ckaihatsu
28th August 2008, 14:35
[Note: This series is very well done, and in the third segment posits wealth as the key determining factor in individuals' outcomes. - Chris]
PBS~ Race: The Power of an Illusion (2003, 3 Parts 56 minutes each)
http://www.pbs.org/race/
Production company: http://www.newsreel.org/
Part 1 - "The Difference Between Us" examines the question how to pin down
through contemporary science - including genetics - what is commonly called
race and usually associated with physical factors (skin shade, facial features).
Can human beings be bundled into a few fundamentally different groups (European,
African, Asian, etc.) when looking at their DNA?
-
Part Two of 3 - 56 minutes
Part 2 - "The Story We Tell" uncovers the roots of the race concept in North America,
the 19th century science that legitimated it, and how it came to be held so fiercely
in the western imagination. The episode is an eye-opening tale of how race served
to rationalize, even justify, American social inequalities as "natural." It outlines
the history of social and economic forces which shaped 'race' relations and which have
led the USA on a discriminatory path.
While in the early days of the English colonies there were free black people and
enslaved white people this soon started to change as a matter of convenience.
-
Part Three of 3 parts
Part 3 - "The House We Live In" asks, If race is not biology, what is it? This episode
uncovers how race resides not in nature but in politics, economics and culture. It
reveals how society "make" race by disproportionately channeling resources, power,
status and wealth.
ABOUT THE DOCUMENTARY
By asking, What is this thing called 'race'?, a question so basic it is
rarely asked, "Race - The Power of an Illusion" helps set the terms for
what any further discussion of race must first take into account. Ideal
for human biology, anthropology, sociology, American history, American
studies, and cultural studies.
The division of the world's peoples into distinct groups -"red," "black,"
"white" or "yellow" peoples - has became so deeply imbedded in our psyches,
so widely accepted, many would promptly dismiss as crazy any suggestion of
its falsity. Yet, that's exactly what this provocative, three-hour series
by California Newsreel claims. "Race - The Power of an Illusion" questions
the very idea of race as biology, suggesting that a belief in race is no
more sound than believing that the sun revolves around the earth.
Yet race still matters. Just because race doesn't exist in biology doesn't
mean it isn't very real, helping shape life chances and opportunities.
COMMENTS
"By far the best documentary series on race of the last decade."
Troy Duster, former president, American Sociological Association
"This eye-opening look at why race is not biologically meaningful yet none
the less very real needs to be seen by all scientists and the general public."
Donald Kennedy, Editor-in-Chief, SCIENCE
"One of the most honest and compelling documentary series I've everseen
on race and its impact on this nation's culture and politics, as well as
on the economic status of nonwhite citizens."
Acel Moore, Philadelphia Inquirer
"A marvelously intelligent documentary. A timely reminder that social
divisions are made, not inevitable."
Patricia Williams, The Nation
"Different from other discussions of race because it's an argument made
methodically and with evidence. That we are all "created equal" is both
superficially true as political rhetoric, deeply true asscientific fact and
manifestly ridiculous when one considers the financial, educational and
social inequalities of our society."
Philip Kennicott, Washington Post
"Illuminating and provocative. Race does matter " not as genetics " but as
lived experience. Eloquently documented."
Annie Nakao, San Francisco Chronicle
"Racists have often used pseudoscience to justify their socially damaging
views; watch these films to see how science, by replacing ignorance with
knowledge, can undo that damage."
James Watson, Nobel laureate
"Insightful. Easy to watch, even entertaining as it educates. You will not
see race the same way after watching the series."
Jerry Large, Seattle Times
"So why did RACE - The Power of an Illusion floor me? The show explains how
contemporary science debunks old notions of race, how these ugly falsehoods
evolved, and where race does live -- ininstitutions that disproportionately,
and often invisibly, grant power and wealth to whites."
Donna Britt, Washington Post
"In this atmosphere of race doublespeak, RACE - The Power of an Illusion is one
of the most important, sweeping and groundbreaking documentaries in recent memory."
Esther Iverem, BET.com
"This is deeply resonant material with the potential to make everyone who watches
it think in a new and fundamental way about society."
Steve Johnson, Chicago Tribune
PBS~ Race: The Power of an Illusion (2003, 3 Parts 56 minutes each)
http://www.pbs.org/race/
Production company: http://www.newsreel.org/
Part 1 - "The Difference Between Us" examines the question how to pin down
through contemporary science - including genetics - what is commonly called
race and usually associated with physical factors (skin shade, facial features).
Can human beings be bundled into a few fundamentally different groups (European,
African, Asian, etc.) when looking at their DNA?
-
Part Two of 3 - 56 minutes
Part 2 - "The Story We Tell" uncovers the roots of the race concept in North America,
the 19th century science that legitimated it, and how it came to be held so fiercely
in the western imagination. The episode is an eye-opening tale of how race served
to rationalize, even justify, American social inequalities as "natural." It outlines
the history of social and economic forces which shaped 'race' relations and which have
led the USA on a discriminatory path.
While in the early days of the English colonies there were free black people and
enslaved white people this soon started to change as a matter of convenience.
-
Part Three of 3 parts
Part 3 - "The House We Live In" asks, If race is not biology, what is it? This episode
uncovers how race resides not in nature but in politics, economics and culture. It
reveals how society "make" race by disproportionately channeling resources, power,
status and wealth.
ABOUT THE DOCUMENTARY
By asking, What is this thing called 'race'?, a question so basic it is
rarely asked, "Race - The Power of an Illusion" helps set the terms for
what any further discussion of race must first take into account. Ideal
for human biology, anthropology, sociology, American history, American
studies, and cultural studies.
The division of the world's peoples into distinct groups -"red," "black,"
"white" or "yellow" peoples - has became so deeply imbedded in our psyches,
so widely accepted, many would promptly dismiss as crazy any suggestion of
its falsity. Yet, that's exactly what this provocative, three-hour series
by California Newsreel claims. "Race - The Power of an Illusion" questions
the very idea of race as biology, suggesting that a belief in race is no
more sound than believing that the sun revolves around the earth.
Yet race still matters. Just because race doesn't exist in biology doesn't
mean it isn't very real, helping shape life chances and opportunities.
COMMENTS
"By far the best documentary series on race of the last decade."
Troy Duster, former president, American Sociological Association
"This eye-opening look at why race is not biologically meaningful yet none
the less very real needs to be seen by all scientists and the general public."
Donald Kennedy, Editor-in-Chief, SCIENCE
"One of the most honest and compelling documentary series I've everseen
on race and its impact on this nation's culture and politics, as well as
on the economic status of nonwhite citizens."
Acel Moore, Philadelphia Inquirer
"A marvelously intelligent documentary. A timely reminder that social
divisions are made, not inevitable."
Patricia Williams, The Nation
"Different from other discussions of race because it's an argument made
methodically and with evidence. That we are all "created equal" is both
superficially true as political rhetoric, deeply true asscientific fact and
manifestly ridiculous when one considers the financial, educational and
social inequalities of our society."
Philip Kennicott, Washington Post
"Illuminating and provocative. Race does matter " not as genetics " but as
lived experience. Eloquently documented."
Annie Nakao, San Francisco Chronicle
"Racists have often used pseudoscience to justify their socially damaging
views; watch these films to see how science, by replacing ignorance with
knowledge, can undo that damage."
James Watson, Nobel laureate
"Insightful. Easy to watch, even entertaining as it educates. You will not
see race the same way after watching the series."
Jerry Large, Seattle Times
"So why did RACE - The Power of an Illusion floor me? The show explains how
contemporary science debunks old notions of race, how these ugly falsehoods
evolved, and where race does live -- ininstitutions that disproportionately,
and often invisibly, grant power and wealth to whites."
Donna Britt, Washington Post
"In this atmosphere of race doublespeak, RACE - The Power of an Illusion is one
of the most important, sweeping and groundbreaking documentaries in recent memory."
Esther Iverem, BET.com
"This is deeply resonant material with the potential to make everyone who watches
it think in a new and fundamental way about society."
Steve Johnson, Chicago Tribune