Anthropology 1022A Week 5 Assignment

Our current knowledge of human diversity and variation is premised on the fact that the patterns of variation were influenced by; the migrations of humans, the environmental variations, the culture, and existing adaptions towards the culture. All human beings share a common African origin. For instance, current residents of the European continent moved from Africa at least 48000 years ago. The other current knowledge is that the diversity we have among the people is that, variability occurs within specific populations domiciled in a different area. We understand that the major part of the variation is determined by ancestry and continent. This is why, concerning relation to race, we assume the exclusivity of Europe as a continent belonging to whites and Africa as a continent for blacks. This understanding is wrong because all the variations that we have as species are located within individual populations. It is rather hard to identify differences within. You are well under the word limit here. Your response would have benefited from additional info/examples. What you have written in well-written and well-thought out. However, you are missing specific examples of how the social concept of race impacts society/people.

Question Two

The race is not biology. It is a concept in which groups of people are lumped together based on their facial[A1] appearance but this grouping of people is not indicative of their genetic makeup differences. For example, doctors in the United States assume that black women do not suffer from osteoporosis because blacks have a high bone density compared to whites (Goodman, 2020). However, studies have shown that osteoporosis is also common in African populations who dominantly have black populations. While variations exist between people, for example, the trends of diabetes or sickle- cell anemia, these variations have nothing to do with race but they do exist in local populations. Racism however does affect our biology. The black people, who continuously suffer from endemic racism in the United States, could trigger abnormal gene activity that makes them susceptible to diseases like hypertension, heart disease, and dementia (Thames, 2019). Informative and well-written. However, you were supposed to choose one of the questions not both. I will mark you based on the one I thought to be more thoroughly answered (question 1),

References:

Goodman, A. (2020). Race Is Real, But It’s Not Genetic. Retrieved 11 October 2020, from

https://www.discovermagazine.com/planet-earth/race-is-real-but-its-not-genetic

Thames, A. (2019). Study: Racism shortens lives and hurts the health of blacks by promoting genes

that lead to inflammation and illness. Retrieved 11 October 2020, from https://theconversation.com/study-racism-shortens-lives-and-hurts-health-of-blacks-by-promoting-genes-that-lead-to-inflammation-and-illness-122027

Part 2

Activity 2

When I experience a racist situation, my action will be not to retaliate. Instead, I will endeavor to educate the person through face to face, that despite our differences, we are all human beings with a common anthropological origin[A2] . The positive reaction towards racism will help the person know that he is operating from a position of ignorance and education, advocacy, and convincing can help him,and others found throughout the world, change their perceptions on racism. Advocacy for a positive reaction towards a racist instance can take place through existing popular channels like Facebook and in my local community, churches, and schools.

Please include your rubric next time as instructed.

Exceptional Response