Final blog response

The Human Race Machine by Nancy Burson. This machine allows an individual to see themselves as a different race, or several different races. Burson believes that race is a socially constructed concept rather than a genetic truth. She also believes that her machine will help individuals look past the issues tied to race. What I believe she is trying to say is that there is no such thing as acting according to one's race. She is saying that identity is not based on genetics. She created this machine to give us all the chance to see ourselves as another race. She's making the statement that we all could have been any race; she's making the point that race is not a determining factor in human beings. When she says "sameness" is the fact that, through her machine, we all can get a sense of what another race is like (in regards to physical appearance).
I agree and disagree with Burson. I do believe that race is a social construct more than it is a genetic, in some aspects. Race itself is a product of genetics. However, what we view as "racial differences" are a product of society and environment. Also, this brings up the idea of racism, another social construct. Our identities are not determined by our race; identity and personality are shaped by things such as environment, experience, and up-bringing. There is no such thing as acting black, or white, or Asian, or Hispanic. There is also no such thing as speaking or dressing black, white, Asian, or Hispanic. There are characteristics of every race that may hold true in some situations, but not in others. African American English (AAE) serves as an example of this. One of the characteristics of AAE is the removal of the final "g" in "ing" words. This is a generalization. Not all black speakers drop the "g" of of "ing" words; speakers of other races are just as capable of dropping the "g" off of words as black speakers are. And this is just one example! Race is just one of the many ways for one group of people to claim superiority over another. Racism is derived from the idea that one person acts, thinks, or speaks a certain way because of their race. This way of thinking also creates sterotypes.
I disagree with Burson's second point because of issues like stereotyping and racism. Her machine may give individuals the chance to see themselves in a different light, however it probably won't change an individual's thought process and perception, or at least in most cases. If someone is set in their own ways it is probably going to take more than just a digital image to make them re-evaulate how they think, act, or percieve the world. This creates a "sameness" on the outside, but not necessarily on the inside. Personally, I think the machine is a great and interesting device. However, I don't think everyone will think as deeply into as she did. Some may consider the implications she is making with the creation of this machine, but others may see simply see it as a cool way to use technology. I think she deserves a lot of credit for creating this machine, but it is incredibly difficult to create a sense of "sameness" in a population so diverse. Societies are developed over large periods of time, and the development is constant. It's taken years and years to get to the point we are today. Who knows how long it will take to develope a new way of thinking? I personally don't believe it, but I guess it is possible that we will never completely overcome the idea that race is what sets us all apart.