History of the Idea of Race
Professor of Anthropology, Audrey Smedley’ wrote an essay on the “History of the Idea of Race. “The main aim of the study was to address the issue of Racism and differentiate it from a biological perspective. Furthermore, she argued that biophysical features and biological traits of individuals do not explain the social phenomenon of Race. Nowadays, .scholars and anthropologists are trying to explain the originality of Race because of high cases of Racism.
The aspect i found intriguing in her essay was the non-existence of racial beliefs and ideas in the 17th century. According to Audrey’s essay, Racism emerged in the 19th and 20th Centuries. The emergence of American historian scholars led to the rise of racial ideologies among individual groups. They were concerned with the colonial era and how it impacted different races. They further argued that Race originated through a folk idea. The ideology aimed to distinguish the differences between humans. Racism was a product of norms, rules, and regulations set by different societies rather than a biological discovery. Historians believe that slavery did not exist in parts of North America, contrary to what is perceived by many individuals. The first Africans who traveled abroad were never subjected to Racism. Instead, they received equal treatment as fellow Americans. The set of English laws prohibited any forms of slavery. Some of the African laborers got assimilated, built houses, and even owned plantations. They also took part in trading activities and acquired wealth; at some points, they held positions in the government. Audrey’s study reveals a close relationship between Race and culture; moreover explains the ideology of slavery in the 17th century.
Both Biological and Social anthropologists face challenges in explaining the exact origin of Race. They have carried out researches aiming to provide valid and relevant findings to support their studies. They believe pieces of evidence related to Racism can be gathered from the 17th century.