As long as we count Race, Race will always count.
To count is in human nature. We count things to see how much
we have. We count money, or sheep, or goals scores and points
won and we compare that with our peers. We count problems,
and when we feel we have more than another, we feel disadvantaged.
We count to see how we're doing compared to the rest. Counting
is inevitable.
I objected to the question of Race in the recent census.
I feel it gives credence to and perpetuates racism. However,
it makes sense that all sides want to know "how they
are doing." One could take the same stance against the
question of age or sex. Perhaps the census should only count
live bodies and be done with it.
The problem with the census is that it segregates us into
groups. Groups then can easily be compared. Congressional
districts can be re-draws to allow for better results. This
effectively segregates us into different groups. Thus, the
mere act of counting Race in gathering census data allows
for segregation.
The one bright spot in all of this is the increased difficulty
in counting Race as more multi-ethnic progeny are born; it's
difficult to categorize people as belonging to a single Race.
Perhaps the Race question will morph, or go away all together.
The next challenge then will be age or sex or another question
on the form.
Our only hope of eliminating racial segregation is the continued
integration of desperate ethnicities into the genetic makeup
of our people. Only then will we be free of racism.
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