If race is based on biological characteristics, how can it be socially constructed?

Question

This is from my socially homework.

Answer 1

Think of someone “passing” as a different race. Their family thinks of them in terms of their biological heritage, but they’re living a different social location. I knew a woman who had to battle to be accepted as African American because of her very light skin and other features; it was very painful for her. And I’ve had the experience of being stopped by police in my car with very little reason, so that when the officer came to my window and saw the pale face in front of the curly, darker hair they’d seen from behind, they had to hem and haw about why they’d pulled me over (and I’ve only ever had one ticket in my life). Social interactions can be based on erroneous assumptions.