What does "race" mean?

The word Race was first derived from the Old Italian razza, meaning "lineage". First used to distinguish between clans and families, the meaning of "race" has come to be the reason for oppression among minorities living in America today. "Race" has come to be an elusive word, unseen in important documents like the Bill of Rights and Constitution and assigned different definitions since America's conception. It has a meaning that has been misconstrued, twisted, and contorted by the dominant group, the "dominant white Americans," to justify the treatment and persecution of the minority (Feagin & Feagin, p.6).
If something such as a word could construct an entire societal system, it must have such a powerful meaning, unchanging in definition and abl...