*This Sunday at BES: Discussion at 10:30 am followed by pot luck lunch and then on to the American Visionary Art Museum where we will be met by the Museum Founder/Director Rebecca Hoffberger who will introduce the Exhibit.
There is abundant metered parking near the museum so bring quarters. The museum is handicap accessible; and if we can get a group of at least 10 (which is likely), the cost would be only $6 per person. The following is from the AVAM website on this exhibit at http://www.avam.org/exhibitions/race.html There is a lot more there that would be of interest. TEN THINGS EVERYONE SHOULD KNOW ABOUT RACE* *1. Race is a modern idea *Ancient societies, like the Greeks, did not divide people according to physical distinctions, but according to religion, status, class, even language. The English language didn't even have the word "race" until it turns up in a 1508 poem by William Dunbar referring to a line of kings. *2. Race has no genetic basis *Not one characteristic, trait, or even gene distinguishes all the members of one so-called race from all the members of another so-called race. *3. Human subspecies don't exist *Unlike many animals, modern humans simply haven't been around long enough or isolated enough to evolve into separate subspecies or races. Despite surface appearances, we are one of the most genetically similar of all species. *4. Skin color really is only skin deep *Most traits are inherited independently from one another. The genes influencing skin color have nothing to do with the genes influencing hair form, eye shape, blood type, musical talent, athletic ability or forms of intelligence. Knowing someone's skin color doesn't necessarily tell you anything else about him or her. *5. Most variation is within, not between, "races" *Of the small amount of total human variation, 85% exists within any local population, be they Italians, Kurds, Koreans or Cherokees. About 94% can be found within any continent. That means two random Koreans may be as genetically different as a Korean and an Italian. *6. Slavery predates race *Throughout much of human history, societies have enslaved others, often as a result of conquest or war, even debt, but not because of physical characteristics or a belief in natural inferiority. Due to a unique set of historical circumstances, ours was the first slave system where all the slaves shared similar physical characteristics. *7. Race and freedom evolved together *The U.S. was founded on the radical new principle that "All men are created equal." But our early economy was based largely on slavery. How could this anomaly be rationalized? The new idea of race helped explain why some people could be denied the rights and freedoms that others took for granted. *8. Race justified social inequalities as natural *As the race idea evolved, white superiority became "common sense" in America. It justified not only slavery but also the extermination of Indians, exclusion of Asian immigrants, and the taking of Mexican lands by a nation that professed a belief in democracy. Racial practices were institutionalized within American government, laws, and society. *9. Race isn't biological, but racism is still real *Race is a powerful social idea that gives people different access to opportunities and resources. Our government and social institutions have created advantages that disproportionately channel wealth, power, and resources to white people. This affects everyone, whether we are aware of it or not. *10. Colorblindness will not end racism *Pretending race doesn't exist is not the same as creating equality. Race is more than stereotypes and individual prejudice. To combat racism, we need to identify and remedy social policies and institutional practices that advantage some groups at the expense of others. ? 2005 California Newsreel. Courtesy California Newsreel Executive Producer, Larry Adelman
