Race - The Power of an Illusion

[woodyear99]

I've been watching this three part documentary, very informative and it shows just how similar humans really are regardless of "race".

RACE - THE POWER OF AN ILLUSION

http://www.pbs.org/race/000_General/000_00-Home.htm

 Race is one topic where we all think we're experts. Yet ask 10 people to define race or name "the races," and you're likely to get 10 different answers. Few issues are characterized by more contradictory assumptions and myths, each voiced with absolute certainty.

In producing this series, we felt it was important to go back to first principles and ask, What is this thing called "race?" - a question so basic it is rarely raised. What we discovered is that most of our common assumptions about race - for instance, that the world's people can be divided biologically along racial lines - are wrong. Yet the consequences of racism are very real.

How do we make sense of these two seeming contradictions? Our hope is that this series can help us all navigate through our myths and misconceptions, and scrutinize some of the assumptions we take for granted. In that sense, the real subject of the film is not so much race but the viewer, or more precisely, the notions about race we all hold.

We hope this series can help clear away the biological underbrush and leave starkly visible the underlying social, economic, and political conditions that disproportionately channel advantages and opportunities to white people. Perhaps then we can shift the conversation from discussing diversity and respecting cultural difference to building a more just and equitable society.

[Crixx_Creww]

under all dah ole talk
asian chicks are mega hot

[Q]

LMAO @ Crixx

I would blaze them all and take notes after but +1 fuh dat, lol.

[TriniXaeno]

Thread cautiously as this is one of the three "no, no" conversations that almost always ends horribly. The other two being politics and religion.

I think this is so much common sense. Hardly deserving of news. These scientists need to find something better to do with our money.

Of course race is just an idea in people's head. Perception is 99% truth.

Few care about how similar we are at the dna level. It is precisely the external differences that create the divide.

There is even further division amongst races themselves. Tall vs Short. Caste based on color of skin, within a race. The list goes on and on.

The fact remains that their are very real differences, by and large.

Physically, the olympics proves it. How many asians do you see winning the 100 meters?

How many africans win at swimming?

This thread took apart the topic quite nicely. Race is Real. Regardless if we want to turn a blind eye to it or not.

http://www.city-data.com/forum/sports/409156-race-matters-olympics.html

Follows is a snippet:

After watching the Olympics it is obvious that each race of people are better bred for certain activities. It is uncanny how almost every event seems to universally dominated by one race/nationality or another.


Almost every elite sprinter is of black Caribbean heritage. Those with roots in West Africa have good running or jumping abilities. That Usain Bolt guy was awesome.

Then you have heavy lifting sports, these things are completely dominated by Northern Europeans from cold places like the Scots or the Russians.

Swimming seems to be dominated by white people from the New world,places like North America or Australia.

Asians completely dominate in ping pong and badminton.

Long distance running seems to be completely dominated by Eastern Africans from Ethiopia or Kenya. They must be bred to run long distances in high elevation and they completely dominated the 10K run.

Southern Europeans seem to do well in hand-eye coordination sports like Tennis or soccer. Countries from Spain east to Croatia seem to be good breeding ground for World Cup winners and Tennis Champs like Nadal or Federer.
Read more: http://www.city-data.com/forum/sports/409156-race-matters-olympics.html#ixzz0QfEVIqSw

[woodyear99]

Thanks for that post, a few differing points of view. Some believed it was due to economics, social upbringing, climate etc. I agree it is probably a combination of all these things ie. your environment and not necessarily a "race" advantage

While it is true that each race seems to dominate particular sports it was interesting to note from this documentary the changing makeup of the NBA. Apparently in the 30's the NBA was not dominated by African Americans, but instead by the sons of Jewish Immigrants. Cultural aspects affect what sports are chosen also opportunity and training. As opportunities change different groups get drawn to different sporting arenas. Thus by 1992 the Dream team was almost completely African American, 10 years after that 20% of NBA starters would be foreign born.