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Times Store * Second Opinion * Subscriptions (BUTTON) + Manage Subscription + EZPAY + Delivery Issue + eNewspaper + Students & Educators + Subscribe + Subscriber Terms + Manage Subscription + EZPAY + Delivery Issue + eNewspaper + Students & Educators + Subscribe + Subscriber Terms Copyright © 2021, Los Angeles Times | Terms of Service | Privacy Policy | CA Notice of Collection | Do Not Sell My Personal Information (BUTTON) Sections Los Angeles Times * California * Entertainment * Sports * Food * Climate * Opinion * | * Place an Ad * Crossword * eNewspaper (BUTTON) Show Search ____________________Search Query (BUTTON) Submit Search Advertisement * Facebook * Twitter * Show more sharing options Share (BUTTON) Close extra sharing options * Facebook * Twitter * LinkedIn * Email * Copy Link URLCopied! * Print The Human Race Is the Only Race That Matters Jan. 3, 2005 12 AM * Facebook * Twitter * Show more sharing options Share (BUTTON) Close extra sharing options * Facebook * Twitter * LinkedIn * Email * Copy Link URLCopied! * Print Re “The Birth of a ‘Latino Race,’” Commentary, Dec. 29: Professor Ian Haney Lopez’s commentary reveals the actual dilemma of the concept of race. Many Americans are simply confused when using the labels as demonstrated by the use of “Latino.” What actually constitutes race? A description of a thin layer of skin color? Or a grouping of culture as perceived from Industrial Age sociology? One thing is sure, it is an artifice on the level of phrenology. The term “race” has lost most, if not all, of its scientific meaning. Although black and white communicates clear distinctions, aren’t they political terms? We would all be better off if there were less focus on the color of one’s epidermis and instead we pushed the only accurate term: the human race. After all, we do deconstruct to just one lineage. The rest is merely historically artificial distinctions or distinct cultural differences. Leland P. Hammerschmitt Advertisement Ojai __________________________________________________________________ Subscribers Are Reading * Politics Trump retreats from his job, and Pence fills the void as ‘acting’ president President Donald Trump walks to board Marine One on the South Lawn of the White House, Tuesday, Jan. 12, 2021, in Washington. The President is traveling to Texas. (AP Photo/Gerald Herbert ) Politics Trump retreats from his job, and Pence fills the void as ‘acting’ president With President Trump isolated in the White House since the Jan. 6 Capitol riot, Vice President Mike Pence increasingly fills the void in their waning days in office. More Coverage Will Trump’s mishandling of records leave a hole in history? * California ‘Light at the end of tunnel’ or a small blip? Flattening COVID-19 numbers bring hope in California MISSION HILLS, CA - JANUARY 14: Chaplain Kevin Deegan quietly walks though the covid unit after comforting a patient at Providence Holly Cross Medical Center Thursday, Jan. 14, 2021 in Mission Hills, CA. (Francine Orr / Los Angeles Times) California ‘Light at the end of tunnel’ or a small blip? Flattening COVID-19 numbers bring hope in California ‘Light at the end of tunnel’ or a small blip? Flattening COVID-19 numbers bring guarded optimism in California. More Coverage Tracking the coronavirus in California Noticias en español * California Why some older people are getting the vaccine in Southern California but others are striking out Los Angeles, CA - January 15: Dr. Richard Dang, right, Assistant professor USC School of Pharmacy administers COVID-19 vaccine to Ashley Van Dyke as mass-vaccination of healthcare workers takes place at Dodger Stadium on Friday, Jan. 15, 2021 in Los Angeles, CA. (Irfan Khan / Los Angeles Times) California Why some older people are getting the vaccine in Southern California but others are striking out Many Californians 65 and older faced frustration and confusion as they tried to get the coronavirus vaccine after the state announced it was opening up vaccinations to older people. More Coverage Tracking the coronavirus in California * Politics Make America California Again? That’s Biden’s plan Former Vice President Joe Biden speaks at a rally on the Cal State Fullerton campus Thursday, Oct. 4, 2018, in Fullerton, Calif. (AP Photo/Chris Carlson) Politics Make America California Again? That’s Biden’s plan President Trump tried to marginalize California. He failed. Now, with Joe Biden and Democrats taking power, no state is more influential in setting a policy agenda. More Coverage Noticias en español Kamala Harris says nation will ‘find a moment’ to celebrate inauguration amid pandemic grief * Science How the new COVID-19 vaccine rules could help the pandemic end sooner Los Angeles, CA - January 07: A nurse Cherry Costales prepares Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine at St. John's Well Child & Family Center on Thursday, Jan. 7, 2021 in Los Angeles, CA. (Irfan Khan / Los Angeles Times) Science How the new COVID-19 vaccine rules could help the pandemic end sooner Health officials set aside carefully considered plans for rolling out COVID-19 vaccines and made the shots widely available. That may hasten the pandemic’s end. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement (BUTTON) Advertisement Los Angeles Times Subscribe for unlimited access Follow Us * twitter * instagram * youtube * facebook * + eNewspaper + Coupons + Find/Post Jobs + Place an Ad + Media Kit: Why the L. A. 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