Some respondents to my recent posts about race have suggested that discussing race is itself racist. Even me calling myself "White" would thus risk being racist. But while race is a "social construct" with no biological basis beyond melanin levels in skin, that doesn't mean "race" doesn't exist. It's not a biological "thing", but it's still a social thing. Nor does race as a "social construct" mean any given individual can decide which race to belong to. It's not an individual choice but a social determination. It's a construct with very real effects that need to be discussed, and discussing its construction and effects is not essentially racist – or even anti-racist. (Andrew Shields, #111words, 27 July)
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