What do child smugglers look like?

Dear Ms. Borden,

I read with interest your article on the Smyrna woman involved in child smuggling. It was particularly intrigued by your first sentence, and wonder, what exactly a child smuggler looks like. I assume "Goforth didn't look much like a child smuggler" was written without malicious intent. However such phrasing implies that there are people who look like child smugglers (people who presumably do not have blue eyes, among other things) and reinforces stereotypes against such people. I hope that you will reconsider the use of that phrase. Thank you for your otherwise excellent article.

Sincerely,

Karama Neal

"Race" does not determine biology (and vice versa)

To the editor (Atlanta Journal-Constitution):

The research leading to the discovery of a gene variant the increases the risk of heart attack is to be commended (Gene find links race, heart risk" AJC 11/11/05 Pg A1). However, physicians and others who apply this research must remember that given the high levels of genetic variation within population groups, and the large amounts of ethnic admixture that continue to exist in the US and elsewhere, many people who self-identify as African-American may not carry the gene variant and have no increased risk of heart attack. Likewise, those who do not identify as African-American may well have the version of the gene that raises risk of health attack.

Though race and ethnicity remain important and relevant social phenomena, decades of biological research offer no evidence of a biological or physical basis for race. For that reason, it is critical that scientists and physicians focus on measurable, medically-relevant factors and avoid making assumptions about genetics or health based on race or ethnicity.

Karama C. Neal, PhD