keywords:

United States
Ethnic Groups
Race Relations
Social Sciences
Anthropology
Behavior
Social Discrimination
Religion
Human Rights
Cultural Background
Developed Countries
North America
Americas
Population Characteristics
Demographic Factors
Population
Political Factors
Social Problems