DeepSummary
The podcast episode features a discussion with evolutionary biologist Joseph L. Graves and biological anthropologist Alan Goodman, authors of the book 'Racism, Not Race: Answers to Frequently Asked Questions.' They argue that racism created the idea of race, not the other way around. They explain how the concept of race emerged as a social and political justification for colonization, slavery, and oppression, rather than being based on biological or scientific evidence.
The guests discuss the historical development of racial ideas, tracing their origins to religious notions of a divine hierarchy and the 'discovery' of new peoples during European colonization. They assert that race is a social construct, not a biological reality, and that there is more genetic variation within racial groups than between them. The episode covers how pseudoscientific racism persists today, often under the guise of being 'forbidden knowledge' or 'free thinking.'
The conversation touches on the dangers of using race as a basis for medical treatment, the role of education in combating racist ideologies, and the existential threat that racism poses to democracy. The guests express both optimism and pessimism about the potential for societal change, with Graves emphasizing the need to continue fighting against injustice, even in the face of adversity.
Key Episodes Takeaways
- Race is a social and political construct, not a biological reality, created to justify oppression and exploitation, particularly during the colonial era and the transatlantic slave trade.
- Racist ideologies often emerged from religious notions of a divine hierarchy and were later given a pseudoscientific veneer, but lack any genuine scientific basis.
- There is more genetic variation within racial groups than between them, undermining the concept of distinct biological races.
- Using race as a basis for medical treatment or scientific research is problematic and can lead to harmful outcomes.
- Dismantling racist ideologies and achieving racial justice is crucial for preserving democracy and preventing the rise of totalitarian regimes.
- While progress has been made in educating the public about the fallacy of race, well-funded institutions continue to promote and perpetuate racist pseudoscience.
- The consequences of failing to address racism are severe, potentially leading to environmental degradation, economic inequality, and the erosion of human rights.
- A holistic, intersectional approach is needed to combat the interrelated systems of oppression rooted in hierarchical thinking.
Top Episodes Quotes
- “And another thing that your listeners should understand is that it didn't really start in science or biology as they understand it in the 21st century. At that time, creationist religious ideas in the western world dominated how people thought about nature. And creationist notions about the hierarchy of human beings played a very powerful role in how naturalists began to think about the new groups of humans that they were coming in contact during the european age of colonization and discovery.“ by Joseph L. Graves
- “If we actually looked at the variation of human skin color, it's continuous across the globe, depending upon latitude. And in addition, if we were to use the evolutionary history of human beings, and then, you know, superimpose upon it skin color variation, skin color variation would not match the evolutionary history of our species.“ by Joseph L. Graves
- “I mean, obviously, I agree with Alan that we are at an existential moment for the thin veneer of democracy that remains in the United States, and that if we don't act on issues of racial justice, we will lose what remains of democracy. And if we lose what remains of democracy in the United States, democratic nations may fail across the world. And if democracy fails across the world, we're going to end up with the kind of totalitarian states that George Orwell imagined in 1984, controlling the life prospects of everybody around the globe.“ by Joseph L. Graves
Entities
Person
Book
Episode Information
Srsly Wrong
Srsly Wrong
3/9/22