Changes

Various different classifications have been proposed for human races in the past.  [[Evolution]]ary textbooks used to have a chapter on [[eugenics]] that discussed various "races", such as Negroid (mostly [[African]]s), Mongoloid (mostly [[Asia]]n) and Caucasian (mostly [[Europe]]ans) and which of the races were the furthest along in evolution.<ref>For example, Hunter, George William, ''[[A Civic Biology]]'' (1914), [http://www.law.umkc.edu/faculty/projects/ftrials/scopes/hunt196.htm p.196]: "At the present time, there exists upon the Earth five races or varieties of man, each very different from the other in instincts, social customs, and, to an extent, in structure.  These are the Ethiopian or negro type, originating in Africa; the Malay or brown race, from the [[island]]s of the [[Pacific]]; the [[American Indian]]; the Mongolian or yellow race, including the natives of [[China]], [[Japan]], and the [[Eskimos]], and finally the highest type of all, the Caucasians, represented by the civilized white inhabitants of Europe and America."</ref>

Various different classifications have been proposed for human races in the past.  [[Evolution]]ary textbooks used to have a chapter on [[eugenics]] that discussed various "races", such as Negroid (mostly [[African]]s), Mongoloid (mostly [[Asia]]n) and Caucasian (mostly [[Europe]]ans) and which of the races were the furthest along in evolution.<ref>For example, Hunter, George William, ''[[A Civic Biology]]'' (1914), [http://www.law.umkc.edu/faculty/projects/ftrials/scopes/hunt196.htm p.196]: "At the present time, there exists upon the Earth five races or varieties of man, each very different from the other in instincts, social customs, and, to an extent, in structure.  These are the Ethiopian or negro type, originating in Africa; the Malay or brown race, from the [[island]]s of the [[Pacific]]; the [[American Indian]]; the Mongolian or yellow race, including the natives of [[China]], [[Japan]], and the [[Eskimos]], and finally the highest type of all, the Caucasians, represented by the civilized white inhabitants of Europe and America."</ref>

The concept of race is no longer considered scientifically valid, as there is very little genetic difference between the so-called races, and those differences are mostly superficial.

The concept of race is no longer considered scientifically valid, as there is little genetic difference between the so-called races, and those differences are mostly superficial. Distinguishing humans on the basis of minor differences or not on the original basis of the theory, humans are either one race or several thousand. The most obvious example of difference between races is the fact that while black and pacific-islander people are, obviously, black, all people have the same type of skin-coloring pigment ([[melanin]]), each race's skin color being dependent on the melanin content of the skin.

Despite its questionable validity, race is still detailed in government census and other forms, mostly for convenience in classifying individuals into groups.

 

Though it is not scientifically valid, race is still requested in the government census and many other forms, and used by many people to classify individuals into groups and treat them differently, and associate within one's own race group.

In a study done in 1999, 75% of anthropologists disagreed with the statement, "There are biological races in the species Homo sapiens" amongst cultural anthropologists 80% disagreed, and 69% of physical anthropologists disagreed<ref>http://www.as.ua.edu/ant/bindon/ant275/presentations/POST_WWII.PDF#search=%22stanley%20marion%20garn%22</ref>

In a study done in 1999, 75% of anthropologists disagreed with the statement, "There are biological races in the species Homo sapiens" amongst cultural anthropologists 80% disagreed, and 69% of physical anthropologists disagreed<ref>http://www.as.ua.edu/ant/bindon/ant275/presentations/POST_WWII.PDF#search=%22stanley%20marion%20garn%22</ref>

The belief that one race is inherently better or worse than others is known as [[racism]].

The belief that one race is inherently better or worse than others is known as [[racism]]. For historical accuracy it's worth noting that until the events of the 1960s holders of racist beliefs were termed 'racialists' rather than the modern term, 'racists'.

Human [[Geography|geographers]] today prefer to discuss people in terms of ethnicities rather than races; the principal difference between one's [[ethnicity]] and one's race is that race is superficial while ethnicity carries with it a whole host of cultural traditions. For example, the Anglo-Saxons of the [[Britain|British]] isles have cultural traditions that are distinct from the ethnic inhabitants of [[Germany]]'s [[Rhineland]], though both ethnic groups would be considered racially caucasian.

Human [[Geography|geographers]] today prefer to discuss people in terms of ethnicities rather than races; the principal difference between one's [[ethnicity]] and one's race is that race is superficial while ethnicity carries with it a whole host of cultural traditions. For example, the Anglo-Saxons of the [[Britain|British]] isles have cultural traditions that are distinct from the ethnic inhabitants of [[Germany]]'s [[Rhineland]], though both ethnic groups would be considered racially caucasian.  

A '''race''' also refers to a competition of speed.

A '''race''' also refers to a competition of speed.