Short Response: Race and Racism

You are to write a short response on the below topic. 

The American Association of Biological Anthropologists (AABA) is the world's leading professional organization for biological anthropologists. Formed by 83 charter members in 1930, the AABA now has an international membership of over 2,200.

For this assignment, read the AABA’s statement on https://bioanth.org/about/aaba-statement-on-race-racism Links to an external site.

As you are reading make sure you are able to understand these objectives:

Understand the biological and adaptive underpinnings of skin color variation within humans.

Distinguish between the biology of skin color and the social construct of race.

Identify the biological consequences caused by racism on the health and well-being of people of color.

Here are some additional sources that you may look to to understand objective 3 and the relationships between health and well being and racism in the United States. 

Bichell, R. E. (2017, November 11). 

https://www.npr.org/sections/health-shots/2017/11/11/562623815/scientists-start-to-tease-out-the-subtler-ways-racism-hurts-health Links to an external site.

Directions:

Once you have read and thought about their statement, respond to it by addressing the learning objectives above; the questions below will help guide you. Keep the learning objectives in mind!! Your response should be thoughtful, filled with specific examples, and it should be clear that you have read and understood the statement.

If you pull a direct quote from the AABA statement or elsewhere, please use https://owl.purdue.edu/owl/research_and_citation/apa_style/apa_style_introduction.html Links to an external site.

Formatting and Structure:

Your paper should be 700 - 1000 words, single-spaced, and be well written. 

This should be structured as an essay - DO NOT structure your paper with numbers and question headings.

You are expected to write this as a short essay, including an introduction, body that addresses the required material, and a small conclusion wrapping up your paper. Each of these 4 questions should have their own paragraph. You need to cite your sources in text and have a dedicated references page. 

Questions to address learning Objectives

According to the AABA statement what is “Race” and what is “Racism”? Be specific!!!!!

Do racial categories provide an accurate picture of human biological variation? Be specific. Give examples and elaborate!!!

Does genetic variability and or phenotypic variability follow “racial” lines? What are the (evolutionary/biological/cultural) processes that shape variation in phenotype? EXPLAIN YOUR ANSWER!!!

In what regards is race real and what are its biological consequences?

Use your knowledge or outside sources to describe a specific instance or example of how racism impacts health or biology.

If you use outside sources, you absolutely need to cite the work, but references outside of the ones provided here are not required.