Historical Origins of Racial Classification
See also: Historical definitions of raceGroups of humans have probably always identified themselves as distinct from other groups, but such differences have not always been understood to be natural, immutable and global. These features are the distinguishing features of how the concept of race is used today.
The word "race" was originally used to refer to any nations or ethnic groups. Marco Polo in his 13th-century travels, for example, describes the Persian raceāthe current concept of "race" dates back only to the 17th century.
Read more about this topic: Race (human Classification)
Famous quotes containing the words historical, origins and/or racial:
“The past itself, as historical change continues to accelerate, has become the most surreal of subjectsmaking it possible ... to see a new beauty in what is vanishing.”
—Susan Sontag (b. 1933)
“The origins of clothing are not practical. They are mystical and erotic. The primitive man in the wolf-pelt was not keeping dry; he was saying: Look what I killed. Arent I the best?”
—Katharine Hamnett (b. 1948)
“I dont think Dr. King helped racial harmony, I think he helped racial justice. What I profess to do is help the oppressed and if I cause a load of discomfort in the white community and the black community, that in my opinion means Im being effective, because Im not trying to make them comfortable. The job of an activist is to make people tense and cause social change.”
—Al, Reverend Sharpton (b. 1954)