“I have a dream that my four little children will one day live in a nation where they will not be judged by the color of their skin but by the content of their character.” Martin Luther King, Jr. uttered these passionate words during his “I have a dream” speech. The concept of race allows for prejudices. By looking at the diversity in America, it is obvious to see the similarities and differences we all have. Before there were efficient travel options like we have today, many people were not exposed to different cultures. Early Europeans in the 16th century established the concept of race as a way to categorize physical and cultural differences in people after coming in contact with people who looked and acted completely different than them. This lead to determining race using the phenotype (evident traits that you can see) of skin color, particularly the three “great races:” white, black and yellow. During the colonial period, race was used to justify slavery, as well as other mistreatment of “inferior people.” Today race is still a very controversial topic.
There are several reasons why a phenotypic approach to race is a topic of debate, and scientists find many problems with it. The first problem is to decide which trait to be primary (skin/hair color, etc.) Realistically, no matter what choice you end up with, problems still arise. Our classifications do not accurately describe skin color and makes it hard for people to fit nicely into them. For example, someone who is considered “white,” is not actually white, but could be a variety of shades from peach to tan. There is also no genetic basis for this classification, which typically reflects shared genetic material over a long period of time. By clumping people into these broad race groups, it does not mean that they have any similar history or genetic material.
The term race needs to be eliminated from all legal documents. By observing the flaws with phenotype classification is enough to eliminate it. Race should be based on biological factors (a biological race is similar to breeds of dogs.) Humans are not isolated enough to form subspecies or experience controlled breeding. Using the concept of race leads to more inequality. A good example of this is the Jena 6. I am still in shock about this incident. By still using the term race, it just allows for racism. Race laws also cause more tension and are meant to cause good. They actually can cause reverse discrimination, creating more tension. Also, by using race on a job application, it can allow certain personal prejudices to decide whether or not a person gets hired. None of these things are what our society needs. We need to take actions towards true equality. We do not have to classify each other by certain races. We need to realize that we all have different backgrounds, and accept them. We are not all the same, and we never will be, but we are all people.
People also feel that the term race should be kept in legal documents. By eliminating the term race, it would also eliminate affirmative action, which currently levels the playing field. Eliminating this would not be a problem because in essence eliminating the term would create equality. Some people feel that by eliminating race people would lose a sense of their heritage. You cannot forget your past. By using the system we have now, you lose more of your identity. You become clumped into a broad group filled with many different cultures and ethnicities. No similarities have to exist except the color of your skin. Also, medical diseases are sometimes identified by race. Skin color does not have to reflect diseases, but we can identify it by heritage and biology. Also, race is used for statistics, such as in the census. We could look at other things to determine this, which would give us much more diversity.
Overall, the elimination of race in all legal documents would lead to more equality for all. It would lessen and eventually eliminate racism and discrimination. Even though this might not be an immediate change, we cannot expect that. We have come so far, so quickly, we could easily adapt. This would have a huge effect on youth. It would allow them to continue seeing people as equal, and not have to box people into small, inaccurate categories by presenting them with this topic. This in turn would create a better future that is well balanced. It would force people to become more accepting. We have to realize that the color of your skin does not indicate what type of person you are; by keeping race in official documents it would allow for this to keep happening. We are all human beings, we are all part of the human race and we are all Americans. We need to concentrate on the real problems facing the world today and stop creating more at home. We have fought for equality and freedom, yet people still force inequality. It really is saddening that our society cannot move on from such prejudices when we claim to be such an advanced, ideal country. We can not keep a system of race that was founded because of slavery, we are past that. As our country grows and advances, certain changes need to be made in order to allow for our success. A key change that needs to be happen is eliminating the use of race. As Martin Luther King, Jr. said, “When we allow freedom to ring…we will be able to speed up that day when all of God's children, black men and white men, Jews and Gentiles, Protestants and Catholics, will be able to join hands and sing in the words of the old Negro spiritual, “Free at last! Free at last! Thank God almighty, we are free at last!”
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Great argument... I agree with you that eliminating the concept of race from legal or other documents would go a long way in convincing our youth that race really isn't a factor!
I go to an engineering University where there is a lot of talk about reverse discrimination, and how different races and women get the advantage over Caucasian males in the admissions process. Really, though, if this is true it doesn't help anyone in the end, because if you can't meet the academic requirements once you get here, you won't graduate with an engineering degree anyway.
I agree, if you are not qualified you will not do well. This truly defeats the purpose.
You make very interesting points, and you make a very convincing argument. However, you need to watch your ideals. I say this to mean that what your saying works, maybe, in a business and legal stand point, but it doesn't work on a social and practical stand point. There is such thing as difference, and we need to acknowledge that we aren't all the same. Equality can only go so far. Eliminating the concept of race or difference, is almost the same thing as eliminating culture. Being lumped up in categories is bad, but being lumped up in one big category (in my mind) is worse. I always believed that just because you write something down on a piece of paper does not mean that people will be controlled. Like I said, you make interesting points, and I agree with you on more than one level. However, as you probably know, there are no quick solutions to any problem, and not everyone is going to think the same way. I may disagree with you on a few points, but I still think you have a good head on your shoulders. Great job on the article, and keep up the good work.
I know it is not that simple. I would not say that we would be one big group. When young we should teach children that everybody is different. There are different cultures and backgrounds that should be accepted and embraced. We would no longer be black, white, yellow and red, but Jamaican, Brazilian, Indian, Italian, ect. I believe it would help us to be more accepting to everyone, or I would hope. Unfortunately, there are never quick solutions, but thank-you for your comment.