IS “RACE” MODERN?

Abstract

AbstractRace theorists have been unable to reach a consensus regarding the basic historical question, “is ‘race’ modern?” I argue that this is partly because the question itself is ambiguous. There is not really one question that race scholars are answering, but at least six. First, is theconcept of racemodern? Second, is there a modern concept of race that isdistinct from earlier race concepts? Third, are“races” themselvesmodern? Fourth, areracialized groupsmodern? Fifth, are themeans and methods associated with racializationmodern? And sixth, are themeanings attached to racialized traitsmodern? Because these questions have different answers, the debate about the historical origins of “race” cannot be resolved unless they are distinguished. I will explain the ways in which “race” is and is not modern by answering these questions, thereby offering a resolution to a seemingly intractable problem.