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David Livingstone Smith, Ph.D., professor of philosophy, was featured in an Amherst Bulletin article highlighting his recent Portland Press Herald op-ed that discussed the definition of race.

The article applauded Livingstone Smith for his ideas about race, citing a quote about his concept of “the race delusion” in which he argued that race is neither cultural or genetic:

“Although many of us don’t like to admit it, even to ourselves, we tend to think of race as more than skin deep,” Livingstone Smith said. “We imagine that every member of a race shares something deep inside that’s unique to members of that race. This ‘racial essence’ is imagined to be carried in the blood, or located in the genes, and passed down the ‘bloodline’ from one generation to the next. It’s also supposed to be unchangeable.”

Several more of Livingston Smith’s points were lauded in the article, including his argument that society must examine and acknowledge racial injustices in an effort to change the concept of race as it is currently understood.