More on this thing we call Race
February 2nd, 2006
I’ve been watching a really interesting documentary series called Race: The Power Of An Illusion on the ABC recently. As the issue of race relations is something I’ve written about here and here already (funnily enough, it wasn’t a subject I was planning to write about when launching this site), I thought I’d share this gem of a documentary with you.
The first episode dealt with the genetic differences of all different races. The result surprised even myself. There aren’t any differences! Genetically speaking, I’m just as likely to have as much in common with an Inuit, a Nigerian or Scot than I am with anyone else. Wow! I was always under the impression that science told us otherwise.
The second episode was also very interesting, dealing with the political forces that aimed (and still aim) to focus on apparent racial differences. Many of these differences didn’t exist then, but they were promoted to further particular political causes.
The third episode airs this coming Monday night - I recommend you watch it. You might just start wondering if Race is merely a myth.
Interestingly, this documentary series follows in the same timeslot as the Guns, Germs and Steel documentary series, which sought to find the answer to why some civilizations prospered and conquered, while others struggled and were conquered. If you ever get the chance to watch this, it is also very interesting.
[Update] In a related topic, I just found this post by Jon Husband that discusses how differences in socio-economic classes are being perpetuated at the moment.