assumptions of race

[Scott]

The recent disussions about how JKR uses race in her books got me 
thinking. I think that JKR has neither forced race or ignored it. I 
don't see Cho or Padma or Angelina or anyone as being a "token" of 
their race. Rather I see them as being an obvious part of British 
Wizarding Culture. Diversity of race is a fact that should be 
embraced but often isn't. If one of them was the main focus of the 
books (like in TiP) then the different views and cultures would be 
much more important, but because it's not that apparent to Harry it 
isn't for the reader either.

 But sometimes race *isn't* clearly defined in a book, and we're left 
to  draw our own conclusions. (I can't think of a good example now, 
but I *know* I've read books like that.)

So my question is what do we assume when race isn't given? The race 
of the author? Our own race? It's not always a clear cut question.

Scott