Chapter 1: The Illusion of Race

In this inaugural installment of an eight-part series, we delve into the topic of race—a notion that, although it should unify us, has often driven a wedge between us. This series aims to illuminate America's "original sin" and will unfold over the course of eight consecutive days.

The narrative begins in 1869 when Friedrich Miescher, a Swiss cell biology student at the University of Basel, made a groundbreaking discovery. While examining pus from surgical bandages, he identified a previously unknown substance containing both phosphorus and nitrogen in the nuclei of white blood cells, which he termed nuclein.

Today, we recognize it as deoxyribonucleic acid, or DNA. It would take 75 years and the contributions of several prominent scientists for us to fully grasp that Miescher had uncovered the fundamental blueprint for all life. Unbeknownst to him, this revelation would also equip us with the knowledge that racism is fundamentally a falsehood.

Only one race matters because only one race exists.

Currently, scientific consensus asserts that Homo sapiens sapiens is the sole surviving subspecies of Homo sapiens, encompassing all of humanity. Research indicates that 99.9% of our DNA is identical across all humans, irrespective of skin color. There are no living subspecies or races; the term race, when used in the context of humans, typically refers to subspecies. Any other subspecies that may have existed are now extinct.

Africa, the cradle of humankind, harbors the greatest genetic diversity. Statistically, the likelihood of finding greater genetic variation between two randomly chosen individuals from Sub-Saharan Africa is higher than that between individuals from the Central African Republic and Sweden. This may seem counterintuitive, but it is a fact.

While skin color serves as a prominent visual trait among humans, it has historically influenced societal organization. For the past five centuries, it has played a significant role in world events. From a biological perspective, however, skin color is merely a minor variation controlled by a limited number of alleles—alternative gene forms that arise through mutation and occupy the same locus on a chromosome.

In clear terms: the notion of dividing humanity into multiple races or subspecies with distinct abilities has been debunked—we are fundamentally alike. The concept of race emerged as a convenient myth in the last 500 years, utilized by various European nations and their former colonies, such as the United States and Brazil, to justify slavery based on skin color and endorse policies like colonialism and segregation. The reality is that there exists only one race—the human race, Homo sapiens sapiens.

Logically, this fact should close the debate—racism is rooted in a myth, or more bluntly, a lie. The behavioral differences we observe among various ethnicities or racial groups are shaped by their respective cultures, not biological differences, unless we are discussing mental illness.

However, ideas—whether positive or negative—often take on a life of their own, and racism persists despite its lack of rational foundation. Recently, we have witnessed a resurgence of white nationalism and anti-immigrant sentiments in the United States. Fears about immigration frequently stem from concerns that newcomers will alter America's so-called pristine identity.

As of February 1st of this year, 36 states had enacted or were considering legislation to limit education on racism and racial bias. Some states have banned discussions on the existence of systemic racism and the unique contributions of specific racial or ethnic groups to the nation's growth. (When political leaders dictate what educators can teach, it raises significant red flags for all of us.)

To grasp why our society—and indeed much of the world—remains fixated on a myth that has become a form of pseudoscience, it is essential to explore the historical context of race. It is a troubling narrative, as this myth has profoundly altered our world, often for the worse. It compels us to confront uncomfortable truths about the United States. Yet, understanding this history is vital if we hope to mend the persistent wounds of racism and move toward a future unburdened by racial biases.

In Part Two, we will examine the history of slavery—an institution that was nearly universal and existed for millennia before the colonization of the "New World." However, under European control, slavery evolved from a punishment for crime or the fate of captives and debtors into a curse inflicted upon the innocent, determined solely by their skin color.

The first video, Exploring Race Matters 2020 Part 1, offers insights into the ongoing discourse surrounding race in America, highlighting its complexities and societal implications.

The second video, ONLY ONE RACE MATTERS Holden at Bathurst 1969-1994, discusses the historical context of race and its significance within societal structures, emphasizing the need for a unified understanding of humanity.