The Concept of Race in the Latter Part of the 20th Century

The subspecies concept, as used by modern biologists, has little similarity to the outmoded typological, static, and nonevolutionary 19th century concept of race. During the 1960's and early 1970's, some anthropologists criticized the concept of race, sometimes confusing the 19th century view with the 20th. As a result, the biological concept of race has been rejected by many anthropologists as having no validity for the study of human variation. Properly defined, however, the concept is valid and useful for certain purposes, especially as a communication device to refer to suprademic groupings. It is hoped that a perspective might now be obtainable which recognizes the scientific incorrectness of using “racial” differences as explanations of social differences, but which can still utilize a useful (if limited) concept for biological problems. This paper reviews the biological concept of race and criticisms raised against it in an attempt to show the potential uses to which the concept can still be put.