Is the popular notion of race still relevant concept in contemporary societyWhy Wha are the limits of this notion - Essay Example

The Notion of Race in Modern Society It is my belief that the notion of race no longer exists in modern society due to the seamlessly successful integration of various nationalities into the American society. We have come to see generations of Americans come into being with a truly mixed racial and ethnic identity far more complex than we could have ever imagine in the past. Almost everyone who calls themselves an American these days can lay claim to some sort of mixed heritage in their family tree.

Therefore, the notion of race as a social class divider no longer exists. Any preconceived notions that one may also have about race has been eradicated by the Supreme Court ruling ending segregation and outlawing anti-miscegenation laws over 35 years ago. (Rodriguez Mongrel America) Race as a notion is limited by what we can see other nationalities doing in America. That includes their traditions, cultures, and way of life that they integrate into their daily American lifestyle. The understanding of the race of a person is limited by the open mindedness of society and what we consider to be important in our understanding of particular nationalities.

In other words, the notion of race is limited by “racial profiling”. A race is whatever we think they should be and how they should conduct themselves in public. We do not have to actually do anything in order to change the concept of race in our modern society. That is because the integration of cultures through mixed marriages has helped make any beliefs about race a thing of the past. According to research done by Rodriguez (Mongrel America) at least 77% of African Americans will be of mixed race by the year 21000.

He explains that: Latinos and Asians, the groups that have made up three quarters of immigrants over the past forty years, have helped to create a climate in which ethnic or racial intermarriage is more accepted today than ever before. (Rodriguez Mongrel America) Therefore, the time will eventually come when race will no longer have a social meaning and will instead just mean a form of gambling that people enjoy. Ethnicity is a term that is used to define a persons membership in a group.

This is a concept which comes in handy when dealing with a person of mixed race because it will help define how the person is living in two worlds and how there is a need for him to merge those two different worlds into one personality, his own. Ethnicity is supposed to be the new politically correct term for “race”. However, I stand by my first statement that the notion of race will no longer exist in the future therefore, ethnicity will also no longer matter nor be considered in politically or socially dealing with people.

There will come a time when these two words, race and ethnicity, will no longer have any valid meaning our society because America will truly finally be free of any racial and ethnic notions once our society has become 100 % racially integrated through marriage.Works CitedChang, Heewon & Dodd, Timothy. “International Perspectives on Race and Ethnicity: An Annotated Bibliography”. Electronic Magazine of Multicultural Education. Electronic Magazine of Multicultural Education. 2001. Web. 14 Dec. 2011.

Rodriguez, Gregory. “Mongrel America”. The Atlantic Monthly. The Atlantic Monthly. 1 Feb. 2003. Web. 13 Dec. 2011.