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race

Race refers to categories that people use to classify humans based on physical appearance, ancestry, and geographic origin. While race is a social and political construct in many contexts, science does not support the existence of discrete, biologically distinct human races. Human genetic diversity is continuous, with no sharp boundaries between groups.

Historically, racial classifications emerged in the context of colonialism, slavery, and scientific racism, and were used

Genetics show that most genetic variation occurs within populations rather than between them. The concept of

In society, race is a powerful social category that shapes identity, experiences, and access to resources. It

Race remains a contested concept, with ongoing scholarly and policy discussions about its meanings, implications, and

to
justify
unequal
treatment
and
segregation.
Over
time,
many
scholars
have
rejected
biological
essentialism,
emphasizing
that
observed
differences
among
individuals
arise
from
a
complex
mix
of
ancestry,
environment,
and
chance.
race
captures
some
patterns
of
ancestry
and
geographic
origin,
but
these
patterns
are
probabilistic
and
overlap
widely.
Researchers
instead
discuss
ancestry
or
population
structure
rather
than
race
as
a
biological
category.
influences
areas
such
as
education,
housing,
employment,
and
health.
Contemporary
debates
focus
on
reducing
racial
disparities,
addressing
discrimination,
and
refining
categories
for
measurement
in
research
and
policy.
how
best
to
address
racial
inequities
while
recognizing
the
limitations
of
racial
classifications.