EP 2: Race as a social construct: With guest Dr. Stephanie Meredith

In this episode, biological anthropologist, Dr Stephanie Meredith chats with us about race as a social construct and how even though it’s not a biological reality, the impacts of racial categorizations are still very, very real. We also delve into funny, strange and gobsmacking personal stories around racial perceptions. Episode breakdown: The history of racial classifications and their arbitrary nature, based on physical traits The Human Genome Project's findings on genetic similarity How other species have a lot more genetic diversity than we do The history of the census, when it comes to racial categories and how they have changed The impacts and consequences of racial classification, i.e how people are treated and how their bodies move in the world - health, opportunity, experience. Why the government still needs race data Stories of Dr Stephanie Meredith’s dual heritage How other people perceive us when it comes to race Mixed race children paying less preferential attention to any one skin tone  Special Guest:  Dr. Stephanie Meredith , Ph.D.                                                       Assistant professor, Anthropology                                                       College of the Canyons Chair, member and credentials Committee American association of Biological Anthropologists  Website: www.stephanie-meredith.com                                    Instagram: @dr.brachydactyl   Links to resources: Fatal invention by Dorothy Roberts https://www.amazon.com/Fatal-Invention-Dorothy-Roberts-2012-10-11/dp/B01K0SWV80/ref=sr_1_2?crid=9M4HXH7ZAQI0&keywords=fatal+invention+dorothy+roberts&qid=1696218513&sprefix=fatal+invention+%2Caps%2C129&sr=8-2 PBS Documentary Series: Race the Power of an Illusion  https://vimeo.com/133506632?gclid=CjwKCAjwseSoBhBXEiwA9iZtxn4ex5XLBSvC1SjSQlwnZfLaepjbp8pyXw4zBGllLs0KLPQ0sT9xAhoCR9cQAvD_BwE&gclsrc=aw.ds Current census https://www.census.gov/topics/population/race/about.html Census.gov - a comment on the current racial categories https://www.census.gov/quickfacts/fact/note/US/RHI625222#:~:text=The%20racial%20categories%20included%20in,biologically%2C%20anthropologically%2C%20or%20genetically. Nelson Mandela - Long Walk to Freedom https://www.goodgoodgood.co/articles/nelson-mandela-quotes#:~:text=On%20love,human%20heart%20than%20its%20opposite.%E2%80%9D Additional info on the Podcast  Hosts: Amy Maghera -Taub, Hanna-Lee Sakakibara If you liked this episode please share it and subscribe to Mixunderstood where ever you listen to your Podcasts.  Follow us: Instagram: @mixunderstoodpod Facebook: @mixunderstoodpod Twitter/X: @Mix_understood Tik Tok: @mixunderstood.pod   Contact Email: [email protected]