Race: Biological Fact or Social Construct?
Race: Biological Fact or Social Construct?
For your essay, you will explain the difference between a biological view of race versus a
social view of race. Using the documentary Race the Power of an Illusion, your essay will
explain how and why race is not something we are born with, but rather something
created by our environment and our social institutions. Your essay should explore the
history of race in the United States and how the idea of race has been used as a tool for
the repression of “minority groups” and to favor predominantly “white” people.
Your essay should define things like Eugenics and explain how this and other racist
sciences like Phrenology attempted to rationalize poor treatment of ethnic groups like
African-Americans despite the claim that the Constitution guaranteed “equality” for all
American citizens.
In your essay should you are required to use direct quotes and examples from the
documentary Race the Power of an Illusion
The minimum required length for the essay is 3 full pages (about 700 words)
double-spaced.
Race: The Power of an Illusion part 1 Study Questions
1. What is the difference between a biological versus a social view of race?
“There is a difference between a biological and a social view of race. Biologically, race is
seen as genetic, unchanging, and distinct categories of people; this includes
physiological differences within different races. A social view of race is not simply
scientific, but also includes the societies where people live, how race affects social
hierarchy as well as psychographic and geographic traits.”
2. Who has benefitted from the belief that we can sort people according to race and that
there
are natural or biologically based differences between racial groups?
White people have always benefited from the belief that we can short people according
to
race. White people were provided everything they needed to live and survive while
black
people were left to suffer. This is why they call it “white privilege”.
3. Who proposed the “Extinction Thesis” and what scientific research was the thesis
based on?
What was the main flaw of this research?
Fedrick Hoffman was trying to prove that black people were sick and going to the
extent.
He believed blacks were not as strong as white people. He wrote race traits and
tendencies for African Americans. The Extension thesis neglected black communities
Race: Biological Fact or Social Construct?
because Americans said black people were lower on the hierarchy than white peop;e.
4. How did Dean Cromwell, assistant head coach for the U.S. track team at the 1936
Berlin
Olympic Games, explain the dominant athletic performance of black athletes?
The American coach Dean Cromwell explained why they did so well by saying their
history is being in the jungle and they’re used to chasing prey.
5. Who was Montague Cobb and what were his findings when he studied black
athletes?
Montague Cobb (black scientist) studied the black athletes and challenged racial
science, he measured and said no there’s no physical feature like an extra musical that
makes them different or a better athlete.
6. Define Eugenics and explain its main thesis (argument)
Eugenics is defined to be fake science. Eugenics say certain people are born superior
and say others are born more like animals. For example, saying American Americans
are
born with an extra musical which is why they are so good at sports. American Eugenics
also said black people in america are sick, weak, and going to die
