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Is racial identity solely determined by biological factors or are other factors at play?

Ada Sieghard

I think that racial identity is not solely determined by biological factors. While genetics certainly play a role in determining how we look, our racial identity is much more complicated than just our physical appearance.

In fact, I would argue that our cultural background and upbringing play a much larger role in our racial identity than our biology. For example, imagine a person who is biologically half white and half black, but was raised in a predominantly white community and identifies solely as white. Despite their genetics, this person's racial identity is clearly not determined by their biology alone.

Additionally, societal factors such as racism and discrimination also contribute to how we identify racially. People who experience racism or discrimination due to their perceived race may feel a stronger connection to that racial identity, regardless of their genetics. For example, a person who is biologically white but has a mixed-race child may feel compelled to identify as a person of color out of a desire to support their child and fight against racial injustice.

Furthermore, cultural appropriation and the mixing of different cultural practices can also complicate our racial identities. For example, a person who is biologically white but grew up practicing traditions from a different culture may feel a stronger connection to that cultural identity than their own race. In this case, their racial identity may be shaped more by the cultural practices they grew up with than their biology.

All in all, while biological factors certainly play a role in determining our racial identity, they are by no means the only factor at play. Our upbringing, cultural background, societal factors, and personal experiences all contribute to how we identify racially. It's important to recognize and respect the complexity of our racial identities and avoid making assumptions based solely on physical appearance or genetics.