Assignment 2
1. It is true that there is a little variation in the genetic components of humankind as can be seen from the physical features. This can be confirmed from the fact that human beings have the same shape of eyes; similar body shapes accompanied with a similar skin color. Furthermore, human beings tend to have the same hair form. Actually, the fact that the human species can identify each other by just looking is evidence enough that there is not much variation in their genes.
2. Race was used to bring out human difference because it was felt that different races had varying capabilities. For instance, the pygmies were viewed as having lesser intellectual abilities than other races. Furthermore, in the 15th century people started to be categorized in terms of their status. This was mainly the case for the African slaves who were viewed as being impoverished. Unlike the whites who were well off with a number of them being wealthy, the Africans were regarded to be poor. Additionally, the period after the 15th century led to several groups being marginalized and oppressed through acts of oppression, slavery and colonization. Consequently, these groups were stigmatized on a racial basis.
3. Omi and Winant say that race is an ideological function because it cannot be proved scientifically rather it is majorly in the minds of the US population. Actually, races have been established on the basis of the physical outlook like the skin color. On the other hand, the structural function of racism comes into play from the different stratifications that various races have been placed. For instance, the Whites have been placed at the top with the Africans at the bottom.