A question raised by recent reading--what constitutes "race"? Disregarding the issue of whether or not "race" is real, it seems to me our understanding is historical, lacking background. Specifically:
- African race is really a concept derived from past experience with slaves. Although in the early years of slavery I understand that enslavers knew and understood difference in the people they imported from different parts/nations of Africa, as time went on those distinctions faded away into one "African" race.
- Today we easily use "Asian American" as equivalent to a "race". In part that may be a carryover of history: whites treating the "Orient" as one big confusing place with "Orientals" as the race.
- Today we have the information and the ability to distinguish between Nigerians and Gambians, and between Bhutanese, Nepalese, and Chinese. But having the ability doesn't mean we use that knowledge in our discussions.
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