Response papers should be between 750-1000 words, typed (double spaced), and should explicitly address the given theme, utilizing the readings and discussions from the course. The response papers give you an opportunity to reflect on the readings and the various topics of discussion, and to clarify your own thinking on the issues of race and ethnicity, as well as to provide me with feedback on the effectiveness of some of our course materials at helping to understand and digest these complicated ideas.
Theme:
Race as Science- Consider the discussions we've had over the past week or so about the connection between the categories of race (and racist ideologies), and the application of scientific principles, scientific methodologies, and scientific inquiry. Reflect on some of the historical examples we have encountered where the trust, and authority given to scientists were abused. Think about the legitimacy of scientific claims that can grant to those who have propagated theories of the natural differences between the races. Consider the social, political, or economic rationale for scientific racist may have had for asserting claims of natural differences between the racial groups, and the connection between older expressions of racism based and on biology and more recent ones based on culture.
The Science of Race
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Anthropologist Carleton Coon measures Maurice Tillet's head with calipers, Feb. 23, 1940.
The relationship between Race and science
The power of science (the power) to generate 'truth' put to the tasks of harmful difference.
in the modern world, science plays a major role in constructing what many of us consider to be the truth.
How can we argue with the truth?
Science merged with racist ideology in 2 significant ways
• Scientists take on scientific explorations that are rooted in racist notions about
Scientists looking at the world through racist eyes
• Defenders of the 'natural' order deploy science to support racist arguments. Race as 'natural' categories, Racism as the 'scientific' argument in support of the natural categories
HORRIFIC EXPERIMENTS OF THE NAZI'S 'ANGEL OF DEATH'
Links to an external site.
In the name of Science!!
• Freezing / Hypothermia
• Hot Bath
• Warming by Body Heat
• Sun Lamp
• Internal Irrigation
• Experiments on Twins
• Sterilization
• Surgery without anesthesia
• Traumatic Injuries
Charles Murray and Richard J. Herrnstein
Scientific Racism
A defense of the Bell Curve
A scientific explanation of the differences between the races using I.Q.
The National Longitudinal Survey of Youth 1980
The idea the US should embrace the fact that there is 'intellectual' diversity
The past and present of race in America
Rutledge Dennis
A history of supremacy and inferiority, ‘back-up’ by science >>
from Herbert Spencer to Murray and Herrnstein. The celebration of racial separation thru science. The use of scientific racism is frequently connected to the desire to effect change in society, to argue against change, or to justify a particular social order.
Racist Ideologies always have a goal. The 'science' of the Bell Curve had the goal of dismantling Affirmative Action.
Affirmative Action is a misguided policy because it cannot possibly 'level' a playing field made un-level by biology
Think about some of the connections that can be made 'new' racists ideas about criminality and communities of color.
Affirmative action policies and the evolution of post-apartheid South Africa.s racial wage gap, R. Burger, R. Jafta, D. V. Fintel
Brandt
the Broeck-Bruusgaard study from 1890-1910 (the Oslo Study of Untreated Syphilis).
The purpose of the study was to question the effectiveness of the leading treatments of the day by withholding from patients with the disease.
2000 patients, suffering for primary and secondary stage Syphilis. Over the study period, there was an 80% response rate (subject tracing)
When an effective treatment for the disease was developed (a mercury-based solution), all of the study subjects that could be located were given the treatment.
Brandt
The Tuskegee Syphilis Study 1932-1972 (40 years)
Based on:
• The racist presumption that Blacks were less intelligent and more promiscuous than whites.
• That the disease impacts Blacks (their cardiovascular system) differently than Whites (their neuro-systems), (Dr. Taliaferro Clark referencing the Oslo study).
• The Depression impacted funds for a legitimate treatment program.
• Scientific value of this 'study in nature'.
• The US government really had no concern for the poor black men involved in the study.
Men told that they were receiving treatment for their disease, but were in fact not being treated at all.
400 study participants, 200 control subjects, regular check-ups, lots of effort to kept the study group undisturbed.
Horribly misplaced trust in doctors, and scientific authorities.
Penicillin discovered in 1928, used to treat infections in 1942.