illustrated by Shae Galli
written by Lina Lew
Choose All that Apply: American Indian or Alaskan Native Asian Black or African American Native Hawaiian or Pacific Islander White
F
rom standardized tests to job applications to doctor’s appointments, we’re confronted with this seemingly straightforward question over and over again, to the point where identifying one’s race seems like second nature. The persistent use of race as a distinctive category—along the same lines as gender and age—has naturally shaped the way we evaluate the world and the people in it. Race as a form of categorization has even gained substantial footing in the medical field, as physicians often turn to race as a biological indicator of an individual’s health. However, taking a closer look at the origins, applications, and implications of race reveal that the boundaries between races might not be as clear as they appear to be. In fact, they might not exist at all. At least, not biologically.
4 | sqonline.ucsd.edu
