scientific support of racism

Joel Cannon (cannon@alpha.centenary.edu)
Mon, 19 May 1997 10:58:20 -0600 (CDT)

Glenn's post about the ICR's racism claims for evolution made me
recall a very interesting lecture by David Livingstone, Professor of
Geography at Queen's University of Belfast. Given at Calvin College
sometime in the early `90's, it showed how science (through very poor
methods) had been used in the service of society's (or at least some
individuals') racial prejudices.

One of the things that struck me was how artist's renditions of
primitive man all turned out to look like black people (and how
insidious its effects were). One of the most dramatic slides he showed
came from a book published by anthropologists J.C. Nott and
G.R. Gliddon in 1857. The figure was titled, "Chart illustrative of
the geographical distribution of monkeys in their relation to that of
some inferior types of men". It showed on a map of part of the world
the various monkeys and indigenous people the various native
inhabitants of Africa and other regions where monkeys reside.

Some of what he delivered that day was printed as "America's Science
of Racism" in the The Banner on Sept. 30, 1991 (this is the magazine
of the Christian Reformed Church in North America).

Apparently, Henry Morris has held at least one position which has some
connection to truth (evolution has been used in the service of
racism). Ironically, his argument had little to do with evidence for
that truth and overlooked problems "closer to home."

Interestingly the discussion with the audience moved on to how the
picture bibles they grew up with had presented one of the biblical
characters (possibly Ham?) as being black producing a similar
foundation for racist anthropology in their own community.

-------
Joel W. Cannon
Dept. of Physics
Centenary College of Louisiana
P. O. Box 41188
Shreveport, LA 71134-1188

(318)869-5160
(318)869-5026 FAX