I. Is “race”
a scientifically valid concept?
A.Anthropologist
Ashley Montague calls this “Man’s Most Dangerous Myth”(1942 book)
1.
Says concept promotes damaging stereotypes, but has no validity
2.
Says should substitute concept of “ethnicity” for “race”
II.What
is the difference between “race” and “ethnicity”
A.
Ethnicity:based
on cultural (socially produced)difference--nationality,language,religion B.
Race:
perceived inherited or biological characteristics: 1. Skin color, 2. Hair
color and
texture,
3. Facial features, 4. Stature, 5. Shape of head, 6. Blood groups
III.Scholarly
Critique of “Race”
A.
number
of races; it is purely arbitrary--anywhere from 3 to over 100
B.
Blurred
phenotypes because migration and invasion eliminated pure gene frequencies
C.
Nonconcordance: very different classifications produced by different
traits:
1.
Scooped-out
shape of back of front teeth:Swedes,Native Ams,Asians in same race
2.
Blood
types: New Guineans & Germans in 1 race; Estonians & Japanese
in other
3.
99% of human variation unaccounted for by race
D.
Superficial
characteristics only: claims that race causes morality, intelligence,
or
behavior
have no scientific basis and are a product of racism
1.
The
Bell Curve (Hernnstein) rejected by most of scientific community
2.
Social factors could 100% explain group differences even if 90% IQ inherited
a.Thomas
Sowell (1978) “Race and IQ”: increase in immigrant group
Scores
the longer in the U.S.--acculturation & improved SES
IV.Social
and political significance of “race”
A.
No biological significance, but perceptions result in different treatment
(discrimination)
1.
W.I. Thomas: if myth is socially defined as true, then real in its consequences
B.Racism
has two levels:
1.
Personal or overt: attributable to individuals
a.
prejudice (attitude): statements and beliefs: 1.negative, 2.rigid, 3.emotional
1.
1990 survey by Larry Bobo: Blacks/Hispanics seen as less intelligent
b.
discrimination: (act) favoritism not based on qualifications or performance
1.
Hilary Silver’s examination of federal workers fired in 1992:
a.Blacks
16.6% of workers, but 39% of those fired
b.Race
better predictor than experience, discipline,performance ratings
c.Hispanics
no more likely to be fired than Anglos; Asians less likely
2.Jury
Bias: Rand Corp. Study of civil jury trials in Chicago, 1965-1979:
Black
litigants less likely to win and receive less when winning
3.Racial
steering:blacks shown housing in black areas by real estate agents
2.
Structural: not individual but institutions;inertia in system from past
discriminate
a.not
based on intentions, but unequal education, income, power, housing,etc.
b.basis
for Voting Rights Act of 1965
c.
2 criteria for attending univ: pay tuition, test scores; favored by family
SES