HISTORY OF THE RACE CONCEPT

Definition of Race

2001 Human Genome Project, Dr Craig Venter

Dr. Craig Venter and other scientists at the National Institute of Health who worked on the Human Genome Project, which developed the sequencing of DNA, the chemical inside the nucleus of a cell that carries all the genetic markers for making living organisms, have unanimously declared,

“ Division of people into separate races is a social concept, not a scientific one, there is only one race.”

It is accepted scientific fact the earliest fossils of recognizably modern Homo Sapiens came from Africa.

The PBS Video documentary and book “The Journey of Man” a genetic odyssey by Spencer Wells further documents through the analysis of DNA (the Genome Project) there genetic markers that demonstrate we are one race which began in Africa and followed specific geographical patterns that spread throughout the world.

History of dividing people into
separate racial categories:

Despite scientific proof that race(s) is an arbitrary biological fiction, racial divisions are still used in describing differences in skin color. The separation of people into racial categories has fueled racist and eugenic movements with alleged scientific claims of racial superiority and inferiority.

The division of humans into separate races started in the 18th century, before the sciences of genetic and evolutionary biology was invented.

1758 System Naturae
by Carl Linneaus

Use of race as a way to classify large divisions of homosapiens originated with Carl Von Linne, a Swedish taxonomist and botanist. He was the first to place humans in a taxonomy of animals in his System Naturae in 1758. He divided humans into four groups on the basis of physical and psychological impressions

• Europeans, who were fair, gentle, acute inventive and governed by law.

• Americans, who were copper colored, obstinate, content, free and regulated by customs

• Asiatics, who were sooty, severe, haughty, covetous and governed by opinions

• Africans, who were black, crafty, indolent, negligent and governed by caprice.

1775 Five Classifications of Humans
by John Blumenbach

John Blumenbach, the German anthropologist and anatomist first used the word race in 1775 to classify humans into five divisions;

• Caucasian or white race. Blumenbach was the first to use this term for people of European origin, believing that the people of the Caucasus were the most beautiful of the world.

HISTORY OF THE RACE CONCEPT

Definition of Race

“ Division of people into separate races is a social concept, not a scientific one, there is only one race.”

History of dividing people into
separate racial categories:

1758 System Naturae
by Carl Linneaus

• Europeans, who were fair, gentle, acute inventive and governed by law.

• Americans, who were copper colored, obstinate, content, free and regulated by customs

• Asiatics, who were sooty, severe, haughty, covetous and governed by opinions

• Africans, who were black, crafty, indolent, negligent and governed by caprice.

1775 Five Classifications of Humans
by John Blumenbach

• Caucasian or white race. Blumenbach was the first to use this term for people of European origin, believing that the people of the Caucasus were the most beautiful of the world.

• Mongolian or yellow race, including all East Asians and some Central Asians.

• Malayan or brown race, including Southeast Asian and Pacific Islanders.

• Ethiopian or black race, including sub-Saharan Africans.

• American or red race, including American Indians

HISTORY OF THE RACE CONCEPT

Definition of Race

“ Division of people into separate races is a social concept, not a scientific one, there is only one race.”

History of dividing people into separate racial categories:

1758 System Naturae by Carl Linneaus

• Europeans, who were fair, gentle, acute inventive and governed by law.

• Americans, who were copper colored, obstinate, content, free and regulated by customs

• Asiatics, who were sooty, severe, haughty, covetous and governed by opinions

• Africans, who were black, crafty, indolent, negligent and governed by caprice.

1775 Five Classifications of Humans by John Blumenbach

• Caucasian or white race. Blumenbach was the first to use this term for people of European origin, believing that the people of the Caucasus were the most beautiful of the world.

• Mongolian or yellow race, including all East Asians and some Central Asians.

• Malayan or brown race, including Southeast Asian and Pacific Islanders.

• Ethiopian or black race, including sub-Saharan Africans.

• American or red race, including American Indians

History of dividing people into
separate racial categories:

1758 System Naturae
by Carl Linneaus

1775 Five Classifications of Humans
by John Blumenbach