WHAT’SYOURSTORY?#IDefineMeSKINDEEP:THESCIENCEOFRACEDAWNOFTHEWHITEMINORITYUSANDTHEM:WHYWEDIVIDEDRIVINGWHILEBLACKBlackandWhiteSPECIALISSUEAPRIL2018ThesetwinsistersmakeusrethinkeverythingweknowaboutraceMutualofAmerica®andMutualofAmericaYourRetirementCompany®areregisteredservicemarksofMutualofAmericaLifeInsuranceCompany,aregisteredBroker/Dealer.320ParkAvenue,NewYork,NY10022-6839.Addmorevaluetoyourretirementplanwithpersonalizedservicesandsupport.Callusat1-866-954-4321.There’sareasonpeoplechooseMutualofAmerica:People.APRIL2018•VOL.233•NO.4•OFFICIALJOURNALOFTHENATIONALGEOGRAPHICSOCIETYICONTENTSTHERACEISSUE2846SKINDEEPWHATDIVIDESUSWhatisrace?Sciencetellsusthereisnogeneticbasisforit.Insteadit’slargelyamade-uplabel,�������������������������������ByElizabethKolbertPhotographsbyRobinHammondHumanbeingsarewiredatbirthtodistinguishUsfromThemandtofavorourowngroup.Cansciencehelpusbridgethedivides?ByDavidBerrebyPhotographsbyJohnStanmeyerMarcia(left)andMillieBiggs,both11,saypeopleareshockedtolearnthatthey’refraternaltwins.Marcialooksmoreliketheirmother,who’sEnglish,andMillielooksmoreliketheirfather,who’sofJamaicandescent.Seemoreaboutthetwinsonpage12.PhotobyRobinHammondTomarkthe50thanniversaryofMartinLutherKing,Jr.’sassassination,weexplorewhatracemeansinthe21stcentury.���������Science��������������������������������������������������colorofyourskin.Howdo��������������������ONTHECOVERCOMINGUP|CONTENTS70|COLORSOFMATRIMONYThegrowingacceptanceofrelationshipsacrossracialandethniclinescanbe�����������������������������������������ByPatriciaEdmondsPhotographsbyWayneLawrence142|RESISTANCE,REIMAGINED����������������������������������������theblackstruggleforfreedom.Thetimes��������������������������������������������ByMauriceBergerPhotographsbyOmarV...