Race, as has been noted by scholars began as a biological discourse highlighting evident markers of physical differentiation (like pigmentation) in the world population. There was an appropriation of Darwinian theory in social Darwinism. The problem lies in unproblematically borrowing theoretical formulations made in the field of biology to press upon issues that are human and cultural. So race began as a biological discourse aided by social Darwinism where the discourse included making hierarchies, drawing lines of descent, and along with which it was evident that discourses of power and subordination would eventually be incorporated thus aiding the very realities of oppression.

As Barker remarks:

“Races … do not exist outside of representation. Rather, they are formed in and by symbolization in a process of social and political power struggle. Thus, observable characteristics are transformed into signifiers of race. This includes the spurious appeal to essential biological and cultural difference.”