“Survival of the fittest” reflects the natural process where living beings most attuned to their surroundings are the ones who endure, flourish, and ensure their traits are carried forward to future generations. First articulated by Herbert Spencer and aligned with Darwin’s idea of natural selection, it highlights that survival isn’t just about brute strength—it’s about possessing the qualities needed to thrive within a given environment. These qualities can range from adaptability and intelligence to cooperation and resilience. While this principle elegantly explains the workings of nature, it has been twisted in human history to validate harmful ideologies, distorting the concept of natural harmony into an excuse for inequality and domination.
Herbert Spencer coined the phrase “survival of the fittest”.
Race
Race is a way in which people often categorize others based on physical appearances, such as skin color, facial features, or hair type, as well as family origins or geographical ancestry. For example, terms like “black-headed people” were used to describe the Sumerians.
However, in the human-animal world, the aspect that draws the most attention is skin color. Across the world, having “black skin” is often stigmatized. But what does it truly mean to be considered “black”?
Before I continue, I think it’s important to share what I know and what I consider black.
My father is African-American, and my mother is German and Turkish. For about 30 years, I identified as Black, German, and Turkish. However, over time, I realized this wasn’t a good way to identify myself. Why?
Through extensive research into the Indigenous peoples of every continent (except Antarctica), I discovered a striking pattern: individuals with lightly browned to dark brown skin were present across all these groups (Africa having the darkest of skin tones). For example, ancient DNA analysis of Mesolithic hunter-gatherers in Europe, dating back about 7,000 years, reveals they had darker skin and blue eyes—challenging modern notions of ethnic and racial identity.
But what is considered black? Let’s go to the dictionaries for clarification’s sake. (https://www.etymonline.com/word/black)
The Etymology Of Black
Old English blæc “absolutely dark, absorbing all light, of the color of soot or coal,” reconstructed to be from Proto-Germanic blakaz “burned” (source also of Old Norse blakkr “dark,” Old High German blah “black,” Swedish bläck “ink,” Dutch blaken “to burn”), from PIE bhleg- “to burn, gleam, shine, flash” (source also of Greek phlegein “to burn, scorch,” Latin flagrare “to blaze, glow, burn”), from root *bhel- (1) “to shine, flash, burn.” The usual Old English word for “black” was sweart (see swart).
Black was used of dark-skinned people in Old English. Of coffee with nothing added, attested by 1796. The meaning “fierce, terrible, wicked” is from late 14c. The figurative senses often come from the notion of “without light,” moral or spiritual. Latin niger had many of the same figurative senses (“gloomy; unlucky; bad, wicked, malicious”). The metaphoric use of the Greek word, melas, however, tended to reflect the notion of “shrouded in darkness, overcast.” In English it has been the color of sin and sorrow at least since c. 1300; the sense of “with dark purposes, malignant” emerged 1580s (in black art “necromancy;” it is also the sense in black magic).
The same root produced Middle English blake “pale,” from Old English blac “bright, shining, glittering, pale;” the connecting notions being, perhaps, “fire” (bright) and “burned” (dark), or perhaps “absence of color.” According to OED, in Middle English “it is often doubtful whether blac, blak, blake, means ‘black, dark,’ or ‘pale, colourless, wan, livid’ “; and the surname Blake can mean either “one of pale complexion” or “one of dark complexion.”
Basically relating or belonging to people with light brown or dark brown skin, especially people who live in Africa or whose family originally came from Africa.
As a soldier in the U.S. Army, I served in Iraq and Afghanistan, participating in various missions across the Mesopotamian region. While stationed there, I met people with light brown skin-to-skin color like mine.
Race is a social construct often used to categorize people based on physical features like skin color, facial features, and hair texture, but it varies greatly across cultures and historical contexts. In the U.S., race has been historically used to separate groups, especially to distinguish between Black and White populations, and has often been tied to social divisions and inequality. In this context, Black generally refers to people of African descent, and skin color can range from light brown to dark brown. However, identity is more complex than skin color alone; for example, people with African ancestry from Latin America or the Caribbean might identify as Black, Afro-Latino, or Afro-Caribbean based on their heritage and cultural identity.
While race in the U.S. is often defined by these broad categories—Black, White, Asian, Native American—this system does not apply uniformly worldwide. In many other countries, identity may be defined more by ethnicity, culture, or nationality rather than race. For instance, in places like Brazil or the Dominican Republic, racial categories are more fluid, and people may identify based on family heritage, regional origin, or local social structures, not just skin color. Thus, while race plays a significant role in the U.S. for social classification, its meaning can shift dramatically in different global contexts.
““Blackness is not a monolith,” we repeatedly (and rightfully) proclaim—sometimes in the midst of degrading each other for our personal preferences, triggers and interpretations (a tendency on which we all need to check ourselves). But the fact is my black is not your black, which is not his black, which is not her black. Accordingly, one perspective isn’t inherently more valid than another. And, for the most part, that’s OK.” -theroot.
Black Culture
Let me share what I’ve learned about what the word culture actually means since I already did black; my information comes from https://www.etymonline.com/word/culture.
mid-15c., “the tilling of land, act of preparing the earth for crops,” from Latin cultura “a cultivating, agriculture,” figuratively “care, culture, an honoring,” from past participle stem of colere “to tend, guard; to till, cultivate” (see colony). Meaning “the cultivation or rearing of a crop, act of promoting growth in plants” (1620s) was transferred to fish, oysters, etc., by 1796, then to “production of bacteria or other microorganisms in a suitable environment” (1880), then “product of such a culture” (1884).
The figurative sense of “cultivation through education, systematic improvement and refinement of the mind” is attested by c. 1500; Century Dictionary writes that it was, “Not common before the nineteenth century, except with strong consciousness of the metaphor involved, though used in Latin by Cicero.” Meaning “learning and taste, the intellectual side of civilization” is by 1805; the closely related sense of “collective customs and achievements of a people, a particular form of collective intellectual development” is by 1867.
For without culture or holiness, which are always the gift of a very few, a man may renounce wealth or any other external thing, but he cannot renounce hatred, envy, jealousy, revenge. Culture is the sanctity of the intellect. [William Butler Yeats, journal, 7 March, 1909]
The Slang culture vulture “one voracious for culture” is from 1947. Culture shock “disorientation experienced when a person moves to a different cultural environment or an unfamiliar way of life” is attested by 1940. Ironic or contemptuous spelling kulchur is attested from 1940 (Pound), and compare kultur. also from mid-15c.
So basically, the word culture has a long and interesting history that started way back in the 1500s. Originally, it referred to farming—the process of preparing and taking care of the land to grow crops. This idea came from the Latin word cultura, which means “cultivating” or “tending to something,” and ultimately from colere, meaning “to take care of” or “to grow.”
Instead of just “growing” crops, it could mean “growing” or improving the mind through education and learning. This wasn’t super common until the 1800s, when people really embraced the idea that culture could refer to intellectual development and the collective achievements, customs, and knowledge of a group of people. So, by 1867, it became tied to the idea of a group’s unique way of life or civilization.
Trying to define black culture would be one of the hardest things to do. And I say that because country music, though often associated with rural white Southern culture, has roots that can be traced back to the folk and Appalachian music traditions, which predate recorded country music. These traditions blended European settlers’ ballads, fiddle tunes, and storytelling with African American rhythms, creating a distinct sound that would evolve into country music. As a product of cultural fusion, country music incorporates elements from European folk, African American blues, and Western music. While no single group can be credited with inventing it, African Americans played a crucial role in shaping both the sound and style of early country music. Instruments like the banjo, introduced to the Americas by enslaved Africans, became central to the genre, especially in the early bluegrass and folk music days. Additionally, pioneers like DeFord Bailey, a Black harmonica player, and Charlie Pride, a Black country singer, were instrumental in country music’s early and later development, highlighting the significant role of African Americans in the genre’s evolution.
Chuck Berry is widely regarded as one of the pioneers of rock ‘n’ roll, with his innovative guitar riffs and songwriting style influencing generations of musicians. His hit songs, such as “Johnny B. Goode” and “Maybellene”, became foundational tracks in the development of rock music in the 1950s.
America is comprised of many different groups of people who are influenced by each other, regardless of how you look at it. I’m American, and we couldn’t be America without the many different groups of people.
Early on, I talked about my African-American father; he considered himself black. One of the things he always used to say when I was little was, “I don’t have to do nothing but stay black and die.” He identified himself as both black and African-American, but not for nothing; most people who have light-brown to dark-brown skin have some relationship with Africa.
America
If someone from America, who was born and raised in America has Irish blood, do they consider themselves Irish-American, or do they consider themselves just American? Savannah, Georgia hosts one of the oldest and largest St. Patrick’s Day celebrations in the U.S. People from Ludowici, Ga to Savannah, Ga to even Atlanta, Ga, will go to Savannah to celebrate St. Patrick’s day. The reason for this is because many people from South Georgia have Irish ancestry, stemming from Irish immigration during the 18th and 19th centuries. Early settlers arrived during the colonial period, and larger numbers came during the Great Irish Famine, often settling first in Savannah before spreading throughout the state. The Irish brought their traditions, religion, and work ethic, blending over time with English, Scottish, African, and Native American cultures to create a rich heritage. This influence is still evident today, especially in Georgia’s vibrant St. Patrick’s Day celebrations.
Every day except St. Patrick’s Day, white Georgians typically take pride in their deep Southern roots and heritage. However, on St. Patrick’s Day, the focus often shifts to celebrating Irish ancestry, reflecting a different but equally significant cultural identity.
The labels used in America can be ridiculous, but America became what it is through many stages of growth. However, racism still exists, and in many cases, you’ll encounter it at some point in your life, with some experiencing it more than others.
It seems like a survival mechanism for some, and the extremists play a pivotal role in ensuring their traits are carried forward to future generations. The question is, what traits are they preserving, and why are these the ones deemed essential for survival?
Racism
racism (n.) www.etymonline.com
by 1928, in common use from 1935, originally in a European context, “racial supremacy as a doctrine, the theory that human characteristics and abilities are determined by race;” see racist, and compare the various senses in race (n.2) and racialism. Applied to American social systems from late 1930s.
racist (n.)
1932 (as an adjective from 1938), from race (n.2) + -ist. Racism (q.v.) is in use by 1928, originally in the context of fascist theories, and common from 1936. These words replaced earlier racialism (1882) and racialist (1910), both often used early 20c. in a British or South African context. There are isolated uses of racism from c. 1900.
Returning recently from a six months’ visit to Europe, the Rev. John LaFarge, noted Catholic writer, warned at a dinner given in his honor that the destructive forces of “racism” are increasing in the United States, and that they could cause irreparable harm among the American people if immediate steps are not taken to combat them.
Father LaFarge said that American racism is directed principally against Negroes, Jews, and foreigners. He described it as “the pale but venomous cousin” of Nazi racism. Like its Nazi counterpart, he added, it has erected impassable barriers between extensive regions and large groups of people, has formed its own myths and moulded its own social institutions, and above all has come consistently into conflict with Christian teachings. [Opportunity, Journal of Negro Life, vol. XVII, No. 2, Feb. 1939]
Earlier, race hatred (1852 of the Balkans, 1858 of British India, 1861 of white and black in America), race prejudice (1867 of English in India, 1869 of white and black in America, 1870 of the English toward Irish) were used, and, especially in 19c. U.S. political contexts, negrophobia. Anglo-Saxonism as “belief in the superiority of the English race” had been used (disparagingly) from 1860. Anti-Negro (adj.) is attested in British and American English from 1819. also from 1932
Racism, when viewed through the lens of survival, can be seen as a tool used by certain groups to maintain power and dominance. Historically, the idea of race has been manipulated to create divisions, placing one group above others in social, economic, and political hierarchies. By dehumanizing and marginalizing other racial groups, those in power have secured resources, territory, and influence, ensuring their group’s survival and supremacy. In this context, racism becomes a strategy for preserving the status quo and controlling access to opportunities and wealth. It fosters a sense of “us versus them,” where the perceived “other” is seen as a threat to the group’s survival, justifying discriminatory practices and policies to maintain a sense of dominance.
The term sag-gi-ga means black-headed and this could be the origins of the beginning of what we identify as race. The Sumerians are no longer around; that group of people no longer exists.
I have an 1873 Bible, and it states that the Sumerians, Babylonians, and Chaldeans were one and the same people.
George Smith writes in his book, “It has already been pointed out by Sir Henry Rawlinson that the Babylonians recognized two principle races: the Adams, or dark races, and the Sarku, or light race, probably in the same manner the two races are mentioned in Genesis, the sons of Adam and the sons of God.”
Until next time, Knowledge is Power
