Human Variation & Genetics
A student claims that race is a valid genetic category. What four scientific critiques challenge this view?
Evolution is dynamic, not typological; variation is continuous; traits are non-concordant; and genetic diversity is local, not racial.
Damon (age 5) asks if he’s Black or white. What does this reveal about racial learning?
Children notice racial categories early and assign meaning to them, even before adults discuss race.
A Brazilian survey finds 136 self-described skin tones. What does this say about race?
It shows that racial identity is socially constructed and fluid, not biologically fixed.
A Brazilian family shares ancestry but identifies with different skin colors. What does this reveal?
Racial identity is fluid and socially assigned, even within families.
A study finds that skin color affects neighborhood distribution even within the same income group. What does this suggest?
Race operates independently of class in shaping access to resources and social space.
A textbook says skin color predicts intelligence. What scientific concept disproves this?
Non-concordance: traits like skin color and intelligence are genetically independent and cannot be linked.
Chelsea rejects a dark-skinned Elsa despite being taught “color-blindness.” What does this suggest?
Avoiding race talk allows cultural biases to fill the gap, leading to internalized prejudice.
A person describes their skin as “café-com-leite.” What does this term reflect about racial identity in Brazil?
It reflects nuanced self-identification shaped by language, culture, and social perception.
Brazil claims to be a “racial democracy.” What critique challenges this narrative?
The myth masks structural inequalities and discourages open discussion of racism and colorism.
Segregation in Brazil declined between 1980 and 2010. What does this trend indicate?
There’s some progress toward integration, but structural barriers and racial legacies still persist.