There are several definitions of race among four separate categories according to Google Dictionary. The categories are Social, Biological, Literary, and Archaic definitions.
SOCIAL DEFINITIONS
There are four definitions in the social category. Let’s take them one at a time. The first definition, and the broadest is, each of the major categories of humankind, having distinct physical characteristics. In response to this definition, I would want to know how many categories of humankind there are? How many distinct characteristics there are and what is counted as a distinct characteristic? Also, what would happen if a person had more than half of the distinct characteristics necessary to claim a race but not all? Doesn’t that mean that they likely have fewer for other races and so cannot claim any other race either?
Some define race as a group of people sharing the same culture, history, language, etc.; an ethnic group. Sharing a culture cannot always represent a defining line of race. Individuals who relocate around the world will take their culture with them to their new home. That culture becomes an amalgamation of the original culture and the culture from their new location. Some may give up their culture due to not having the same access as when they were surrounded by others who also practice their culture. For example, if a person wants to celebrate a religious holiday and there are no supplies near them to purchase for the holiday, they have no choice but to adjust the traditions, travel, order online, or not celebrate at all. As time goes on under those circumstances, the culture changes. Having the same history falls short as a definition of race because many share important histories like the slaves in ancient Egypt and African slaves. Both came from the same continent, both societies endured slavery, and yet it cannot be said that all of those slaves were the same race. Sharing the same language is far from a definition of race. For example, a census taken in 2011 in India showed about 19,569 languages and dialects are spoken in India. There are only 121 that are recognized as separate languages though. So, would someone say that there are 121 races in India? Another example is that French, English, German, Swedish, and Russian, to name a few, are all languages spoken by the lightest toned humans around the world. No; sharing a language does not mean two people are the same race.
Another definition is a group or set of people with a common feature or features. This is a similar definition as the first and leaves just as many questions. If a feature is to be considered common, does that not imply that there are some people within the group who do not have the common feature? What are the common features? Who decides whether or not the features are enough to claim a certain race?
The last definition in the social category is the fact or condition of belonging to a racial division or group; the qualities or characteristics associated with this. Who decides whether or not an individual belongs to a racial division or group? What are the qualifications of each race? In locations such as Oregon and Alaska, U.S.A., a baby’s race may be determined by whatever the birth mother is. Recently, an option to enter more than one race has been added.
BIOLOGICAL DEFINITIONS
There are two definitions in the biological category. The first is a population within a species that is distinct in some way, especially a subspecies. There are distinct hair and eye colors within many populations of humans. Does this mean that differing hair and eye color is a determination of race and that brown hair is one race, blond another, and so on? Are we supposed to define a different race for each hair and eye color combination? This definition allows for an overwhelming number of possible races if other distinctions are added to the equation.
The other biological definition is (in nontechnical use) each of the major divisions of living creatures. This is the best definition to define the human race due to humans being a major division in living creatures. Though, little hope can be seen to use this as a way to determine the differences among humans.
LITERARY DEFINITION
The literary definition is a group of people descended from a common ancestor. Didn’t we all descend from a common ancestor? Scientist believe that a hominid that lived in Africa about 200,000 years ago, named Mitochondrial Eve, is the universal mother of all humans. M. Eve’s mitochondrial DNA was passed down from female to female in an unbroken way. If race is determined by ancestry then we are all from Africa and so we are all African. This may not be a definition that would be generally accepted. There are individuals who may not agree with this assessment. We must keep searching for a definition that is clear and concise.
ARCHAIC DEFINITION
This definition is concise; ancestry. The argument within the literary definition still stands with this archaic use of the term. Race comes from Latin and Old English and literally means root. If we are to define ourselves based on ancestry, can we claim where all of our ancestors originated, or do we have to stop claiming ancestors when they no longer resemble us in certain ways? Where is the edge of what a person can claim as their racial ancestors?
IN CLOSING
It is clear that the definitions that are currently being used cannot apply to all situations and individuals and so cannot stand as complete definitions. Race is only helpful as a determining factor for use in statistics and the descriptions of persons for a writing a book, meeting a blind-date or describing a crime; yet race has expanded to be used to the detriment and hardship of so many disenfranchised groups across history.
SUGGESTED DEFINITION
I would suggest the definition as the group in which one’s peers and society places them based on societal norms. This definition allows for changes over time and limits the societal impact of claiming a particular group over another. Though it allows for more flexibility in determining one race from another. Which ultimately means that race is no more significant a defining characteristic of an individual than hair or eye colors are.
SOCIAL DEFINITIONS
There are four definitions in the social category. Let’s take them one at a time. The first definition, and the broadest is, each of the major categories of humankind, having distinct physical characteristics. In response to this definition, I would want to know how many categories of humankind there are? How many distinct characteristics there are and what is counted as a distinct characteristic? Also, what would happen if a person had more than half of the distinct characteristics necessary to claim a race but not all? Doesn’t that mean that they likely have fewer for other races and so cannot claim any other race either?
Some define race as a group of people sharing the same culture, history, language, etc.; an ethnic group. Sharing a culture cannot always represent a defining line of race. Individuals who relocate around the world will take their culture with them to their new home. That culture becomes an amalgamation of the original culture and the culture from their new location. Some may give up their culture due to not having the same access as when they were surrounded by others who also practice their culture. For example, if a person wants to celebrate a religious holiday and there are no supplies near them to purchase for the holiday, they have no choice but to adjust the traditions, travel, order online, or not celebrate at all. As time goes on under those circumstances, the culture changes. Having the same history falls short as a definition of race because many share important histories like the slaves in ancient Egypt and African slaves. Both came from the same continent, both societies endured slavery, and yet it cannot be said that all of those slaves were the same race. Sharing the same language is far from a definition of race. For example, a census taken in 2011 in India showed about 19,569 languages and dialects are spoken in India. There are only 121 that are recognized as separate languages though. So, would someone say that there are 121 races in India? Another example is that French, English, German, Swedish, and Russian, to name a few, are all languages spoken by the lightest toned humans around the world. No; sharing a language does not mean two people are the same race.
Another definition is a group or set of people with a common feature or features. This is a similar definition as the first and leaves just as many questions. If a feature is to be considered common, does that not imply that there are some people within the group who do not have the common feature? What are the common features? Who decides whether or not the features are enough to claim a certain race?
The last definition in the social category is the fact or condition of belonging to a racial division or group; the qualities or characteristics associated with this. Who decides whether or not an individual belongs to a racial division or group? What are the qualifications of each race? In locations such as Oregon and Alaska, U.S.A., a baby’s race may be determined by whatever the birth mother is. Recently, an option to enter more than one race has been added.
BIOLOGICAL DEFINITIONS
There are two definitions in the biological category. The first is a population within a species that is distinct in some way, especially a subspecies. There are distinct hair and eye colors within many populations of humans. Does this mean that differing hair and eye color is a determination of race and that brown hair is one race, blond another, and so on? Are we supposed to define a different race for each hair and eye color combination? This definition allows for an overwhelming number of possible races if other distinctions are added to the equation.
The other biological definition is (in nontechnical use) each of the major divisions of living creatures. This is the best definition to define the human race due to humans being a major division in living creatures. Though, little hope can be seen to use this as a way to determine the differences among humans.
LITERARY DEFINITION
The literary definition is a group of people descended from a common ancestor. Didn’t we all descend from a common ancestor? Scientist believe that a hominid that lived in Africa about 200,000 years ago, named Mitochondrial Eve, is the universal mother of all humans. M. Eve’s mitochondrial DNA was passed down from female to female in an unbroken way. If race is determined by ancestry then we are all from Africa and so we are all African. This may not be a definition that would be generally accepted. There are individuals who may not agree with this assessment. We must keep searching for a definition that is clear and concise.
ARCHAIC DEFINITION
This definition is concise; ancestry. The argument within the literary definition still stands with this archaic use of the term. Race comes from Latin and Old English and literally means root. If we are to define ourselves based on ancestry, can we claim where all of our ancestors originated, or do we have to stop claiming ancestors when they no longer resemble us in certain ways? Where is the edge of what a person can claim as their racial ancestors?
IN CLOSING
It is clear that the definitions that are currently being used cannot apply to all situations and individuals and so cannot stand as complete definitions. Race is only helpful as a determining factor for use in statistics and the descriptions of persons for a writing a book, meeting a blind-date or describing a crime; yet race has expanded to be used to the detriment and hardship of so many disenfranchised groups across history.
SUGGESTED DEFINITION
I would suggest the definition as the group in which one’s peers and society places them based on societal norms. This definition allows for changes over time and limits the societal impact of claiming a particular group over another. Though it allows for more flexibility in determining one race from another. Which ultimately means that race is no more significant a defining characteristic of an individual than hair or eye colors are.
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