Gadir Jaafar

Anthropology
Assignment #2
February 9, 2017
Assignment: Race and Racism

According to biologists, race is defined as a category of a population who is different

geographically, morphologically, and genetically from other populations, who fall in the group of species.
Also, race can not be defied scientifically, since it is a matter of subjectivity: one scientist may focus on
skin color, and define race within this category, or another scientist may focus on skull shapes, and will
define race within this category. In other words, classifying humans by race is what human beings created,
something not eligible to be considered scientific, or biologic, but a form of division (Textbook, P.105).
Moreover, genes can not be used to categorize people from different societies: one blood type can be
high in one society, but high in the other one, but we still see that both societies contain at least the same
blood time. In other words, dividing people into races through genes is impossible, since people share
somewhat identical genes in certain contexts, such as blood types for instance (Textbook, P.106). The role
of genetics in racial differences is fascinating, because it proves racism wrong, showing to the world how
we are all related in some ways.

Personally, intelligence is a broad topic. Intelligence can be found in various domains, whether it
be science, social science, arts, senses, etc. However, the concept of intelligence can be explained: I see it
as a form of talent, something one person excels at, and applies it to where ever it is demanded.
Intelligence is also applying rational and critical thinking in the domain where you excel at, therefore, with
practice, one can reach intelligence. I dont believe in something called a prodigy or a genius: the way I
see intelligence, is through efforts and practice that one can reach the virtue of his brain. In other words,
intelligence is subjective; for some it can reach a high level of IQ, and others a low level of IQ, but that is
still an unstable data, since it is based on general questions, and not actual testing of the brains capacities.
Also, in modern societies, a high level of intelligence has become a norm where individuals aim at. We are
all competent, but we are not competent in everything. Moreover, I dont think that scientist would be
able to find the gene of intelligence. Intelligence is when you practice your brain to be good at something,
and trying to find a gene of intelligence is going to be hard. However, they can find which brain hemisphere
is more dominant at an individual, and study its details and genes.
 The similarities of these two endeavours is that both methods are dividing people: we all fall in
the same category of species, therefore dividing each country to study its populations health is like
dividing two cats into separate type of species. Also, this method of dividing each countrys population is
like saying that they are a different kind of species, having different type of physics, so they shouldnt
include the rest. As if the statistics wont apply to the rest of the world. Also, the difference is that one is
dividing countries, and one is diving populations from one country into categories. Health statistics could
divide people into group of age, sex, or height, rather than using ones identity. Structural violence come
from organisms that prevent some people for reaching their basic needs. So, some people who are sick,
may not receive the care they need from health organisms, affecting their health. One example that I can
come with, is the structural violence towards Aboriginals: they are mistreated, and deprived from their
basic needs and rights.