The Study of Racialism

fwsweet · Last edited by fwsweet on Tue 19 Aug 2008 13:24; edited 5 times in total

Molecular Anthropology and Genetics

Recent findings in molecular anthropology show that one-third of White Americans carry measurable recent African genetic admixture in their DNA, the equivalent of having a single ancestor of one hundred percent African admixture from around the year 1880. Afro-European admixture is typical of New World populations, but the United States is unique in having a bimodal admixture distribution. Two genetically different populations live in the United States. One population, self-identified as “White,” is of overwhelmingly European descent with only zero to twenty percent African genetic admixture in any given individual. The other group, called “Black,” is of mainly African descent with less than 25 percent of European genetic admixture in most of its members. No other New World nation has a bimodal scatter diagram, the result of an endogamous color line that has been in place for three centuries.

The physical features associated with African versus European ancestry in the U.S. culture are due to about a dozen genes. Such “racial” traits are so ephemeral that three generations of intermarriage suffice to erase all traces of them. The association of certain features with “race” is culturally dependent and learned in early childhood. Finally, the 0.7 percent average African admixture found in today’s White Americans is the result of genes slowly leaking through the color line from Black to White. In every year that has passed since the 1691 invention of the endogamous color line, between 0.10 and 0.14 percent of the Black population on average switched self-identity from the Black side of the endogamous color line to the White side.

In order to familiarize yourself with the issues discussed in this section, you may wish to read the following essays:

In addition, the journal articles at the following two sites may be of interest:

William · Posted: Thu 23 Mar 2006 21:26 Post subject:

Hello, Everyone:

I've been asked to be moderator of this forum. I continue to look forward to contributing new genetics studies and articles, to reading those posted by others, and to discuss interpretations.

Thanks,

William

Obbie · Posted: Sat 05 Aug 2006 00:24 Post subject: Anthropology/Genetics

A couple of years ago, I saw a program called "The Journey of Man".
Thought it was so interesting that I bought the video and the paperback.
Hardly anyone I've talked to has seen or heard of it.

I would like to know if Mr. Sweet has seen/read it, and what his thoughts are.

Thank you.

fwsweet · Posted: Tue 02 Sep 2008 19:46 Post subject: Re: Anthropology/Genetics