01:920:108 Lecture Notes - Lecture 4: Carl Linnaeus, Johann Friedrich Blumenbach, Scientific Racism
14 May 2018
School
Department
Course
Professor
Social Construction of Race
Class presentations--> each on one article--> will be 15-20 minutes (use pictures, small video clips, summarize article you read,
connect to theories in class, readings, to personal experiences)--> email professor 1-2 paragraphs (summarizing your plans for
your presentation and 1-2 sentences about group contribution) due day before your presentation. Also, post 2 questions for your
audience on Sakai under forum as well (will be graded on quality of presentation, time management, concepts, connection to
theories, discussion questions, and facilitation of discussion).
•
Originated in Middle Ages--> referred to breeding of animals
a.
English language-16th century (used to define human groups as a technical term)
b.
Commonly employed to differentiate different human group (classification)
i.
Race as a physical category-18th century
c.
Monogenesis--> single creation of humanity--> in the Bible
i.
Polygenesis--> human groups were created separately (this theory did not get a lot of support because it went against
the Bible's teachings at the time)
ii.
School of thought
d.
Rise of scientific racism discussed human groups
e.
Invention of Race
1.
Connected physical features of people with cultural characteristics and traits (race classification--> gentle for Europeans and
governed by customs--> called lazy, negligent, sly, when referring to African Americans)--> said all humans were subject of a
single creation
a.
Racial classification--> hierarchy and physical characteristics connected to cultural traits
b.
Carolus Linnaeus--> in Natural System (founder of modern biology)
2.
Believed in monogenesis--> he proposed that human differences came out from climate and environment (said blacks
became dark as a result of the hot sun and they would lighten to white if they moved to Europe)--> preference of whites
again
a.
Barr Buffon--> introduced the term "race"
3.
Racial classification on his own
a.
5 human races--> Caucasian, Mongolian, Ethiopian, American, and Malay (shows the degree of how far away they are from
being Caucasian--> opportunity to rank higher if you were closer to being Caucasian)
b.
1st to coin the term "Caucasian"--> he believed the most beautiful women came from Caucasus
c.
He believed in monogenesis
d.
Blumenbach (1775)
4.
Definition of race varies through time
a.
Race has both biological and social meanings
b.
Most people think that race is related to a biological category (ex: skin color, hair texture, lip form)
c.
Most people think race is scientific classification
d.
What is race?
5.
Argument of the article--> in our skin color, preference given to black or white individuals depends on the locations they
currently reside in (combined effects of natural selection (preference went to children w/ lighter skin since they had more
potential to be healthier and grow stronger) and cultural selection (preference given by parents, diet, food)
a.
Melanin (protects skin from ultraviolet rays)
b.
Northern Europe--> White was beautiful because White was considered healthy.
c.
Mediterranean people00> Black was beautiful b/c Black was considered healthy in that area (didn't have bone related
diseases but had problem w/ skin cancer)---> darker skinned infants were favored by parents b/c they were free of lethal
diseases.
d.
*Possible question on exam--> why this didn't happen with Eskimos?--> because they are not light skinned as they were
expected (don't encounter certain diseases)*
e.
How our skins got their color? (Sakai article)
6.
An idea or practice that a group of people agree exists
a.
What is considered to be "natural" (ex: gender, race) is actually "socially" constructed.
b.
Social construction--> maintained by people taking its existence for granted (it is so ingrained and anything different from it
is considered unacceptable or bizarre).
c.
What people think and do are products of culture and history.
d.
Social construction
7.
Lecture: Day 4
Monday, January 29, 2018
4:07 PM
Minority Groups in American Society Page 1
Document Summary
Also, post 2 questions for your audience on sakai under forum as well (will be graded on quality of presentation, time management, concepts, connection to theories, discussion questions, and facilitation of discussion). Originated in middle ages--> referred to breeding of animals. English language-16th century (used to define human groups as a technical term) Commonly employed to differentiate different human group (classification) d. Monogenesis--> single creation of humanity--> in the bible. Polygenesis--> human groups were created separately (this theory did not get a lot of support because it went against the bible"s teachings at the time) e. Carolus linnaeus--> in natural system (founder of modern biology) a. b. Connected physical features of people with cultural characteristics and traits (race classification--> gentle for europeans and governed by customs--> called lazy, negligent, sly, when referring to african americans)--> said all humans were subject of a single creation. Racial classification--> hierarchy and physical characteristics connected to cultural traits.
