I really enjoyed the Biology teaching that was done on Friday. I had no idea that race was not overwhelmingly apparent if anyone were to look at our DNA strands. I also thought it was interesting when in the video they mentioned the Human Genome Project that was done in 2000. Its funny and disappointing at the same time how I tend to overlook the impacts that studies like the Human Genome Project actually have on society. I know that I totally take for granted that my generation has access to all of this new information. It’s a matter of fact that so much research has been done on the human gene and how that contributes to race—and I also realize that so much is yet to be discovered, but still. Wow. How will this difference in knowledge affect me in the classroom? Will it become a thing of the past that race is mentioned at all? I thought it was also good that the group that presented mentioned the better option, which is to concentrate more on ethnic background rather than race. When thinking about this, I know that for me, I’d rather be known as an American than just a white female. I think that when it comes to this point we should be able to not only be more accepting of other cultures, but I also think that we will be able to really have a grasp on how to teach multicultural education. If I can appreciate other ethnic backgrounds and cultures, I think I can better equip my own students who have grown up in an accepting environment to other cultures as a whole. Race in and of itself is such a sticky topic because it has to be handled with care, especially in a classroom, but if people began to look at people from an ethnicity perspective, maybe some of the negative connotations that go along with race could be eradicated as well.
It would be SOOO great if people could take this new information and realize that when it comes to our DNA, race has very little impact. We are all so closely related, it would make sense with this scientific evidence for race to become a thing of the past. I am worried, though, that race is so deeply embedded in history and society that there will always be separation and judgment based on race- and that is sad. I agree with you that if we all did begin to view race as an ethnicity, as only differences in culture and traditions, rather than people who are genetically different, we would all be a lot better off!
ReplyDeleteI find it interesting that you mentioned how our generations "takes for granted" all the information that is available to us, and although I had never thought about it before, I agree with that thought. History books write about race and its consequences, however the conclusions of the Human Genome Project revolutionized the concept of race. And yet, racist ideas still exist. It's like the color of a person's skin was one way to justify hatred, but when the concept is proved irrelevant, the hatred still exists.
ReplyDeleteI feel like racism is nothing more than scapegoating. When the majority group has an issue, they place their blame and anger upon someone more defenseless (the minority group). I agree with the comment that it is sad that racist ideas could always exist, because they have no factual backing and do more harm than good.
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