Eugenics Movement and Anthropology Rise
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Questions and Answers

Which scholar is noted for using the phrase 'survival of the fittest' to rank racial-cultural groups?

  • Fredrick Ward Putnam
  • Herbert Spencer (correct)
  • John Wesley Powell
  • Lewis Henry Morgan

    • What did John Wesley Powell believe regarding the study of indigenous customs?

  • They should be preserved without interference.
  • No research should be conducted on them.
  • They are superior to all other cultures.
  • They must be overthrown for new institutions to be introduced. (correct)

    • Which anthropologist focused heavily on anatomical differences between races and was associated with white supremacy discourse?

  • Fredrick Ward Putnam
  • Lewis Henry Morgan (correct)
  • John Wesley Powell
  • Herbert Spencer

    • What was Fredrick Ward Putnam's primary area of study?

    <p>Native American archaeology and ethology</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Which concept was commonly associated with early anthropologists influencing segregation laws?

    <p>Racial superiority</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What was the main purpose of the eugenics movement in the United States during its rise?

    <p>To advocate for genetic improvement through selective breeding</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Who was the founder of the Eugenics Record Office in 1910?

    <p>Charles B. Davenport</p> Signup and view all the answers

    How did the rise of the industrial revolution impact societal class disparities?

    <p>It exacerbated poverty and increased class disparities</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What was one effect of the rise of professional anthropology during the late 19th century?

    <p>It helped justify racial hierarchies and discrimination</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What was the original name of anthropology before it was renamed in the 1880s?

    <p>Ethnology</p> Signup and view all the answers

    How did anthropologists influence the popular perception of race during events like the World's Fair?

    <p>By affirming notions of racial inferiority through images and narratives</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What was the primary architectural representation of The White City at the Colombian Exposition?

    <p>A demonstration of civilized culture and industrial progress</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What justification did Daniel Garrison Briton provide through his lectures on race?

    <p>He used anthropological research to support racial hierarchies</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What does the term 'Midway Plaisance' refer to in the context of the Colombian Exposition?

    <p>An area featuring 'villages of the savage' that catered to audience entertainment</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What was one method used by anthropologists to influence public opinion during the rise of eugenics?

    <p>Distributing brochures and academic papers</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is the meaning of the term 'eugenics' as coined by Francis Galton?

    <p>Well born or good breeding</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Which statement best describes the intent behind the ethnological exhibits curated for the World's Fair?

    <p>To separate and display racial differences for entertainment</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What perspective did Boas hold regarding museums and their role in society?

    <p>Museums serve as sites for popular entertainment and engagement</p> Signup and view all the answers

    How did Frederic W. Putnam contribute to the display of cultural representations at the World Fair?

    <p>By blending entertainment with ethnological themes</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What was the public perception of the 'distant colored world' as described by Willis Jr.?

    <p>An exotic escape from middle-class monotony</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What critique is implied about the representation of people from around the world in the exhibits at the World Fair?

    <p>They juxtaposed civilized achievements with perceived ignorance</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What term describes the non-negotiable coercive force attributed to the police?

    <p>Structural violence</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is meant by the 'hierarchy of credibility' concerning police power?

    <p>The power of the police to define situations and reap authority</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Which movement was pivotal in raising awareness about racialized state violence in 2014?

    <p>Black Lives Matter</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What characteristic is emphasized by contemporary anthropological work on policing?

    <p>Police as a hierarchical institution</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What type of violence does structural violence include in the context of policing?

    <p>Both direct and structural violence</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Which report highlighted the killings of black individuals by police in the U.S.?

    <p>Operation Ghetto Storm</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What was the outcome of the American Anthropological Association's (AAA) resolution against racialized violence?

    <p>Creation of a Working Group on Racialized Police Brutality</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Which of the following is a focus of ethnographic policing studies in anthropology?

    <p>Policing as a social practice</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What organization did Harrison help to establish in 1960?

    <p>The Association of Black Anthropologists</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Which statement correctly describes Audrey Smedley's contributions to anthropology?

    <p>She created the official statement on race for the AAA in 1998.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What was Delmos Jehu Jones' primary area of advocacy in anthropology?

    <p>Native anthropology and social justice</p> Signup and view all the answers

    How did George Clement Bond approach the concept of history in anthropology?

    <p>He challenged colonial authorities' construction of clan history.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What was Laura Nader advocating for with her concept of 'studying up'?

    <p>Researching the lifestyles of the wealthy and powerful</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Which aspect of race and racism discourse did Audrey Smedley influence?

    <p>The development of educational video programs on race</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What was a primary concern of Delmos Jehu Jones regarding anthropological research?

    <p>Ensuring that research does not exploit local populations.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What does the term 'vindication scholar' refer to in the context of Harrison's work?

    <p>Scholars who challenge racist assertions in anthropology.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What did George Clement Bond advocate for regarding knowledge production in anthropology?

    <p>To explore the relationships between knowledge production and power distribution.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    W.E.B. Du Bois' views on Black feminist anthropology emphasized which of the following?

    <p>Advocating for economic independence and life work for Black women.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Study Notes

    Eugenics Movement

    • Francis Galton coined the term "eugenics" in the late 19th century, drawing inspiration from Charles Darwin's theory of evolution.
    • The eugenics movement gained momentum in the early 20th century, particularly in the United States, coinciding with a period of heightened immigration and racial diversity.
    • Proponents of eugenics, often academics, used publications like brochures and papers to influence public opinion, promoting the idea of biological differences between races and advocating for selective breeding to "improve" the human race.
    • The Eugenics Record Office, established in 1910, played a significant role in collecting and disseminating research on eugenics, although its influence has been largely discredited in modern science.

    Rise of Academia Anthropology

    • The field of anthropology grew considerably in the late 19th century, entwined with the expansion of American imperialism and the institutionalization of racial segregation.
    • Prior to the 1880s, anthropology was known as "ethnology" and focused on the study of various human populations, often with a focus on racial differences.
    • The first school of American anthropology was established by Samuel Morton, Josiah Nott, and Louis Agassiz, setting the stage for a discipline that would become deeply intertwined with racist ideologies.

    Anthropology & US Industrial Expansion

    • The Industrial Revolution, while fostering economic growth, also led to a widening gap between social classes, contributing to the rise of poverty and disease.
    • During this period, lynchings of African Americans and the decimation of Native American populations were widespread, creating a climate of fear and social instability.

    Professional Anthropology & Justifying Racism

    • In a climate of fear and uncertainty, the public turned to academics, particularly anthropologists, for explanations of societal disparities and to legitimize existing social hierarchies.
    • Anthropology was often used to justify racism and to portray non-European populations as inferior.
    • The works of early anthropologists, including those of Daniel Garrison Brinton and Herbert Spencer, often reinforced and even contributed to the construction of racialized hierarchies, portraying certain races as inherently superior to others.

    Herbert Spencer

    • Herbert Spencer, drawing on his ideas of “survival of the fittest” and the “struggle for existence,” used anthropology to justify the ranking of racial and cultural groups from lowest to highest.
    • Spencer and his contemporaries often associated “black with evil, savagery, and brutishness…the lighter races are superior".

    John Wesley Powell

    • John Wesley Powell, president of the American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS), challenged the idea of Native American inferiority, but he also believed that “Federal agents must study indigenous customs because they must necessarily be overthrown before new institutions, customs, philosophy, and religion can be introduced."

    Lewis Henry Morgan

    • Lewis Henry Morgan, aligned with other anthropologists of his time, focused on the perceived "anatomical" differences between races, often reinforcing racial stereotypes through his publications.

    Frederick Ward Putnam

    • Frederick Ward Putnam, a prominent anthropologist specializing in Native American archaeology and ethology, contributed significantly to the development of anthropology departments across the country.
    • He used his influence and public platform through museums and exhibitions to promote racialized hierarchies, portraying Native American cultures as inferior and subject to European domination.

    The Power of Anthropology

    • Anthropologists' ideas about race and cultural difference during this period influenced a wide array of institutions and public spaces, including World's Fair organizers, journalists, and politicians.
    • Images and narratives conveyed through popular media and exhibitions perpetuated the idea of racial inferiority, solidifying prejudices and discrimination.

    The World's Columbian Exposition (Chicago, 1893)

    • The architecture and spatial design of the 1893 World's Columbian Exposition in Chicago reflected and reinforced ideas of racial and cultural superiority and inferiority.
    • The White City, painted ivory, represented “civilization and American cultural and industrial progress,” while the Midway Plaisance contained "villages of the savage," ethnological exhibits separated from the main city and presented as a "dark ghetto."

    Anthropology for Entertainment

    • Boas acknowledged that museums, while serving an educational purpose, should not underestimate the importance of “entertainment...the majority of museum visitors do not want anything beyond entertainment.”
    • Willis Jr (1969) also stated that " Anthropology for pleasure also applied to many professional anthropologists: the distant colored world is often perceived as an exotic place offering temporary escape from the familiarity and monotony of middle-class society in the white world...field work is a kind of tourism.”

    Fredrick W. Putnam & World’s Fair Exhibits

    • Frederick W. Putnam spearheaded the representation of people from around the world at the World's Columbian Exposition, using ethnographic exhibits as a form of entertainment.
    • The exhibits in the Midway Plaisance were staged to showcase "accomplishments of the civilized mind" positioned next to "ignorance, dirt, smells, and brown bodies."

    Calling for Political Action

    • Putnam also called for more anthropologists to “become more politically active” within the discipline to address the ethical ramifications of the field.

    The Association of Black Anthropologists ( ABA)

    • The Association of Black Anthropologists (ABA) formed in 1960, spearheaded by Joseph E. Holloway, to advocate for black representation within the discipline and highlight the need for more anthropological research on African American experiences.
    • The ABA also established the Minority Caucus within the American Anthropological Association (AAA) in 1968.

    Vindication Scholars

    • Joseph E. Holloway and other Black anthropologists joined the ranks of "vindication scholars" who fought to challenge racist assertions about African Americans within the field of anthropology.
    • They focused on re-examining and challenging existing narratives about race and racism, advocating for more equitable inclusion and representation.

    Audrey Smedley

    • Audrey Smedley, a pioneering anthropologist, dedicated her career to deconstructing the racial concept within anthropology.
    • Her own family's experiences with racism shaped her perspectives on race and racial discourse.
    • She played a significant role in shaping the American Anthropological Association's (AAA) official 1998 statement on race and contributed to the "Understanding Race and Human Variability: A Public Education Program" in 2006.
    • Smedley was also involved in the educational video “Race: The Power of an Illusion."

    Delmos Jehu Jones

    • Delmos Jehu Jones, who grew up in a segregated part of the American South with limited educational opportunities, became a dedicated advocate for social justice and equality within anthropology.
    • His ethnographic work among Southwest Native Americans fueled his activism for the decolonization of the field.

    The Thailand Affair

    • Jones conducted research on the Lahu people in Thailand with a Fulbright Fellowship in the 1970s, highlighting the oppression of the Lahu people under Thai political control.
    • He also emphasized the need for anthropologists to be aware of the potential for their research to be exploited by external forces.

    Native Anthropology & Decolonization

    • Jones was a proponent of “native anthropology,” believing that the “central question is whether a native anthropology advances the goal of social justice and social equality, or whether it merely mirrors mainstream anthropology."

    George Clement Bond

    • George Clement Bond, who grew up in a family of educators, conducted extensive fieldwork in Zambia, focusing on the interactions between colonial authorities and local communities.
    • His work highlighted the power of colonial authorities in shaping narratives about local history, while also recognizing the agency of communities like the Yombe in constructing their own histories.

    Decolonizing Anthropology

    • Bond was a vocal advocate for decolonizing anthropological knowledge, specifically addressing the representation of Africa within the field.
    • He challenged the concept of "Africa without history" and urged anthropologists to acknowledge the impact of power dynamics on the production and distribution of knowledge.

    1919 Race Riots (The Red Summer)

    • This period of intense racial violence across the United States, known as the "Red Summer," further exposed the deep racial divisions and the impact of systemic racism.

    Laura Nader

    • Anthropologist Laura Nader coined the term "studying up," emphasizing the need for anthropologists to shift their attention from studying marginalized groups to examining power structures themselves.
    • Nader urged anthropologists to expand their research beyond traditional ethnographic sites like ghettos to analyze the culture of the powerful, specifically those responsible for creating and maintaining social inequalities.

    Black Feminist Anthropology

    • Black feminist anthropologists draw attention to the intersections of race, gender, and power, particularly the dynamics between Black and White women and Black and White men.
    • Although W.E.B Du Bois supported the advancement of Black women, he also offered critiques of the field of Black feminist anthropology, believing in the importance of Black women achieving self-determination and economic independence.

    Anthropology of Structural Violence & Police

    • Contemporary anthropologists recognize the significance of studying police culture and violence, particularly the impact on racialized communities.
    • Anthropologists are particularly interested in examining how police power contributes to structural violence, a form of indirect violence perpetuated by the structures and inequalities within a society.

    Police Power and Hierarchy of Credibility

    • Anthropologists studying policing often focus on the power dynamics between police officers and those they police, drawing upon Erving Goffman’s concept of “hierarchy of credibility,” which posits that power is unevenly distributed between individuals in a social interaction.
    • Police officers, due to their authority, possess the ability to define situations, determine what happened, and establish their version of events as more credible than the accounts of those they police.
    • Anthropologists highlight the nonreciprocal nature of the relationship between police officers and the public, emphasizing police discretion and authority.

    Contemporary Anthropological Research on Police & Policing

    • Researchers in the field of anthropology have conducted extensive studies on police, policing, and the legal system.
    • Their research often focuses on the police as an institution, exploring the social practices and power relations associated with policing.
    • Anthropologists studying policing also delve into the relationship between sovereignty, violence, and police power, emphasizing the complex interplay of these factors.

    The Black Lives Matter Movement & State Violence

    • The Black Lives Matter movement gained prominence in 2014, fueled by widespread protests against police brutality towards African Americans.
    • The American Anthropological Association (AAA) passed a resolution condemning racialized state violence, and the AAA Executive formed a Working Group to address this issue.
    • The Association of Black Anthropologists (ABA) also called for action, emphasizing the need for further anthropological research on police brutality.
    • The Black Lives Matter movement has revitalized and expanded research in the "anthropology of police," which has emerged as a significant subfield within the discipline.
    • Recent anthropological scholarship is drawing attention to the issues of Black lives and state violence, highlighting the critical role of anthropology in understanding and addressing these complex societal injustices.

    Activist Anthropologists

    • Activist anthropologists like Bianca C.Williams, Orisanmi Burton, Alisse Waterston, Aimee Meredith Cox, Laurence Ralph, and others are actively researching and documenting police violence in the United States.

    “Operation Ghetto Storm”

    • The "Operation Ghetto Storm" report from 2013 revealed a disturbing pattern of excessive force and brutality by police against African Americans and other minority groups, resulting in 313 documented killings.

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    Description

    Explore the origins and implications of the eugenics movement alongside the growth of anthropology in the late 19th century. This quiz covers key figures, concepts, and the socio-political context that shaped these fields. Test your knowledge of their historical significance and impact on society.

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