Reflections on "race" in science and society in the United States.

Abstract

This commentary on the discourses, use, and salience of “race” in the United States has two linked purposes. First, I would like to provide readers with a glimpse of the “state of race” in science in America, focusing on both the current relationship among studies of race, racism, and human variation and the relationship of these studies to “race” in society. I will reflect on how race is discussed, the underlying ideology of race, and how the word race is intended and used in science and society. Second, the editors would like to initiate a thoughtful forum on the current state of race, racism, and human biological variation. The hope is to provide an opportunity to compare current discussions and debates that center on race, human biological variation, and racism in science, law, and other intersecting domains, such as in popular culture (race in media and public forums, for example) in different countries within and beyond Europe. This essay is the first in the forum. I begin by summarizing the state of race in the United States, the country in which I live, was trained, and work. Subsequently, others will contribute their own analyses of the state of race in the country or countries they are most familiar with. Among the guiding questions are the following.