The American Association of Physical Anthropologists is a group of social scientists with advanced degrees in biology, genetics, physiology etc...who study the origins of man. The leaders in academe that set the tone for writers, authors, news casters, organization leaders both in the for and non -profit business entities, sociologists, humanitarians, ethnographers and community as well as world leaders, have their own differences in how they view Human variation. A research paper (139.1-4 (2009) attempted to once and for all following the recent White Paper conference to reconcile the disagreement focused on whether "races" exist.,
In May 2007, the Maxwell Museum and the Department of Anthropology of the University of New Mexico hosted a symposium entitled, : Race Reconciled?: How Biological Anthropologists view Human Variation. Scholars in Forensics, Paleo-anthropology, bio-archaeology as well as the scholars heretofore mentioned, who hold a wide spectrum of knowledge about the "nature, causes, social and scientific implications" of our different phenotypes.
As you know research papers can be difficult and the reader has to be familiar with the subject in order to comprehend the arguments brought forth. I tried to post the paper but am limited by the technology on this particular site. I personally hold the biological view that they finally agreed upon.
The fundamental core is that there is little neutral genetic variation apportioned among human groups. It also defines the patterns of continuous geographical migration. What does all this mean? It means you have chosen to address yourselves, as Black, Black Americans and Afro-Americans. I am not here to argue as to whether that was a forward thinking move or one that has held back African Americans from total assimilation into just being an "American."
I am writing this blog, for two reasons: 1. I recognize that Americans who are descendants of slaves are on the cutting edge world wide of advancement for all persons out of Africa who are defined by their phenotype (external) features...(the above paper is speaking of genotype, that is internal) and 2. because this country has the infrastructure in place for developing a new definition for the word race.
Moreover, there is knowledge that not all Africans in America are descendants of slaves. The mass proportion are great, grand and some sons and daughters ( still left) of Slaves, whether indentured for a life time or an escapee for a short while; no matter what part of the world our family's genealogy is inherited from.
What we don't see under the color bar..is the "culture" and "mores"(mo-rays) of different peoples out of Africa. We want it to fit neatly under "race." The problem is that since race is a social construct, created for the purposes of oppression..the definition and its application is false.
The Global influence of the United States, impacts on how citizens of other countries are viewed by their own. Their lack of knowledge as to how the racial politics of America control this oppressive mindset from the hegemonic (ruling society: those who call, or consider themselves as "White.") allows them to imitate this scurrilous practice, without understanding the powerful paradigm of Institutionalized Racism.
As far back as I empirically know, in my country we were once all just Cubans. Though there has ALWAYS been prejudiced views toward the darker skinned Cubans, sound familiar? of course -it is world wide..a person could "escape" the social branding via reaching a cultured status, i.e. becoming highly educated and emulating European traditions..(the Spaniards were the most haughty and repressive of all European rulers.) This upward mobility based on personal aptitude, determination and stamina was called " Blanquear la Raza" to "whiten the race" and of course if possible marrying someone whiter than you, which would fit well into the perceptions of society.
Thus American writers when speaking of Cubans now say Black Cubans. A double edged sword. On one hand being set apart can be a source of pride, but certainly not if there are not stellar achievements attached other than being outstanding in sports, music and dance. It can and does provide an excuse to be less of an achiever. It is problematic. One Colombian gentleman and I were discussing just this..and he said " Blacks are backwards "atrasados"..which shocked me, when there is nothing that I thought would or could shock me. He wanted to buttress that statement with his perception of Christianity. I cut him off, because I didn't have the next 13 hours available to inform him of all the paradoxes of religious indoctrination.
Keeping our minds open is really key to living in tune with this humanity. The use of the word race needs to be replaced. The question is with what? I recently came to know Black Colombians, Black Peruvians, I mean really black. Does that mean that they can still trace their ancestry to the first slaves that were brought to South America? That, perhaps not as frequent systematic rape took place of the female slaves? at least not to the scope that it has in the United States? Then that is a source of pride, the circumstances are different.
How many generations does a descendant of slavery have to live in their country of capture to claim complete and privileged citizenship?
I would like to hear your thoughts, from some of our critical thinking bloggers and friends that are on this network, that are knowledgeable. Ponder the last question and let's discuss and see what we discover.
Posted By: Marta Fernandez
Sunday, January 3rd 2010 at 4:37PM
You can also
click
here to view all posts by this author...
