David Livingstone Smith cited in 鈥楢mherst Bulletin鈥 article on race
David Livingstone Smith, Ph.D., professor of philosophy, was featured in an Amherst Bulletin article highlighting his recent Portland Press Herald op-ed that discussed the definition of race.
The article applauded Livingstone Smith for his ideas about race, citing a quote about his concept of 鈥渢he race delusion鈥 in which he argued that race is neither cultural or genetic:
鈥淎lthough many of us don鈥檛 like to admit it, even to ourselves, we tend to think of race as more than skin deep,鈥 Livingstone Smith said. 鈥淲e imagine that every member of a race shares something deep inside that鈥檚 unique to members of that race. This 鈥榬acial essence鈥 is imagined to be carried in the blood, or located in the genes, and passed down the 鈥榖loodline鈥 from one generation to the next. It鈥檚 also supposed to be unchangeable.鈥
Several more of Livingston Smith鈥檚 points were lauded in the article, including his argument that society must examine and acknowledge racial injustices in an effort to change the concept of race as it is currently understood.