KIN 249: Lecture 7.1

Lecture Notes

Race is difficult to define, in part, because it depends on so many factors that may or may not be related. Should we define race by blood or by heritage? By phenotype (what we look like) or by genotype (our DNA)? Who should define race? Us or someone observing us? All of these questions have led to much strife and conflict and bloodshed over the past centuries. From American slavery practices, to British colonialism, to the Nazi holocaust. Race matters: but we don't have a satisfactory way to define race. Race is enigmatic: it's a puzzle without a clear answer.