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Race = "minorities" in general?

I can see where "Italian," "Irish" etc. comes in -- there used to be a time (in the 19th and early 20th century) when people in the U.S. would actually equate national origin with "race," especially when referring to immigrants ("the Italian race," "the Irish race," etc.). But "Muslim" refers to religion IMHO ... you can be Black, Caucasian, Hispanic and whathaveyou and simultaneously be Muslim (or, for that matter, Christian or Atheist, etc.). So unless "race" is intended to also refer to the relationship between religions, I'd humbly suggest replacing "Muslim" by some other term ...

I'd tend to include books like Ashley Montagu's Man's Most Dangerous Myth: The Fallacy of Race; William Stanton's The Leopard's Spots: Scientific Attitudes toward Race in America; and Stephen Jay Gould's The Mismeasure of Man.

As early as the early 1940s, Ashley Montagu and other anthropologists, biologists, etc rejected the very concept of 'race'. They continue to do so.

The argument is not that there are no biological differences between humans, nor that there is no genetic component to these differences (indeed, at the time, they thought both were greater than they really are). Rather, they argue that there do not exist 2, or 10, or 128, or however many groups of people with sufficient similarities within the groups, and sufficient differences between the groups that it makes sense to call them 'races'. Some have rejected this concept not only for humans, but for other species, where the term had been used to describe geographic variations, but became, in the opinion of too many biologists, too contaminated by vernacular terminology to be useful in scientific papers.

Too many people, in resisting racists, accept the terms and categories of the racists, and simply argue that the 'races' have different characteristics than the racists propose.

Valerie, anyone can add books to this list ... your point (and Montagu et al.'s) is an important one, so literature such as this should be represented here. Feel free to add them!

Themis-Athena wrote: "Race = "minorities" in general?

I can see where "Italian," "Irish" etc. comes in -- there used to be a time (in the 19th and early 20th century) when people in the U.S. would actually equate natio..."

What I'm trying to get at is Gordon Allport's definition of "Prejudice" in his book, The Nature of Prejudice.... a perception that someone other than yourself is "ESSENTIALLY OTHER".

I see. But should the list's TITLE then be restricted to "race"? (Maybe "Racial and Other Prejudice in America"?) And yes, I know I'm being picky ...

"Through our maps, we willingly become a part of their boundaries. If our home is included, we feel pride, perhaps familiarity, but always a sense that this is ours. If it is not, we accept our roles as outsiders, though we may be of the same mind and culture. In this way, maps can be dangerous and powerful tools." — Debbie Lee Wesselmann: Trutor & the Balloonist

Not quite the same sentiment, but close enough ... One of my all-time favorite quotes!

Themis-Athena wrote: "I see. But should the list's TITLE then be restricted to "race"? (Maybe "Racial and Other Prejudice in America"?) And yes, I know I'm being picky ...

"Through our maps, we willingly become a par..."

Made what I hope are improvements to title, May 7, 2011, and thanks.

*cough* "Americans" = United Statesians? *cough*

(I'm just giving you a hard time) ;o)

Brixton wrote: "*cough* "Americans" = United Statesians? *cough*

(I'm just giving you a hard time) ;o)"

Well.... except for Kenyans born in Hawaii with phony birth certificates.

Amen to that.

Thom wrote: "Brixton wrote: "*cough* "Americans" = United Statesians? *cough*

(I'm just giving you a hard time) ;o)"

Well.... except for Kenyans born in Hawaii with phony birth certificates."

LOL. Indeed ... :)

My vote is for Bebe Moore Campbell's Your Blues Ain't Like Mine.

Whenever I hear someone rave about The Help, I suggest they read Your Blues Ain't Like Mine. The Help has good parts, but on the whole Your Blues Ain't Like Mine -- a novel based on the Emmett Till murder -- seems so much more realistic and honest about how horrible conditions were for African-Americans in the 1950s South.

Here's a post I wrote about the novel for Newsworthy Novels, a blog that matches novels to today's headlines and events (this entry was for Black History Month): http://newsworthynovels.blogspot.com/...