Race and Racial Identity

Race is a human invented system that uses physical differences between people, not genetic or biological variables, to classify people and has been used as the basis for defining superiority and inferiority.

Our eyes tell us that people look different. But what do those differences mean? Are they biological? Has race always been with us? How does race affect people today?

You may know what race you are, but how would you prove it if someone disagreed with you? The fact is, race is a social and political construct that has evolved in fascinating and often confusing ways over the centuries.

Racial categories are weak proxies for genetic diversity and need to be phased out.

It is vitally important that we acknowledge false stories, such as the discovery of an untouched wilderness; explore power dynamics (race, class, gender) that shaped the history of the conservation movement; and the adverse impact on people and communities of color and low-income communities.

Much of the work presented below draws out the historical landscapes of race, the geographic impulses of racism and the persistent salience of racial inequality.

This audio recording includes discussion of barriers to engagement and how to meaningfully engage diverse communities in conservation.