Question

Many people classify "races" on the basis of a single criterion, such as skin color. What are the inherent dangers of using only one or a few criteria to classify human populations?

Answer 1

Firstly races does not have any inherent physical or biological meaning.

Human skin colour ranges in variety from the darkest brown to the lightest hues. An individual's skin pigmentation is the result of genetics, being the product of both of the individual's biological parents' genetic makeup, and exposure to sun. In evolution, skin pigmentation in human beings evolved by a process of natural selection primarily to regulate the amount of ultraviolet radiation penetrating the skin, controlling its biochemical effects.The actual skin colour of different humans is affected by many substances, although the single most important substance is the pigment melanin. Melanin is produced within the skin in cells called melanocytes and it is the main determinant of the skin colour of darker-skinned humans. The skin colour of people with light skin is determined mainly by the bluish-white connective tissue under the dermis and by the hemoglobin circulating in the veins of the dermis

And on to the question what are the inherent dangers of using only one or few criteria to classify human population.

• Race/Colour Discrimination

Race discrimination involves treating someone (an applicant or employee) unfavorably because he/she is of a certain race or because of personal characteristics associated with race (such as hair texture, skin colour, or certain facial features). Colour discrimination involves treating someone unfavorably because of skin colour complexion. Race/colour discrimination also can involve treating someone unfavorably because the person is married to (or associated with) a person of a certain race or colour. Discrimination can occur when the victim and the person who inflicted the discrimination are the same race or colour.

• Race/Colour Discrimination & Work Situations

The law forbids discrimination when it comes to any aspect of employment, including hiring, firing, pay, job assignments, promotions, layoff, training, fringe benefits, and any other term or condition of employment.

• Race/Colour Discrimination & Harassment

It is unlawful to harass a person because of that person's race or colour.Harassment can include, for example, racial slurs, offensive or derogatory remarks about a person's race or colour, or the display of racially-offensive symbols. Although the law doesn't prohibit simple teasing, offhand comments, or isolated incidents that are not very serious, harassment is illegal when it is so frequent or severe that it creates a hostile or offensive work environment or when it results in an adverse employment decision (such as the victim being fired or demoted).The harasser can be the victim's supervisor, a supervisor in another area, a co-worker, or someone who is not an employee of the employer, such as a client or customer.

• Race/Colour Discrimination & Employment Policies/Practices

An employment policy or practice that applies to everyone, regardless of race or colour, can be illegal if it has a negative impact on the employment of people of a particular race or colour and is not job-related and necessary to the operation of the business. For example, a "no-beard" employment policy that applies to all workers without regard to race may still be unlawful if it is not job-related and has a negative impact on the employment of African-American men .