The first post-Classical published classification of humans into distinct races seems to be François Berniers Nouvelle division de la terre par les différents espèces ou races qui lhabitent (New division of Earth by the different species or races which inhabit it), published in 1684. In the 18th century the differences among human groups became a focus of scientific investigation. But the scientific classification of phenotypic variation was frequently coupled with racist ideas about innate predispositions of different groups, always attributing the most desirable features to the White, European race and arranging the other races along a continuum of progressively undesirable attributes. The 1735 classification of Carolus Linnaeus, inventor of zoological taxonomy, divided the human race Homo Sapiens into continental varieties of Europaeus, Asiaticus, Americanus and Afer, each associated with a different humour: sanguine, melancholic, choleric and phlegmatic respectively. Homo Sapiens Europaeus was described as active, acute, and adventurous whereas Homo Sapiens Afer was crafty, lazy and careless. The 1775 treatise The Natural Varieties of Mankind, by Johann Friedrich Blumenbach proposed five major divisions: the Caucasoid race, Mongoloid race, Ethiopian race (later termed the Negroid race), American Indian race, and Malayan race, but he did not propose any hierarchy among the races. Blumenbach also noted the graded transition in appearances from one group to adjacent groups and suggested that one variety of mankind does so sensibly pass into the other, that you cannot mark out the limits between them. This classification system was adopted and used during times such as the social security and equal housing acts. Specific areas were redlined and deemed non-permissible for mortgages, and specific races were excluded from such benefits until later appointed times. As of now the result are the ghettos and barrios we know today as slums.
Posted on: Mon, 15 Sep 2014 14:01:37 +0000
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