Final answer:
Race is a social construct with real consequences in society. Racism persists because meaningful and factual communication about race and racism is often avoided. Everyone can contribute to combating racism through conscious choices and antiracist actions.
Step-by-step explanation:
Race is a social construct and not a biological fact. Although there is no scientific basis for dividing humans into distinct racial categories, race has real consequences in society. It shapes our institutions, practices, and the advantages and disadvantages experienced by different groups of people. Racism continues to exist because meaningful and factual communication about race and racism is often avoided.
For example, laws alone cannot eradicate racism because it is deeply embedded in educational, economic, criminal, political, and other social systems. Everyone can contribute to combating racism by making conscious choices and being antiracist in their actions. Antiracism is not simply about who you are, but what you do.
It is important to recognize that race exists as a social reality, albeit not a biological one. The categorization of race is a powerful tool used for discrimination, subordination, solidarity, and affirmative action. Different cultures have different ways of dividing up the natural world, which influences how race is understood and assigned in our daily lives.