Racial reality

[blue_lotus13]

Let me clarify this entry by first saying that I do believe in the concept of race. I know that there are some groups/people who think that such ideas are bullshit, but I seriously do believe that there are biological differences between ethnic groups due to genetic traits. For example, some Asians can't drink because they lack the enzyme alcohol dehydrogenase (sp?). First Nations people tend to have very little body hair, etc.

Racial reality is a website dedicated to the genetic study of ethnic groups. Of particular interest (to me, anyway) is the entry on Asian eyes. There are also fantastic pictures of various ethnic groups. I was surprised to find that in one section, a Central Asian person that looked Mongolian is classed as a member of the Yakut group.

Comments

[angharad.livejournal.com]

I think the "it doesn't exist" people are trying to remind bigots that it's a fluid thing and that the "one drop" rule is bogus. Which it is, because if Halle Berry is black, then I'm Irish.

[blue-lotus.livejournal.com]

See, I would have to disagree with you there, as I think of her as black. That's where mixed race is odd. I think it's a matter of how you appear, and how you identify yourself. Have you ever read the book "Caucasia" by Danzy Senna? It's the story of two sisters who are both mixed black and white. One sister lives with the dad who is black. THe other sister is raised as if she is white, because she looks like she's white. Her black heritage is denied. IT's a fascinating read. Another interesting one is REbecca Walker's "Black, White and Jewish".

But I could talk about this all day, so I digress :)

[angharad.livejournal.com]

That book does sound interesting, because there's definitely a cultural element in being raised in a [whatever-race] family, even if you were adopted from another race, say.

[blue-lotus.livejournal.com]

You put it much more succintly than I did. Thanks :)