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Race is a categorization of humans based on shared physical or social qualities into groups generally viewed as distinct within a given society. [1] The term came into common usage during the 16th century, when it was used to refer to groups of various kinds, including those characterized by close kinship relations. [2]
The concept of race as a categorization of anatomically modern humans (Homo sapiens) has an extensive history in Europe and the Americas.The contemporary word race itself is modern; historically it was used in the sense of "nation, ethnic group" during the 16th to 19th centuries.
This rigid definition of race is no longer accepted by scientific communities. [1] [2] Instead, the concept of 'race' is viewed as a social construct. [3] This means, in simple terms, that it is a human invention and not a biological fact.
The concept of "race" as a classification system of humans based on visible physical characteristics emerged over the last five centuries, influenced by European colonialism. [12] [18] However, there is widespread evidence of what would be described in modern terms as racial consciousness throughout the entirety of recorded history.
Typology in anthropology was the categorization of the human species by races, based solely on traits that are readily observable from a distance such as head shape, skin color, hair form, body build, and stature.
In order to delve further into the topic of racial formation, practitioners explore the question of what "race" is. Racial formation theory is a framework that seeks to deconstruct race as it exists today in the United States. To do this, the authors first explore the historical development of race as a dynamic and fluid social construct. This ...
The United States has a racially and ethnically diverse population. [1] At the federal level, race and ethnicity have been categorized separately. The most recent United States census recognized five racial categories (White, Black, Native American/Alaska Native, Asian, and Native Hawaiian/Other Pacific Islander), as well as people who belong to two or more of the racial categories.
In biological taxonomy, race is an informal rank in the taxonomic hierarchy for which various definitions exist. Sometimes it is used to denote a level below that of subspecies , while at other times it is used as a synonym for subspecies. [ 1 ]