If "race" is a social concept, could one choose his "race" as "black" instead of "white?"

Question

...even if his skin is pale?

Answer 1

well i dont think so........actually we all came from black people in africa---the race thing is something made up by people. people were dark skinned in the beginning because it was so hot and the sunny all the time around the equator. then as they began to move northward their skin lightened up because there was less density of the sun. actually i think we are all HUMAN race eh?unfortunately, race is imbedded into society now so that if you are born "white " you stay white your whole life.
good luck to you!

Answer 2

First of all you need to stop and really have a good look at your question

If "race" is nothing more than a social concept then "race" would never be an issue and therefore this question would never get asked. "Race" goes way beyond social concept it's engraved on the very heart of the world. "Race" ultimately decides how others are going to look, think, act, speak and treat someone else. As far as being able to choose which "race" you want to be unfortunately in this world I could only assume that most would choose the "race" they feel receives the most respect.

Answer 3

Race as a social concept is a relatively new politically correct way of teaching, by ignoring the hard truth. Race is NOT a social concept--race is real, and there are 4 distinct races on this earth. Just 4. However, we see literally hundreds of groups claiming a distinct "race", which is why they now teach race as a "social concept", ie "Italian Americans" or "Jewish"--neither of these are scientific races (they are anglos), but since so many members of those groups identify themselves as such, the media and society has "given them what they wanted". It's still bogus. If a pale, white guy wants to call himself black, under today's screwed up racial definitions, I say go for it. Challenge the screwed up system and embarass it.

Answer 4

What does it mean to be "white"? or "black"?

If I like gangsta rap, am I "black"? If I love classical music, am I "white"? If a black person has a professional job, marries, raises kids in the 'burbs, and listens to country music, are they "black"?

Obviously I'm pointing to the social aspect of race here, which of course are simply stupid. However, they seem to be much stronger in our world than the actual biological aspects of "race" (hair texture, pigmentation, etc).

So... it's a social concept, and it's a biological concept. I think that one you can choose (albeit with some pain), and the other you can't.

Answer 5

funny you should ask that because I have know some people of mixed blood who have exactly that problem. In one family the great grand mother was polish and the great grand kids were a mix from ivory with straight black hair to coal black with Afros and various combinations. Almost all of the grand parents and parents were dark skinned. Now Imagine if you were a pale skinned young lady who didn't even get a noticeable tan, with very straight, very long and very black hair explaining that you were African American and that those people really were your parents, and no you were not adopted. She found it very stressful. She refused to date, and she was very pretty. She went to university to study as a biologist. I always wondered if her situation had a bearing on her career choice.

Answer 6

Anthropology has created certain , not so sacred , cubicles just to sort out varied topics on Human race . Black or white , it is something related to co lour and has nothing to do with race . But people obsessed with it may be propagating racism .

Answer 7

During one of my classes in college, an instructor indicated "race" was typically considered the ethnic group you most likely associate with.

Answer 8

even if you are "white", you are at least 11% "black" anyway, so go ahead and check any box you like when the census taker comes. I usually choose "other".

Answer 9

Michael Jackson seems to want to be white, we should all learn to accept, we are what we were born to be, take it & run with it, never be ashamed of who you are & be proud of your own race.

Answer 10

Hey , whatever.All I know is this sweet Jamaican lady at work told me I have an *** like a black man so now I can tell people to kiss my black a$$ ..cool eh..