Talk:Race (human categorization)

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Race (human categorization) is a former featured article. Please see the links under Article milestones below for its original nomination page (for older articles, check the nomination archive) and why it was removed.

This article appeared on Wikipedia's Main Page as Today's featured article on October 26, 2004.

Article milestones
Date	Process	Result
October 21, 2003	Brilliant prose	Nominated
August 13, 2006	Featured article review	Demoted

Current status: Former featured article

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The contentious topics procedure applies to this article. This article relates to the intersection of race/ethnicity and human abilities and behaviour.

Arbitration Ruling on Race and Intelligence

The article Race (human categorization), along with other articles relating to the area of conflict (namely, the intersection of race/ethnicity and human abilities and behaviour, broadly construed), is currently subject to active arbitration remedies, described in a 2010 Arbitration Committee case where the articulated principles included:

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Wiki Education assignment: Evolution of the Genus Homo

This article was the subject of a Wiki Education Foundation-supported course assignment, between 29 March 2022 and 3 June 2022. Further details are available on the course page. Student editor(s): WordlyWaleed (article contribs).

Do races even exist?

WP:NOTFORUM

The following discussion has been closed. Please do not modify it.

The POV of this article (and articles which rely on it) is that "race" doesn't really exist. Skin color, shape of facial features, straightness or curliness of hair, don't really divide humans at all. We're just making it up: it's a social construct. I think this is an exaggeration, though well intentioned. I believe the purpose of this is to undermine the basis of racism, particularly racial supremacy. "We are better than you, because you race makes you inherently inferior."

While I applaud the effort to undermine racism (indeed, my mother and grandfather did a lot of civil rights work), the assertion that there are no inherited, readily apparent differences between large groups of people is simply one WP:POV even it has become mainstream in the English-speaking West.

We should rather describe the evidence and reasoning of those who wish to destroy the concept of race, instead of tacitly agreeing with them. There are five basic skin colors: black, brown, red, yellow, and white. Whether or not any people of a certain color look down on others with darker or lighter skin doesn't change the fact that people are born with skin color that is inherited from their parents (the theory is that there is a genetic cause for this).

People of a given race tend to have a similar culture, and perhaps this is the cause of the difficulty in writing objectively about it (or at least in the NPOV style). No one wants to admit that their culture is responsible for producing unfavorable social outcomes like poverty, ignorance, and crime. Since it can't be race -- because race doesn't even exist! -- it must be discrimination. Perhaps so, but Wikipedia should not endorse or espouse this view. It should inform our readers about it. Who believes it, and why? --Uncle Ed (talk) 14:03, 2 November 2024 (UTC)[reply]

This seems very much to be a WP:FORUM post as it doesn't discuss sources, etc. Doug Weller talk 14:10, 2 November 2024 (UTC)[reply]

Removal of last sentence in introductory paragraph

"The concept of race is foundational to racism, the belief that humans can be divided based on the superiority of one race over another."

I feel that this sentence would be better if it were worked into the last paragraph in the opener. Something in my lizard brain feels this fits better within the conventional style I see other introductions written as. Might be off base on this so looking for clarification. Adamopoulos (talk) 21:48, 12 December 2025 (UTC)[reply]

Discussion at Talk:Race (biology) § Requested move 29 April 2026

You are invited to join the discussion at Talk:Race (biology) § Requested move 29 April 2026. —Myceteae‍🍄‍🟫 (talk) 20:22, 30 April 2026 (UTC)[reply]

Note: The requested move does not directly impact this page but may be of interest to readers and watchers.

—Myceteae‍🍄‍🟫 (talk) 20:22, 30 April 2026 (UTC)[reply]