Dr Saheb Sahu
I find the term “race” pretty useless.
Luca Cavalli-Sforza, Population Genetist at Stanford University
Introduction
The concept of “race” has long been a powerful and controversial concept in human society. Often used to categorize people based on physical characteristics such as skin color, facial features, or hair texture, race has historically been treated as a scientific reality. However, contemporary research in genetics, anthropology, and sociology has made it increasingly clear that race is not a biological or scientific concept but rather a social construct with no firm basis in science. Biologically the use of race is no longer a valid scientific concept, according to University of Pennsylvania physical anthropologist Soloman Katz (1996). “Pure races” do not exist now and probably never did.”- American Association of Physical Anthropologists.
Scientific Understanding of Human Variation
Modern genetic has demonstrated that all human beings share more than 99.9% of their genetic materials (DNA). The slight variations that do exist are not significant enough to divide humanity into distinct biological races. Genetic differences among individuals of the so called “race” can be greater than those between individual of different “races”. For instance, two people from Africa may be more genetically different from each other than either is from someone in Europe or Asia.
Race is Only Skin Deep
Evidence from multiple studies has shown that “race” is only skin-deep. Below the surface liesa range of genetic variability that shows no link to skin color or other superficial physical traits.
For example, the sickle cell anemia trait, long viewed (In America) as something found in black people has also been found among some southern Europeans but not found in some South African tribes. The Rh- negative blood type is found most often in the Basque people of France and Spain, also surfaces among North Africans but not among South Africans.
There are some superficial traits like skin color and body builds, they are striking, and we notice them. That is what misleads us. It makes us thinks races are different. They are not when we look under the skin. For example, scientists have found biggest differences between African and Australian aboriginal people. Yet most Australian aboriginal people have skin color as black as Africans.
Skin color or facial features of Asian people, for example, have developed overtime as a response to climate. Darker skin protects against the harmful effects (like skin cancer) of strong sunlight. A flat nose and eyelid skin fold seen in people of Mongolian descends (Mongolia, China, Korea, and Japan) are adaptations to freezing weather of Siberian populations. But none of these superficial adaptations show a link to other underlying genetic traits.
Historical Origins of the Concept of Race
The concept of race emerged during the colonial era as a tool for justifying slavery, imperialism, and social hierarchy. European colonizers used pseudo-scientific theories to argue that non –European people were inherently inferior, have low IQ, uncivilized, non-Christians and thus suited to be conquered, ruled, converted and enslaved.
Notably such ideas were used to support eugenics movement. The eugenics movement was a social and pseudo-scientific movement, most influential in the late 19th and early 20th centuries that aimed to improve the genetic quality of the human population. It had two key factors: Positive Eugenic and Negative Eugenics. Positive Eugenics promoted reproduction of people considered intelligent, healthy, or morally upright. Negative Eugenics – promoted sterilizations or even euthanasia for those with disabilities, mental illness, or criminal records. Hitler’s concept of superior Aryan race was based on the Eugenics Movement, then prevalent in Europe and America. The Nazis used this idea to justify anti-Semitism, and racism and ultimately the Holocaust. The total number of people killed during the Holocaust is estimated to be between 11 and 17 million.
Ironically, actual linguistic and DNA evidence shows that ancient Indo- Aryan came from regions in Central and Southern part of Asia- not from Northern Europe and had no connection to modern Germans. The word “Aryan” comes from the ancient Indo-Iranian root. In Sanskrit it means “noble” or “respectable”. In Old Persian “ariya” refers to the people of the Iranian plateau. In the 19th century, European linguists used “Aryan” to describe the group of people who spoke the early Indo-European languages. The Nazis further distorted the term to promote the idea of a superior race, typically identified with Northern Europeans. This usage has no linguistic, historical, or scientific basis and is widely discredited today.
Aryan vs. Dravidian
Modern genetic and archeology studies have shown that the Aryan invasion of North India, theory is completely false. It is true that people from southern steppe migrated to India as pastoralists (animal herders). They were not invaders. They were mostly men. Genetic studies show that all Indians, whether from the north or south, share a complex ancestry with both Ancestral North Indians (ANI) and Ancestral South Indians (ASI) genes. Despite being discredited scientifically, the Aryan-Dravidian theory still influences Indian politics, identity, and caste debates.
Race as a Social Construct
Although the concept of race lakes scientific legitimacy, it remains as powerful social reality. Society continues to treat people differently based on perceived racial categories. These categories are deeply embedded in institutions, culture, and law. As a result, racial identities shape people’s experiences, opportunities, and treatment in the world.
Sociologists and anthropologists emphasize that while race is not a biological fact, it has real consequences. Racial discrimination, systemic inequality, and cultural identity are all influenced by how race is socially constructed and maintained.
Conclusion
Race is not a scientific concept grounded in biology or genetics, but a social construct, propagated by the colonizers. Scientific research has shown conclusively that human genetic diversity does not support the classification of people into biologically distinct races. Yet the idea of race continues to shape societies in powerful ways. Understanding race as a social, rather than scientific, phenomenon is essential to addressing the injustices and inequalities that stem from the present thinking about race. We are all African-Asian-European and American!
P.S. If you substitute the word “caste” in place of “race”, all the points made in the article for race will apply to caste. There is no genetic basis for caste.
Sources
1- Chat-Gpt May, 26, 2025
2- ‘Race’ Is Not A Valid Scientific Concept by Donna Alvarado in Genetic And Influence. Greenhaven Press: San Diego, 1996, p- 148
The End
