Race, Ethnicity, Culture and Color Explained Through African Philosophy
You Can Be Any Color, Culture, Race, or Ethnicity You Choose
Our eyes can deceive us. We often place people into racial or cultural boxes based on how they look — but these categories are human inventions, not biological truths. The African philosophy of Ubuntu reminds us: “Umuntu ngumuntu ngabantu” — a person is a person through other people.
What Is Race?
Race has no genetic basis. It’s a social category created to classify people by visible traits (phenotype) like skin color, hair texture, or eye shape. Modern science shows race is not biological.
What Is Ethnicity?
Ethnicity is cultural identity. It groups people by shared ancestry, language, religion, and traditions. Unlike race, ethnicity is more about heritage and cultural experience than appearance.
What Is Culture?
Culture is the learned pattern of knowledge, values, and behavior passed down through generations. It’s what shapes language, art, food, and social norms.
What Is Color?
Color is visual and sensory. Skin pigmentation and the way light reflects influence how we see and feel about identity. Yet color alone doesn’t define heritage or worth.
Race by Percentages in South Africa (2018 Census)
| Race | Percent |
|---|---|
| Black African | 80.90% |
| Colored | 8.80% |
| White | 7.80% |
| Indian and Asian | 2.50% |
In South Africa, the term “Colored” historically refers to people of mixed ancestry. Its Indian community is one of the world’s largest outside India.
DNA and Human Origins
All humans share deep African roots. In 1987, scientists reported the concept of “African Eve” — a common maternal ancestor who lived about 150,000 years ago. Genetic studies, such as those led by Dr. Sarah Tishkoff at the University of Pennsylvania, show Africa’s extraordinary DNA diversity.
The Khoisan were once believed to hold the oldest genetic lineages, but evidence points to older lineages in Tanzania’s Sandawe people. This confirms modern humans originated in Africa ~200,000 years ago before spreading worldwide ~100,000 years ago.
Genotype vs. Phenotype
Genotype = your unseen genetic makeup. Phenotype = your visible traits (height, eye color, face shape). Race tries to link phenotype to identity, but genes tell a much more complex story.