Thomas Jefferson’s Racism (1788)

American racism intensified following the American Revolution.
Racial prejudice existed for centuries, but a belief emerged in the late 18th century that African-descended people were inherently inferior to Anglo-descended people.
Writings like those of Thomas Jefferson supported faulty scientific reasoning that justified slavery and white supremacy.

Color is emphasized as the primary distinguishing factor:
- Jefferson discusses the origin of skin color, questioning whether it is due to biology (blood, bile, skin secretion).
- He concludes that these differences are natural and significant.
Descriptions of black and white beauty:
- Jefferson claims that the combination of red and white skin tones represents beauty, contrasting with the 'monotony' of black skin.
- Argues that these aesthetic qualities matter in human propagation, akin to breeding livestock.
Additional physical distinctions mentioned:
- African-descended individuals have less bodily hair and are said to secrete more through the skin, resulting in unpleasant odors.
- They are purported to have a higher tolerance for heat and a lower tolerance for cold.
- Differences in sleep patterns are noted, suggesting blacks require less sleep compared to whites, causing them to stay awake longer at night even after labor.

Jefferson describes behavioral traits:
- Perceptions of bravery and adventurousness, linked to a lack of foresight in recognizing danger.
- Emotional expressions are characterized as more passionate but lacking in depth in matters of love.
- Grief is seen as transient; he claims blacks feel and recover from afflictions more quickly than whites.
- Overall, a perspective that their existence is driven more by sensation than by reflection.

Comparing memory, reason, and imagination:
- Claims that African-descended individuals have equal memory abilities but are inferior in reasoning skills.
- Suggests they lack the capability to comprehend advanced mathematical or philosophical concepts, like Euclid’s investigations.
- Characterizes their imagination as dull and tasteless, showing no potential for higher creative expression.
Noted differences in artistic capability:
- Acknowledges that while blacks may possess musical talent, he doubts their capacity for composing complex music.

Jefferson mentions Native Americans:
- Draws examples from Native American art and oratory to highlight areas of potential intellectual creation, contrasting them with African-descended individuals.
He argues that the lack of artistic output from blacks reflects their perceived deficiency in cognitive abilities.

Jefferson addresses the complexities surrounding emancipation:
- Observes that unlike Roman slavery, which allowed for straightforward emancipation, American scenarios require additional steps to prevent racial mixing post-emancipation.
- Emancipation in America, requires the freed individuals to be removed from the potential for interracial mixing, a concept he believes is unique to history.
Reflects on the challenges faced by advocates of emancipation, noting that they struggle with maintaining the dignity and beauty of the human races while seeking liberty.

He expresses a suspicion that blacks, whether inherently different or shaped by circumstances, are inferior in traits to whites.
Jefferson appeals to natural history, suggesting that various species and races can display different qualifications, expressing a philosophical view on race relations and the preservation of racial distinction as it exists in nature.
He highlights the need for a significant consideration of racial differences when discussing human liberty and social integration.