STEP 1: Watch the video.
Race: The Power of an Illusion Episode 1 “The Difference Between Us” Make sure you watch the first episode!
At the beginning of the film, the students are asked to predict whom they will be most like when they compare their DNA samples. How did the results compare with your expectations? Did you share the students’ surprise? Why or why not?
Anthropologist Alan Goodman says that “to understand why the idea of race is a biological myth requires a major paradigm shift.” Do you agree? What topic(s) were presented in the film that shifted your way of thinking about race?
Based on examples that were shared in the video, which group has benefited from the belief that we can sort people according to race (in other words, the belief that there are natural, biologically based differences between racial groups)?
Towards the end of this video, the students are asked if they would trade their skin color. What did you notice about how the students responded? Imagine you could change the racial category that you belong to, say (hypothetically) without changing your physical appearance. Would you switch? How would life be different if you were a different race?
One concept from the video is that “slavery predates race.” What does this mean? How does the idea of race relate to the American trade of enslaved peoples?
What is the difference between a biological and a social view of race? Give examples or evidence from the video.
According to the researchers interviewed in the video, why is it impossible to use biological characteristics to sort people into consistent races? Relate your response to terms that were used in the video: “non-concordance” and “within-group vs. between group variation.”
Why was a girl with sickle cell anemia included in the video? What does this example tell you about how ancestry is different than race?
Sports/athletics is one arena where it is common for people to talk about ideas of inborn “racial” differences. Why do some groups or populations seem to dominate certain sports, but not others? What does it mean that the groups that dominate particular sports have changed over time? Give an example from the video.
At the turn of the century, scientists such as Frederick Hoffman drew conclusions based on their preexisting beliefs about what what true. How are scientists today influenced by their beliefs, or by their social position? Give an example from the video.
In your second post (3-5 sentences), respond to another student. (3 points)
You can answer a question someone else asked, disagree or agree with them, or add to their comments. Try to make your comment as specific as possible
Make your response about 3-4 sentences long.
Student discussion post to respond to:
Dan’s discussion post:
At the beginning of the film, the students are asked to predict whom they will be most like when they compare their DNA samples. How did the results compare with your expectations? Did you share the students’ surprise? Why or why not? I had similar expectations to those of the students at the film’s beginning. I was expecting the kids of the same national descent to have similar DNA. When the results showed that skin color or nationality had nothing to do with our DNA, I was shocked. I assumed race and skin color would affect our DNA, but they do not. People of all nationalities can have the same DNA.
Towards the end of this video, the students are asked if they would trade their skin color. What did you notice about how the students responded? Imagine you could change the racial category that you belong to, say (hypothetically) without changing your physical appearance. Would you switch? How would life be different if you were a different race? The student responded emphatically that he would not change his skin color. I would not change my skin color if I had the chance. My father had one of those ancestry tests done. The results surprised us; he found out he was not Mexican according to this test. These results impacted me, too. It is deceiving because we have a dark complexion because we are Native American. So essentially, we lived our lives up to that point as a person of Hispanic descent but we were not! I look back at all the racial stuff that was said to me growing up when, according to this test, I am not Hispanic at all.
3. One concept from the video is that “slavery predates race.” What does this mean? How does the idea of race relate to the American trade of enslaved peoples?
Slavery has happened throughout human history. Societies have always enslaved people over war and sometimes debt. Physical characteristics were never used to enslave people. The slave system we use is the first to use a physical characteristic to enslave people. The system enslaved black people and sent Native Americans to reservations to live in filth and poverty.
4. Why was a girl with sickle cell anemia included in the video? What does this example tell you about how ancestry is different than race?
A girl with sickle cell anemia was included in the video because she was white. Sickle Cell Anemia is considered a “black” disease, but this is not true. Any person of any color can get Sickle Cell Anemia. There is a link between Sickle cell and Malaria. Malaria is most common in Central Africa; this is why it is thought to be a “black” disease. It is also common in other Mediterranean countries, but not just in Africa.