Final answer:
The quote suggests that race was created as a result of racism rather than causing it, aligning with Option 2: Racism is the primary cause of race. Racism combines prejudice with power to create and reinforce racial categories, which further perpetuates inequality and discrimination.
Step-by-step explanation:
The quote 'But race is the child of racism, not the father' means that racial categories were created as a result of racism, and not the other way around. This suggests that Option 2, Racism is the primary cause of race, is the correct interpretation. Essentially, racism as a social construct has led to the development and reinforcement of race as a way to categorize and divide humans.
Racism involves the combination of prejudice with power to negatively impact individuals based on their perceived racial identity. Over time, biased systems and misinformation have perpetuated the false idea of race, promulgating a sense of superiority among certain groups and facilitating the oppression of others, without necessarily involving overt hatred. It often manifests in social, economic, and political disparities that entrench discriminatory practices and beliefs.
Understanding and confronting racism requires the recognition and elimination of its elements, which can include false narratives of superiority, misuse of power, and a lack of factual acknowledgment. To address and un-do racism, it's crucial to disassemble the systemic and individual components that allow it to exist and thrive.