I didn’t anticipate a lot of surprises before I arrived at the RACE: Are we so different? exhibit. After going through a few displays, however, I was quickly bombarded with a host of emotions. At first, I was shocked by the statistics and data; and then enlightened with the reasons why we have different complexions. It’s not our DNA, it’s the sun, a fact I learned prior to going to this exhibit, but also found it well presented there.
The one image that still resonates with me is a picture of a little girl with her ancestry listed: Japanese, Norwegian and several others. Looking at her image without knowing her ancestry, one would probably classify her as “white” or “Caucasian”. However, once you look at her background, you can see these distinct characteristics that make her unique.
There is just one race, it’s the human race. I thought that before I went into this exhibit and even more so now. Who cares if we look different? Why does it matter that I have really fair skin and someone else has really dark skin? On the census, they could just ask for someone’s heritage and get a rough idea of what they look like. Do we still need these narrow classifications that define us so distinctly?
In the past, I have considered when asked what my race is I would answer “human.” I think that idea is even more relevant now and if you ask me about my ancestry or heritage, this will be a better conversation.
I believe we need to petition to change the structure of the census, and what questions it asks and how close-ended the options are.
I am Norwegian, Danish, German, Irish, Scottish and Swedish; or an American mutt. My fifth great grandfather was a Lord in Scotland and my fifth great grandmother was Lady Margaret Dunn from Ireland in 1758.
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| One of the displays in the RACE exhibit showing different descriptions used in past censuses. |
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