only one race- the human race

national | miscellaneous | news report

Tuesday September 03, 2002 19:34

by coinneal calaith

There is no basis for the racists argument that some 'races' are genetically superior to others. Indeed we should find an alternative to the word 'race' or perhaps drop it altogether

It was once a generally held view that human beings belonged to different "races" of people, which were categorised by certain physical characteristics or features . Racism is rooted in the belief that some "races" are superior to others. The reality today is that scientists agree that there is only one race - the human race. There are therefore no sharp genetic differences between the so-called races . The recently published draft human genome has shown that human beings are one of the most genetically homogeneous species and that we share over 99.9% of our 30,000 or so genes. Whatever differences that exist between so -called 'races' are indeed superficial. The data compiled by various scientists show that the genetic variation within a so-called race is greater than that between 'races. '
The concept of "race" is essentially a political concept therefore and as it is applied, a racist concept. Indeed today there are only a few right wing scientists trying to subvert this and insist that black people , for instance, are less intelligent than white people - Richard Lynn in Ireland, Charles Murray in the USA, Chris Brand in Britain.
In the not too distant past schools taught that three races existed, those being "Caucasoid, Negroid and Mongoloid - this concept was one rooted in the European imagination of the Middle Ages. The history of science has shown however that these efforts to divide humankind were fatally flawed and their true purpose was a means of dominating others and attempting to justify the unjustifiable. It was this sense of and belief in racial superiority that led white Europeans to colonise and exploit countries in Asia, Africa and the Americas.

Even now with a recognition in the twenty first century that the biological concept of "race" is meaningless the word still continues to be widely used and racists believe that some 'races' are inherently biologically superior to others. One step forward for those working in anti-racism would be to see a suitable substitute word used by Government, Educational, Equality and Legislative bodies - "population" or "ethnic grouping " would be better alternatives worth consideration."Race" alternatively could be placed consistently in inverted commas to show that as a way of categorising individuals and groups it is not based on any biologically valid distinctions between the genetic make-up of differently identified "races". Journalists could take a lead here in this area as well. The connotations of the word are such that they are misleading and misinterpreted and by continually applying the word "race" we keep racist ideas and ideology in circulation - ideas and ideology which apart from having no scientific basis are contrary to sound moral and ethical principles.
Today we see racism taking on new forms with importance being attached to culture, language and nationality. In recent years we have witnessed the hostility towards poor white people from Eastern Europe, the disdain shown towards refugees and asylum seekers - the evidence of a "Fortress Europe."

Racism we can see is based on prejudice or discrimination. The practice of it is such that the dominant group and its values are what matters - people who are different get punished: no appreciation or respect for difference is manifested - it is not allowed to be visible. In a racist society all the structures get polluted and the habits and fabric of racism become ingrained:
" A pernicious and institutionalised racism " is the phrase from the Mac Pherson Committee's report, after the death of Black teenager, Stephen Lawrence, which is likely to resonate for years to come.

This reality of unequal power coupled with prejudice leads to people being denied opportunities, resources and advancement in the society in which they are living in. We need to remember that the whole process of racialisation begins when we are very young; it is influenced by family, friends, environment, the films we've watched, education and the nature of the prevailing ideology (ies) at work in our society - education in anti- racism is therefore vital for our children if they are to grow up open minded individuals.
Our own history in Ireland and its political traditions need addressing. On the nationalist/republican side there was John Mitchell's support for slavery and Arthur Griffith's anti-Semitism. Unionists on the otherhand embraced Enoch Powell when he was made to step down from the Conversative Party after his racist "rivers of blood" speech . John Taylor, Ulster Unionist, has sat on the " Group of the European Right" in Strasbourg with notorious racists.
There is without doubt in our society within both the main political ideologies an unsettling belief in a sense of superiority , a sense of being set apart and whiteness has become part of this identity. This and the codified way in which we seek to identify and make judgements about others is endemic .Two conflicting forms of nationalism have blinded us to the presence of others who perhaps only since the cease-fires have begun to be noticed.

It is essential that recognition of and equality for all the cultural and ethnic diversity that exist here is made if we are to move away from our present attachments and entrenchment's.Strengthening the legislation and introducing hate crime measures for racist attacks is needed. That and the media, politicians and the Churches speaking with one voice against the evils of racist attitudes and views and our own individual voice and commitment will create a more open and forward looking society for us