How does race help shape/ affect the society we live in today?
355611
Some races are more successful than others.  Basically due to their attitude to life in general.  \n\nRace and religion tends to be quite related.  A certain race are associated with a certain religion. So religion plays a great factor too. \n\nFor example, the Middle Eastern and the Arabic Race, the indigenous Malays, the Pakistanis are predominantly Muslims.  The Chinese predominantly Buddhists, the Indians predominantly Hindus, the European mostly Christians.\n\nTake a look at countries that have a concentration of these different races, and look at their economy, the state of their countries, etc.  Some religion hold their people back and they live in the modern world as it is today, but bound by their ancient religious practice.  This produce some group of very confused and ironic people.  These countries are usually quite backward.\n\nThe Arabic world is the Middle East, the Anglo Saxons the Americans with parts Black dominated,and the Chinese Asia.\n\nYes, race and religion do shape society and its progress. thinking, its ability to blend and to integrate.
434872
Well, this would be not exactly a race question, but more of a family values question. People of a certain race may be more than likely to take certain values more to heart and place a higher price on them. They then pass these values down to their children- obviously of the same race in many cases. This creates a culture in a family passed down through generations, which in turn greatly influences both the personality and self-esteem of an individual in the family.
723928
Black people today are not feeling the effects of what happened during their Grandfathers era.  There are more social programs from minorities than there are for White Men.  Black have more opportunity for advancement and more opportunity to attend college than most white people.  Look at the scholarships available today, most are for minorities or gays.  I am not holding the Black Man down, I do not owe anybody anything.  There is no free lunch, go out and work and make yourself better.  Don't expect me to help, but I won't stand in your way neither.
424437
This is true in the United States, on a percentage basis of their total population.\nSome correlation can be found in educational opportunity and income.  Other correlation can be found in lopsided enforcement statistics indicating racial profiling.  Some causes can be found in media influences.\n\nThere is no science that can be brought to bear on social problems, so we thrash about with theories and theories, and no real results-based analysis is ever done.  (Same as education problems, see this week's Time Magazine, Apr 17)\nThis country was born with a defect of racial injustice, and although legally this defect has been removed, it still has not healed.
118958
I believe people shape a society.  A family is the base of a good society.
12135
The other's answers are partially right, but take the common social constructivist view too far. Race/creed/caste/religion/clan/ethnicity are all slippery terms that are not easily defined. In a similar manner it is very hard to define what a species is (The common idea that a species is defined by when organisms can reproduce is violated for many species and meaningless for asexual organisms). A race or population from a biological perspective is a grouping of organisms that tend to breed more among themselves than with other groups. Subsequently they tend to have distinctive features. Now of course our common definitions of race have a large social influence that defies the logic of a group that tend to breed more with itself than other groups. For example the U.S.'s idea of hypodescent that dictates that someone who is 1/16 of black african descent is African American is kind of silly (on the other hand if these African Americans tend to breed mainly with other African Americans then perhaps it is not so far fetched).\n\nJust because something can not easily be defined and overlaps does not mean it does not exist. Males are on average taller than females, but many females are taller than many males. This doesn't mean that it is a social construction to say menare bigger then women.\n\nTo answer your original question, with these caveats acknowledged, genes are distinctive among different human popularions (populations which follow human conceptions of race pretty well). Many of these genes are neutral and depend upon similar techniques to those used in forensics to get a DNA fingerprint. Interestingly, some of these gens are functional, they change the way our bodies and minds work.\nFor example, the sickle cell gene which helps protect against malaria is at much higher frequency in populations which must deal with malaria.\nA genetic polymorphism, the dopamine receptor D4 gene varies radically among populations. This is a gene that has been associated with behavioral differences among people including ADHD. It is thought by some that different social background may select for different frequencies of the DRD4 gene. The frequency of ADHD associated genese in a population probably also impacts how that culture evolves.
291112
According to an article in Life magazine, yes.  As we are becoming a world of easier communication and safer transportation, we'll eventually become a more unified one colored world.\n\nThis won't be for another 1000+ years however.\nAsian culture will become a broad mix of white, black, and some hispanic.  The dominant features though will be Asian.
879762
I think it would depend on the attitude of the individual.  Factors that would play an influencing part are the type of society they are raised in and the individuals background.  History can still instill racist overtones in some people, that would depend on the individuals own perpective and feelings about that particular race they are learning about...I know many aboriginal people here in australia who hate white people cos of the cruelty their ancestors endured when the british arrived in 1770.  History can intensify emotions and their own experiences are the cornerstone of their whole being and thinking.
849710
I agree with you on this. We all have so much in common. We all need air to live, we all have hearts, we all have brains and feelings and we all suffer. I don't understand why race always has to be an issue.
261635
Society values\nSocial customs\nRelationship between black & white\nEmotional insight (how the tale made you feel)\nPersecution & oppression\nThe difference between how people think and act then and now\nHow black people were restricted in everything then like giving up seats on the bus, not drinking out of certain water fountains etc to nowadays.
1058000
Well, intelligence is hereditary, so that answers the first part.  Ethnicity comes into play only because certain parts of the world have better education programs than others.  Social Class has a positive and a negative impact because the rich can get by being dumb if they inherit their fathers' or mothers' estate and have an honest person take care of it for them.  Rich kids go to Ivy league schools, but they are not necessarily the best education.  They are more for social status.  I am assuming this is a Sociology class you are in.  But.....Intelligence can occur to poor or upper class, mother and not daughter, all races, and so on.  It is through education that intelligence is put to use, with no education, a person could seem as dumb as a rock.  So, this is really a trick question.  In reality, we are products of society.
906616
The world is a beautiful patch work. Different races means different cultures, background, languages, histories, etc. That is fun to learn, experience and get to know. Teach us to be understanding, tolerant and help us grow as human beings... at least in theory.
474133
Yes, sadly, Skin Color is still an issue.  Racism and sexism is still a huge issue in America.  Think about it. How many huge-businesses can you think of... (like the Gap) that are run by women, Latinos, or African-Americans?  All racism, for all races is still there. Racism for African-Americans is very high in the South, sadly.  My advice to you is just fight against it as much as you can and be as understanding and compassionate as you can be. You may not be able to change the world, but you can change a few lives one day at time.  \nEmily
371439
Much has been family (up bringing) , then neighborhoods , schools , friends, lack of knowing we're all equal.One group feeling they aren't treated fairly.Then another yelling they aren't ...What's bad is when someone takes advantage of being a race , that offers employment , education and don't respect the opportunities offered or abuses them.And there are a few such races that are offered more ,so we (America)can try to balance the employment and schools.Still another area will complain . I 've done for myself and many others have as well .I don't dislike anyone but mean people.And they are plenty ,so all races should get together and try to end the hate. Sounds nice ,but history has shown hate at the beginning of time.
1047493
No, not legitimately. There have been more than a few attempts for racist motives, but the features that define race are minor superficial adaptations that are subject to heavy selective forces. \n\nThe modern races cropped up within the last 8000 years, well after the departure of archaic homo sapiens and after the evolution of behavioraly modern humans..
1089755
This question is completely ludacris. First of all you cannot simplify who someone is to a color. White generally means of european descent. But You have white people living all over the world and they are (like all the other races) going to be good or bad at things as much because of their environment as genetics. Chances are (whatever your color) that if you come from a long line of mean overweight bald drunks and grow up poor with shit for education and a bunch of junkies for friends you are going to be less inclined to excel in life then if you are born with a personal trainer and a doctor for parents and attend private schoool with tutors. Sadly there are alot more white folks who come from privelidged homes and families with greater resources and societal connections. This promotes the fallacy that caucasions are genetically superior. I am here to tell you it is drivel. The fact is that the number of caucasions living in america greatly dwarfs the number of other races. (This is why they are referred to as minorities.) Now taking that into consideration, you begin to realize that there is strength in numbers. The governmental and educational systems are controlled by predominately (you guessed it) white leaders. There are far more white employers. There are more white communities. So as a white in america, the odds are stacked in your favor. There is a greater chance you come from money. There are more educational and career oppurtunities available to you. You are less likely to be harrassed by the police or to be approached by gang members. You are less likely to come from a broken home or have a relative in prison. Less likely but it is not an absolute. I believe that anyone who is willing to take a true and honest evaluation of self and try purposely to improve is capable of soaring to the greatest heights while overcoming the greatest odds. Also bear in mind that these truths only apply to the middle class whites and the upper castes. There are lots of poor white families who live in bad areas and face similar obstacles. There are however (again) way more white people living in the US and the white people living at the poverty level are a smaller percentage of the whole which further supports the illusion of superiority. Now with all of that being said. If a white kid has both parents at home and comes from money, then attends an ivy league school and becomes a researcher and wins a nobel prize. Then at the same time you have a troubled black youth who grows up in compton in a broken home with a parent in jail that he has never met and is constantly approached with drugs and violence and racist police and has no money for college but finds a way and gets his degree from podunk U and becomes a researcher despite it all and gets that same nobel prize. Then tell me, who is the better man? \n\nI have no idea where your head is at on this and for all I know it could be an innocent question. But you should probably be more specific in the future. the question "Are white people the best" comes across as ignorant. I am not attacking you or assuming you are. Just letting you know it could be pretty offensive depending on who is reading it.
555289
not sure. but my guess is how society changes in respect to it's opinions on politics- as in more or less liberal/conservative. or how politics and world events may affect a society in general.