If there's no such thing as race, then how can there be a difference between a black person and a white person

Question

If there's no such thing as race, then how can there be a difference between a black person and a white person

Answer 1

You are correct, genetically speaking there are as many differences within a "racial" group as between commonly defined racial groups, so biologically races do not exist.  The diversity of human appearance resulted from small groups of humans breaking off and evolving in different areas of the world.   It is a combination of the genetic factors the group brought with them and the environmental factors of the area in which they were reproducing.  

Currently, races exist as as social and cultural constructions based on appearance and other social factors.  "Differences" in racial groups are a result of socialization.  Humans are constantly learning from their environments and this goes double for children and teenagers.  We tend to adopt the values and behavior of those with whom we are surrounded.  (Obviously there are exceptions as we grow and make choices.)  In the case of race people tend to view a small outstanding group as an example for all people of that appearance and make stereotyped, bigoted assumptions based on this.

Answer 2

There are many physical differences between people, and some of these can be "grouped" by race.  However, all human DNA is extremlely similar, and there are many small variations among individuals in any race or group.  There is no such thing as race in that it is an artificial label.  There is no way to do a blood test, for example, and say "black person" or whatever.  However, there are some similar quirks of DNA in certain ethnic groups, and obviously some similar physical characteristics.  For the most part, however, it's shades of gray.  If a person who is technically 3/4 white wants to call themselves black, that's up to them.  It's not like there's a "real" answer to the question of what race they are, since it's an artificial designation anyway.

Answer 3

It is PC today to say that there is no such thing as race. Yet, everyone with eyes can see that there are different ethnic groups with significant physical feature differences, as well as medical and other propensities. Of course there is race.

Answer 4

race has nothing to do with color but with ethnic cultures. and or species. The color tone of ones skin has nothing to do with anything important.

Answer 5

black and white are the same. just because im white i have feelings and a black person do to. we all need to come together live life normal. we shouldnt speak bad about nobody.

Answer 6

YES there is such a thing as 'race'.

The three main races are: 1. *******; 2. Caucazoid; and 3. Mongoloid.

That is why when hundreds of skeletons are recovered from a massive hotel fire, forensic scientists are able to distinguish the 'race' of each skeleton, because there are differences between the three main racial groups.

It is 'racist' to color-code people, that is why there are no 'white' people.

Answer 7

There are races.  Only an idiot or a liar would deny this IMO.  It is true that there is very little difference between people of different races.  Race is a legacy of living in particular environments.  People living in tropical regions will develop increased melanin.  There are other differences as well.  A Masai is tall and lean to help increase surface area for heat loss.  An eskimo is robust to help cope with the cold environment.   There are physical differences in different races but there is also some interbreeding and many characteristics are blended from one group to the next.  We share many of our genes but there is still a difference.  The problem comes when some idiot thinks that because there is a difference that one race (invariably their race) is superior.

Answer 8

What about blue eyes and brown eyes? Curly hair and straight hair? Tall people and short people? Slim and stout?  I like chiles, many people do not ...

Answer 9

The only differences are lodged in the minds of those who wish to see them.  DNA has conclusively proven that every person on this planet is decended from one woman who lived 150,000 years ago.

Way to go grandma!

Answer 10

The differences have nothing to do with race.  Race is an ambiguous term.  We are all Homosapiens.  The differences are in physical characteristics that are probably due to geographical location, genetically speaking which would account for genetic drift or adaptation due to environmental factors.  For example, blacks and whites have the same amount of melanocytes but different amounts of melanin.

Answer 11

There are plenty of differences between a black person and a white person, if that's how you choose to identify those people. It's just that "race," as it is defined, is a bad way of classifying those differences.

It's not that no race = no differences. Where did you get that idea?

Answer 12

Back in the day the blacks were unfortunate due to our white ignorance and used them as slaves and took advantage of them, and now that we have done this, it is backfiring on us and now we had given them a window to take advantage of jobs, them blaming us for racism so they can better themselves and now whites are suffering because if a white calls a black a racial name we now get arrested for this but, why is it that they can do it to us and we can't do a thing. To me we created a big mess and this world seems so twisted that it is sickening, now that the g**s are allowed to marry each other, what next incest? Sorry I could go on and on

Answer 13

if there is no such thing as race, there will be no 'black' people or 'white' people.