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Hypothetically, a group of people of different races grow up in the same small town in the same economic conditions, go to the same schools etc. Is race still a

Hypothetically, a group of people of different races grow up in the same small town in the same economic conditions, go to the same schools etc. Is race still a good indicator of diversity of experiences? Not at all. Skin color is a poor proxy for diversity of thought or experience. We could instead just treat people as individuals and not draw broad conclusions on skin color.

ceejayoz 6y ago
> Hypothetically, a group of people of different races grow up in the same small town in the same economic conditions, go to the same schools etc. Is race still a good indicator of diversity of experiences? Not at all. Even more so in that scenario, I'd think. If you've eliminated all the other variables, race would be the only differentiator of experience in that grouping. (Of course, the reality of the non-hypothetical world is that people of different races tend to also have different schools, economic conditions, etc.)
- sojournerc 6y ago
  To clarify your position, in the hypothetical, you believe two people with the same color skin will have identical experiences because of their race? I don't think that's the case at all. Again, skin color is a poor signifier for experience, and while it's good to acknowledge that person's life is impacted by their race, thinking that race is the only differentiator is silly. Individuals are determined by more than their level of melatonin.
  - ceejayoz 6y ago
    > Again, skin color is a poor signifier for experience... I suspect people of color would tend to disagree. It's likely a black person will have experiences not shared by your average white person, just like Americans may have experiences unique to them, or men, or disabled people, or people with any other characteristic that distinguishes them from others. > thinking that race is the only differentiator is silly No one said only. > Individuals are determined by more than their level of melatonin. Sure, but your hypothetical was "what if those things were gone?"

ceejayoz 6y ago

> Hypothetically, a group of people of different races grow up in the same small town in the same economic conditions, go to the same schools etc. Is race still a good indicator of diversity of experiences? Not at all. Even more so in that scenario, I'd think. If you've eliminated all the other variables, race would be the only differentiator of experience in that grouping. (Of course, the reality of the non-hypothetical world is that people of different races tend to also have different schools, economic conditions, etc.)

sojournerc 6y ago
To clarify your position, in the hypothetical, you believe two people with the same color skin will have identical experiences because of their race? I don't think that's the case at all. Again, skin color is a poor signifier for experience, and while it's good to acknowledge that person's life is impacted by their race, thinking that race is the only differentiator is silly. Individuals are determined by more than their level of melatonin.
- ceejayoz 6y ago
  > Again, skin color is a poor signifier for experience... I suspect people of color would tend to disagree. It's likely a black person will have experiences not shared by your average white person, just like Americans may have experiences unique to them, or men, or disabled people, or people with any other characteristic that distinguishes them from others. > thinking that race is the only differentiator is silly No one said only. > Individuals are determined by more than their level of melatonin. Sure, but your hypothetical was "what if those things were gone?"