5)aRespond to the discussion questions from Chapter 6 of Perspectives:
1) García describes the reasons that race is considered a discredited concept in human biology. Despite this scientific fact, most people continue to believe that race is real. Why do you think race has continued to be an important social reality even after it has been discredited scientifically?
2) The process of racial formation is different in every society. In the United States, the one-drop rule and hypodescent have historically affected the way people with multiracial backgrounds have been racialized. How have ideas about multiracial identity been changing in the past few decades? As the number of people who identify as multiracial increases, do you think there will be changes in the way we think about other racial categories?
3) Members of some ethnic groups are able to practice symbolic ethnicity, limited or occasional displays of ethnic pride and identity. Why can ethnicity be displayed in an optional way while race cannot?
4) There is no scientific evidence supporting the idea that racial or ethnic background provides a biological advantage in sports. Instead, a variety of social dynamics, including cultural affinities and preferences as well as access and opportunities influence who will become involved in particular sports. Think about a sport in which you have participated or have followed closely. What social dynamics do you think are most responsible for affecting the racial, ethnic, gender, or social class composition of the athletes who participate?
Recall what you read in the article When Black Female Victims Arent Seen as Victims, by Eshe Lewis.
5) This article discusses Peru, but the authors central insight also applies here in the United States: While women of other backgrounds are more readily understood as victims, black women are often portrayed as aggressors. Where does this perception come from? What are its consequences?