Download Title: Race in Forensic Anthropology: Biological Reality, Social

Title: Race in Forensic Anthropology: Biological Reality, Social Construct,
or Both?
Author: Nicole Truesdell
Affiliation: Michigan State University
Abstract: Race is a contentious idea with a long history in American society.
Within anthropology the idea of race has transformed over time from biological
reality to a social construct. However, typological race is still used by forensic
anthropologists when assessing a biological profile of an unidentified individual.
In this forensic framework race continues to be understood as biologically “real,”
despite the prevailing notions to the contrary. What might explain this apparent
contradiction? Using a nonmetric analysis study on 626 “black” and “white” skulls
this paper examines the underlying assumptions of biological race used in
forensic anthropology. Contrasting two temporally distinct populations the
accuracy of assessing racial affiliation was tested. Results showed that the traits
used were accurate, traits were population specific, and secular change had
occurred over time in the black and white populations. Closer examination
reveals that the change occurring over time may be the result of comparing two
temporally distinct populations. Race classification changed throughout time,
coinciding with changing racial traits. Therefore, race as seen by forensic
anthropologists can be shown to change over time, reflecting not a biological
“reality”, but rather temporally specific American social conceptions of racial
affiliation ascribed to a biological (typological) basis.