ANTH1913: Race and the Making of Humans

When Barack Obama was elected president of the United States, the first black man to hold such office, many people proclaimed our society to be “post-racial.” Simultaneously, the Supreme Court still routinely adjudicates cases relating to affirmative action, considering the value and meaning of diversity in our schools, while laws prohibit “hate crimes.” The racial wealth gap, especially between the categories of “black” and “white,” has not declined but rather has tripled over the past twenty-five years. The US Census now allows respondents to check all the boxes that apply regarding race/ethnicity rather than just one. What is race, exactly, and what does the category mean? If race is one of the major ways we mark difference and hierarchy, should we recognize racial diversity or not? What good is race anyway?

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