The Biology of Human Skin Color by Dr. Leslie Sandra Jones ’77

The Alumnae Association invites you to a virtual back-to-class with Dr. Leslie Sandra Jones ’77, associate professor of biology at Valdosta State University.

In many situations, separation of the influence of nature and nurture is difficult, if not impossible. However, this is not the case with respect to the division of humans into racial categories. Skin color, which has always been the primary marker of human difference, is now understood to be the product of natural selection under geographically different levels of ultraviolet radiation. Genomic studies have established, beyond doubt, that humans do not differ biologically according to the artificial categories that are called “races.” Yet despite this, racism, that is rooted in fallacious and erroneous assumptions of real genetic difference, continues to be a destructive misconception held by many people. This will be a comprehensible science lesson that assumes long-overdue social responsibility to provide current scientific information demonstrating how “race” is a cultural but not a valid biological concept.

Dr. Leslie Sandra Jones is an associate professor of biology at Valdosta State University in Georgia. Her biological research was in equine reproductive physiology before she became interested in the ways social issues impact science education. She has worked extensively on addressing the evolution/creationism controversy as well as the development of antiracist approaches to biological science. She includes antiracist lessons in every biology course she teaches. As a teacher educator, she wants the students in her education content classes to understand and be prepared to handle the racism they will see in schools.

This event will be recorded. This event is being conducted over Zoom. As the host, Mount Holyoke College reserves the right to record this session and the event sponsors will give prior notification to event participants of any intention to do so. The recording feature for others is disabled so that no one else will be able to record this session through Zoom. At all times, no recording by any other means is permitted without prior written permission from the event sponsor or as an approved accommodation. 

Event Accessibility: This event will include an oral and visual presentation about the biology of human skin color, followed by Question and Answer time with the event presenter. For inquiries about the accessibility of this event or to request any accommodations, please email programs_team-g@mtholyoke.edu or call 413-538-2159. Please make accommodation requests no later than Thursday, November 12, 2020 to allow for implementation time; however, in all situations, a good faith effort will be made to provide accommodations up until the time of the event.