Race Isn’t Real, Racism Is

The Social Construct of Race and Its Real-World Impact

Dr. Alissa Gardenhire
September 23, 2024

The concept of race has no biological foundation, yet its consequences are very real. This paradox lies at the heart of my forthcoming book, Race Isn’t Real, Racism Is: An Anti-Racist Handbook for Real Change (set for publication in 2025). While we’ve been conditioned to believe in race as a way to categorize and define human beings, the truth is that race is a social construct, created to serve the interests of those in power. However, racism—the system that operates around this false construct—continues to shape lives, opportunities, and futures in profound and damaging ways.

In the book, I explore how race was invented as a tool to justify slavery and economic exploitation, and how it has since evolved into a system that continues to reinforce power dynamics across every aspect of life. More importantly, I outline how we can begin to dismantle racism using the tools of Centered Leadership—Inquiry, Intention, Imagination, and Impact—leading us toward real transformation.