Dear Editor,

"Race" Fact or Fiction

In an era of rampant hate speech and blatant racism, fellow Americans face daily discrimination.  This discrimination often stems from the color of one's skin, their outfit for the day, language of choice, and even their food choices.  One recent confrontation happened between Aaron Schlossber, a New York City Lawyer, and Spanish speaking workers.  A video went viral showing Mr. Schlossber yelling at workers because they "should be speaking English to customers" and he threatened to call ICE if the workers didn't stop.  These encounters happen daily, and sadly, many of them go unnoticed because of American ideologies revolving around the English language.  

Picture via the Science Museum of Minnesota

Why is it that stereotyping race is so prevalent in modern America when America is the most diverse it has ever been?  The answer comes down to each individual's views on "race".  Race is a hotly debated subject and blatant ignorance paired with those who "don't see color" simply elevate the complexity of this growing problem.  When people ignore race and believe everyone is equal in their eyes, they are discrediting those who face daily persecution.  However, on the opposite end of the spectrum, those who only see race as socially constructed disregard the heritage, culture, and history associated with different races.  

Direct-to-Consumer ancestry testing services claim to be doing their part in answering and defining race, but who can trust these for profit businesses that are constantly fighting FDA regulations and Privacy Laws while blatantly pushing their agenda onto customers.  Many of these services have broken down "race" into percentages based on ethnic or reference groups.  It is also common for DTC testing companies to offer some sort of health testing package that will tell consumers how likely they are to be carrying for specific conditions.  However, in doing this, DTC services are constructing their own version of race to fit their needs and cater to specific audiences.  

Notable scholars - i.e Joan Donovan, Kim Tallbear, Nanibaa Garrison, Alondra Nelson, and Aaron Panofsky have done incredible research on the implications of "race", often in regards to specific ethnic groups.  Their innovative research on race and identity is groundbreaking in that they push the boundaries of what people are comfortable with.  When someone, especially a notable scholar, challenges one's identity or offers a new way of viewing one's identity, people become uncomfortable.  This appropriate level of discomfort is critical in shaping a more accepting and more modern view of race.