It’s weird (and embarrassing) seeing academics remain mostly silent when it comes to racism in science. Perhaps we think that we’re smart enough to be free from prejudice. Or maybe they don’t see an issue since they haven’t experienced it. Whatever the reason, science not only is shaped by racism, but it also sometimes molds it. Here’s one instance:
Johann Friedrich Blumenbach (1752 – 1840), was an anatomist and naturalist. He was well regarded, had a very successful academic career, and is credited to be the first to study humans for comparative biology and distinguishing the 5 human races: Caucasian, Mongolian, Malayan, Ethiopian, American (each of these had colors associated). A Swedish botanist and zoologist named Carolus Linnaeus (he is credited for establishing the binomial nomenclature, a naming system where humans are also referred to as Homo sapiens) had actually already established a human geographical classification system, and Blumenbach modified the classification by ranking the races by appearance. His modifications ordered groups according to their “proximity to God’s created ideal.” Unlike the other classifications, Cacausian is named after a mountain (Mount Caucus) instead of the region, because Blumenbach wanted the “most beautiful” race to have a fitting name (the suspected region for where people were most like the “ideal”). Some believe that this change led to a theoretical shift that had a rippling effect. This was because the classification was established when creationism was commonly believed among academics so the hierarchy cemented the idea that whites were superior by design. While Blumenbach is not known to have been particularly racist for his time, his conclusions are thought to reflect that era’s culture.
We can begin to mitigate our culture in academia by listening to our BIPOC colleagues, being aware of our biases, providing more opportunities to people from a range of communities, and learning more about the history of our oppressive actions.
My friend suggested a quote by Sun Tzu in The Art of War about the importance of knowing our racist, sexist, classist, and homophobic roots to understand how to dismantle it:
“Learn the basis for the opponent’s activity. Force him to reveal himself. Discover his vulnerabilities.”
Perhaps maybe, just maybe, we can begin to dissolve the racism and barriers we have helped reinforce.
More on Johann Blumenbach:
S J Gould. 1999. The Geometer of Race. Discover. [accessed June 25] https://www.discovermagazine.com/mind/the-geometer-of-race
Originally posted on Instagram July 2, 2020
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