Racial boundaries drawn too thick
Madison Shelton
Issue date: 5/22/09 Section: Ed-Op
How do we define ourselves? Do we identify our self-image by race, ethnicity, physical looks, education or environment? What are the classifications on what makes each and every one of us different? Each day as we look in the mirror, who do we see? The person we identify in the mirror may be a completely different perception to someone else. The ultimate question is: what is right? Which view of us is correct in the context of science, anthropology and society?
This question has plagued the minds of scientists over the years. Technically, race is defined as a classification given to certain cultural groups based on certain characteristics. So, in order to be placed into a certain race, you must "fulfill" certain criteria that can be identified to that race. Whether it is physically or culturally, scientists have tried to define these different areas and how to keep them unwavering. However, in the United States and all across the world, this concept of absolute race is becoming harder and harder to define. The United States is known as a nation of immigrants. Unlike any other country, we have hundreds of cultural groups of different races that make up the foundation of our society. Whether Black, White, Asian, Indian, Native American and so on, we are all defined as Americans due to the country that where we live and build our lives. In a recent case at the University of Medicine and Dentistry of New Jersey, a student is suing the school for racism and discrimination.
The student is 45-year-old Paulo Serodio, who is a naturalized American, born in Mozambique and of Portuguese descent. The problem in Serodio's case is that in a class his instructor asked him what he thought his self-definition was. Serodio identified himself as a "white-African-American." The instructor, Kathy Ann Duncan, an assistant professor of Family Medicine at UMDNJ told Serodio to never refer to himself by that classification again because it could be "offensive" to others in the class. However, this was not the only instance where Serodio was faced with negative reactions. While in another class, Serodio had written an article on the subject and then began to receive harassment from his fellow students, which led to his recent suspension from the college.
This question has plagued the minds of scientists over the years. Technically, race is defined as a classification given to certain cultural groups based on certain characteristics. So, in order to be placed into a certain race, you must "fulfill" certain criteria that can be identified to that race. Whether it is physically or culturally, scientists have tried to define these different areas and how to keep them unwavering. However, in the United States and all across the world, this concept of absolute race is becoming harder and harder to define. The United States is known as a nation of immigrants. Unlike any other country, we have hundreds of cultural groups of different races that make up the foundation of our society. Whether Black, White, Asian, Indian, Native American and so on, we are all defined as Americans due to the country that where we live and build our lives. In a recent case at the University of Medicine and Dentistry of New Jersey, a student is suing the school for racism and discrimination.
The student is 45-year-old Paulo Serodio, who is a naturalized American, born in Mozambique and of Portuguese descent. The problem in Serodio's case is that in a class his instructor asked him what he thought his self-definition was. Serodio identified himself as a "white-African-American." The instructor, Kathy Ann Duncan, an assistant professor of Family Medicine at UMDNJ told Serodio to never refer to himself by that classification again because it could be "offensive" to others in the class. However, this was not the only instance where Serodio was faced with negative reactions. While in another class, Serodio had written an article on the subject and then began to receive harassment from his fellow students, which led to his recent suspension from the college.
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