I want to examine the key issue of how to establish a balance of diversity and unity. Too much diversity, and society will fragment; too much unity and we have a closed society. How do we find the balance? Is it too much to suggest that it is possible to […]
Needle’s Eye
Race, ethnicity and community
What does ‘race’ mean today, to a biologist? The ‘candelabra’ model of racial development is now rejected in favour of a ‘trellis’ model. . Nigel Pocock . Even with Neanderthals, cross-species mating was occurring. Modern Europeans consequently have between 2%-5% Neanderthal DNA. The trellis model allows for constant movement of […]
Reparations and genetics: Have they anything to say to each other?
Genetic modification and reparations for slavery might seem on first appearances to be somewhat distant companions. Nigel Pocock How should we define ‘GM’? If we limit the definition to a laboratory, deliberately excluding the social context, then we are unlikely to make a connection between reparations and GM. […]
The legacy of slavery (5): Epigenetics and trauma
There is scientific evidence from a growing new science known as epigenetics, ‘added onto genetics’. At the heart of this approach is the study of chemical attachments to the cells containing the genes. Nigel Pocock Movement for Justice and Reconciliation These attachments then control the ability of a […]
The legacy of slavery (2): Identity and pathologies
In one very interesting piece of Dutch research, alienation and loneliness were analysed under four helpful identity types: ‘integrated identity, (an identity with both their ethnic group, and wider society), ‘separated identity’ (a strong ethnic identity, but weak national identity), ‘assimilated identity’ (a strong national identity only) and ‘marginalized identity’ […]