IMAGINE A RACELESS WORLD!: THINK RACIAL DIFFERENCES ARE REAL?

Monday, July 2, 2007

THINK RACIAL DIFFERENCES ARE REAL?

Take this Quiz and see the fallacy of Racism
How easy is it to identify a person's racial and ethnic background?
Lots of people assume that race is obvious, clear-cut, easy-to-define. Because of this, we often find it easy to place people in boxes, or assign racial labels that may or may not be accurate. Usually, mislabeling amounts to nothing more than an awkward experience for one or both individuals involved. But in some contexts, such as in the medical field - where exam results, dignoses, and treatment plans may depend on racial categories - the results of mislabeling can be much more signficant such as missed diagnoses, incorrect diagnoses and/or inappropriate treatment protocols. Take a look at the following famous faces and see if you can accurately identify their racial makeup.

t.com

1 comment:

Anonymous said...: People should read this.; November 11, 2008 at 9:57 AM

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ABOUT RACE, ITS ORIGIN AND RACISM

The origin of race is directly linked to that of man and as such can be said to be as old as mankind. The word “Race” in a general term etymologically existed only in the sense that it distinguishes between what is known as the Human race and the Animal race. This goes to show that at the beginning, there was only the Human race and nothing else. A pertinent question here is who or what lead to or brought about the classification/grouping of the singular human race that existed into the sub-human races determined according to physical differences base on skin colour, height, facial contours, eye/hair colours, and so many other factors too insignificant to mention here for want of valuable space that now exist in the world. Not only did the proponents and propagandists of “sub human races” stop at that, they went ahead to create room for and promote one or few of their creations as superior to the others thereby creating an acrimonious relationship among them otherwise known as racism that has gone down generations to date.I am strongly of the opinion that if the human race had to be sub-divided or classified assuming there is any genuine reason for such (which I doubt very much), then perhaps nationality or cultural similarities could suffice for any such classification but certainly not the desecration of the human race as portrayed by racism through the creation of racial classes. Though some have tried to justify racial segregation as simply cultural differences, such claims have been proven as grossly untrue. In fact, it is on record that the originators of racism at that time laid claim to some bogus scientific theories that suggest that some or a particular race is more intelligent than others; a claim that has since been proven to be grossly misleading and false. A more credible, undeniable and scientifically proven fact is that humans generally and irrespective of any factor are 99.9% identical.Nonetheless, in other not to bore you with too distant a historical detail or analysis, let’s trace the historical background of racism to between the 18th and 19th century precisely to the era of slave trades on native populations around the world. The slave traders at that time claimed they were superior to the natives and therefore had the right to treat them as sub humans. In fact, the 19th century saw an astronomical rise of the “supremacist” groups who laid claim to the so-called “intelligence theory” and other theories about skin colour and ethnic backgrounds.Unfortunately, racism as we see it today, has evolved into an ugly, monstrous and devastating culture with many fronts. Beyond skin colour and ethnic backgrounds, racism is today cutting across on many fronts such as nationalities, cultures, class, religion, sports, entertainment, business and so on. The worst of the already worse situation is that the phenomenon is receiving tacit endorsement politically by states and governments.Fuelled largely by hatred, fear, arrogance and perhaps simple misunderstanding, the human race is fast loosing its grip on its shared human values – how sad. To this extent, no particular so-called race or ethnic group is to blame for racism today not even the much accused white supremacist groups as it is now a case for an eye for an eye. Neither is any particular ethnic group or so-called race is responsible either for racism or for reversing its trend.Thus in RacelessWorld, we believe that the responsibility and fight against racism begins with the individual i.e. with YOU. Because you are responsible for your own decisions, for your own interactions with others, for your own relationship with others and for grabbing the reins within your own circle of influence; therefore YOU and many others like YOU who have made up their minds to become RACELESS, can and will together make the world RACELESS.JOIN THIS NOBLE COURSE TODAY.

WHAT DOES IT MEAN TO BE RACELESS?

Literarily, to be RACELESS in a destructively segregating world of increasing racist extremism with all its attendant negative effects is to dare to stand out and be different. Not so in a passive way, but in an outspoken and action oriented manner.To be raceless means you are over and above any particular race as associating oneself with any particular race is tantamount to accepting limitations. YOU are first and most importantly a human before anybody could describe you racially. The human race like the human mind can not be defined by colour, culture, ethnicity or boundaries.As Raceless people the world over, we uphold certain fundamental beliefs and practices as follows.* We promote the true values that represent the universality of the human race and mind.* The supremacy of the human race as against any particular race so-called.* We strongly denounce any form of racial classification or heritage base on any physical or mental differential factors among/between humans anywhere around the world.However, because we don't just end at our belief and desire to change the world, we commit ourselves to acting upon what we believe. Since for better or worse cultures do evolve over time, we believe that with our sustained determination and actions, a raceless world is bound to evolve.The global culture is trending toward a period of greater intolerance and hate even though certain groups may try to hide behind the veil of wishing it away. Whether fueled by fear, arrogance, or simple misunderstanding; mankind is loosing its grip on its shared human values and experience by allowing itself to become divided on trivial factors such as skin colour, cultures, ehtnicity and even locations.In corrobaration of this fact, CNN correspondent Alina Cho, an Asian-American in the aftermath of a harrowing racist experience had this to say;" I believe that no one race or ethnic group is to blame. Neither do I believe that one race or ethnic group holds responsibility for reversing this trend. Instead, if all of us, every individual, only assumed responsibility for his or her own circle of influence, perhaps we as a people, nation and as a global village could realize the cliche that says change can and does often start with one person."Thus as raceless, we take responsibility of reversing the trend of racism by taking very crucial and life-changing decisions individually and combining it with a collective desire to rid the world of racism and achieving the ultimate prize of a RACELESS world devoid of all the evils of racism for the sake of posterity.

LET'S MAKE THE WORLD RACELESS

BEING RACELESS literarily means the absence of racial classifications of humans in any form and by extension the obnoxious dffects of racism. In a broader and more philosophical sense, the term denotes the assertion of the supremacy of the human race over and above every other factor whether legal, cultural, political, psychological, ideological, social or even spiritual; least of all ethnicity, skin colour, location or language.Being Raceless has nothing to do with any religion/faith, nationality/political affiliations, sect/cult, and least of all race; but is simply an organisation of like-minds with passion for the survival of the entire Human race ( as against the racist segregation of mankind) as well as world peace and unity. The word raceless is a coinage that depicts a re-awakening concept and movement extending from certain fundamental truths about race relations. Prime among these are:* In a Raceless world, only the Human Race exist.* Racism is increasingly manifesting in the forms of greater intolerance, segregation and hate around the world.* The Human race is too supreme and indeed too sacred and hallowed to be subjected to such mere trivialities and malicious concoctions as differences in skin colour, ethnicity and culture.* That no one particular race is superior to another, only individual differences in perception, morality, inclinations, choice, stereotypes, circumstances, environment, etc bring about such irrational impressions.* The world can be made Raceless if only as individuals we assume responsibilities for our own interactions with others.* Change can and does often start with an individual - even YOU!

THINK YOU ARE RACELESS? TAKE THIS TEST TO FIND OUT - IT IS PART OF A SERIES.

Intercultural (Interracial) Competence Self-Assessment
How high is Your Intercultural Intelligence?

Please complete the following assessment to identify your current level of intercultural competence. Read each statement below and note the extent to which you agree or disagree with it, where 1=not at all, 2=somewhat, and 3=very much so.
1. I am aware of demographic changes taking place in America and understand the implications for me, my community, and the workplace.
2. I am aware of the challenges and associated benefits of cultural diversity.
3. I am always aware of the stereotypes that shape my interactions with others.
4. I don't draw negative conclusions when others do or see things differently.
5. I know what culture is and how it influences my particular values and the unique way in which I view and interpret the world.
6. I have spent time exploring the many facets of my culture and how it differs from others.
7. I recognize that although someone may look very different from me, it is possible that we share a lot in common.
8. I am aware that because cultures are complex and multifaceted, I can never assume anything about others.
9. I always strive to get beyond obvious differences such as ethnicity, race, and gender so that I might build effective intercultural relationships.
10. I make it a point to learn about other cultures.
11. When I meet someone from another ethnic group or country, I demonstrate an interest in understanding his/her culture.
12. I understand my role in facilitating effective intercultural interactions.
13. I am confident in my abilities to recognize and resolve intercultural conflict.
14. I recognize that building the skills necessary to engage in intercultural relationships is an ongoing process.

If you indicated "somewhat" or "not at all" to any of the above statements, then you will benefit from additional reflection, self-exploration and intercultural skills building exercises.

This assessment is an excerpt from "Intercultural Communication," an intercultural intelligence / skills building workbook written by Susan Eckert and published by Thomson / Southwestern Publishing.

IMAGINE A RACELESS WORLD!

Monday, July 2, 2007

THINK RACIAL DIFFERENCES ARE REAL?

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WELCOME

JOIN THE RACELESS CAMPAIGN

JOIN THE RACELESS CAMPAIGN

WE STRONGLY ADVOCATE INTERRACIAL RELATIONS

ABOUT RACE, ITS ORIGIN AND RACISM

WHAT DOES IT MEAN TO BE RACELESS?

LET'S MAKE THE WORLD RACELESS

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THINK YOU ARE RACELESS? TAKE THIS TEST TO FIND OUT - IT IS PART OF A SERIES.

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