Web site of week

Web site of week
KNIGHT RIDDER NEWSPAPERS
Race is a concept so entrenched within the American culture, that the mere mention of it is sure to engender a response. Yet, for all we think we know about race, how much it is true? The PBS documentary & quot;Race - The Power of Illusion & quot; and its companion Web site (http://www.pbs.org/race) explores this complicated issue, separating fact from fiction. What you don't know will surprise you.
For example, our eyes tell us that there are physical differences between native peoples of China and France. We commonly think of the two as members of different races. Yet, from a biological standpoint, all humans are 99.9 percent genetically identical. In fact, not one characteristic, trait or even gene distinguishes all the members of one so-called race from all the members of another so-called race. So, scientifically speaking, all humans are of the same race.
The site goes on to examine other perceptions surrounding race using a variety of interactive activities and well-written articles. A multiple-choice quiz tests your knowledge of human diversity, while a sorting puzzle has you match pictures of individuals to what you perceive to be their racial classification.
The overall lesson of the site is that while race has no basis in science, it is nevertheless a reality in American social hierarchy.