Since the eighteenth century when natural historians created the idea of distinct racial categories; scientific findings on race have been a double-edged sword. For some antiracists; science holds the promise of one day providing indisputable evidence to help eradicate racism. On the other hand; science has been enlisted to promote racist beliefs ranging from a justification of slavery in the eighteenth century to the infamous twentieth-century book; The Bell Curve; whose authors argued that racial differences in intelligence resulted in lower test scores for African Americans. This well-organized; readable textbook takes the reader through a chronological account of how and why racial categories were created and how the study of “race†evolved in multiple academic disciplines; including genetics; psychology; sociology; and anthropology. In a bibliographic essay at the conclusion of each of the book’s seven sections; the authors recommend primary texts that will further the reader’s understanding of each topic. Heavily illustrated and enlivened with sidebar biographies; this text is ideal for classroom use.
#2372337 in Books Westview Press 1999-05-06Original language:EnglishPDF # 1 8.75 x 6.25 x .50l; #File Name: 0813336252200 pages
Review
