The placing of African individuals in public exhibitions is a significant aspect of scientific racism.
In the 19th century, leading scientists claimed Africans were between orangutans and humans, bolstering racial prejudices.
1859: Charles Darwin's publication of "On the Origin of Species" coincided with P.T. Barnum's "Man Monkey" exhibit.
William Henry Johnson, an African-American, was exhibited as an evolutionary "missing link."
The St. Louis World's Fair (1904)
Featured human zoos with indigenous peoples displayed to illustrate "stages of human evolution."
William McGee, a leading anthropologist, presented non-white peoples as "lower stages" of human evolution.
Experiments and Displays: Included intelligence tests and comparisons to apes.
Ota Benga
A Congolese pygmy purchased by Samuel Phillips Werner and displayed at the Bronx Zoo in 1906.
His exhibition sparked protests from African-American ministers and debate over racial discrimination and Darwinian theory.
Ota Benga endured humiliation and ultimately took his life in 1916 after failed attempts to return to Africa.
Eugenics and Scientific Racism
1921 International Congress of Eugenics: Prominent scientists advocated for eugenics as "self-direction of human evolution."
Henry Fairfield Osborne and others promoted eugenics, influencing public policy and immigration laws.
Eugenicists viewed non-white races as evolutionary "throwbacks" and supported sterilization and anti-immigration laws.
The Legacy of Eugenics
The eugenics movement influenced Nazi Germany's racial policies.
Scientific racism, while condemned today, remains a contentious issue with some historical figures and institutions not fully acknowledging past involvements.
Modern Implications
Scientific racism's legacy persists in some racist ideologies today, as seen in white supremacist movements.
The importance of acknowledging and learning from history is emphasized to prevent repeating past mistakes.
Conclusion
The lecture underscores the misuse of science to justify racial prejudice and the need for vigilance against similar ideologies today.
Calls for transparency and acknowledgment of historical wrongs to educate and prevent future discrimination.