History of Race Theory - unit 1

pre 1500s

race was fluid; based on where you lived and could change

1500

race became permanent and based on looks (skin color, around columbus era)

1600s

race becomes “scientific”

1700-1800s

enlightenment

• scientific racism developed (using science to find racial characteristics)

1850-1930s

racial anthropology

• idea that race wasn’t made up and objective

• start to connect physical traits to human behavior

• looks determines value

• eugenics becomes popular (controlling human population)

1930s-Present

race is a human construct

• holocaust based off eugenic ideology and caused shift

• how to erase 400 yrs of racism?

• science says all humans come from africa

curse of ham (1500s)

• blacks cursed to serve humanity (later becomes justification for segregation, etc.)