ANTH 3062 - Race, An Unnatural Concept

Content: This course traces the role of biological anthropology in the scientific and pseudoscientific study of human variation and difference and the impacts of this study on society, from politics to medicine to identity and beyond. The course will trace the historical development of the now debunked biological race concept, from the misuse of scientific concepts and methods by early biological anthropologists to create racist, white supremacist “hierarchies of humanity,” to the role of biological anthropologists in scientifically disproving this same concept. Additionally, the course will explore how the erroneous concept of “biological race” and racism within biological anthropology have affected scientific knowledge production and narratives about human origins, evolution, and biological and cultural differences.

Credits: 4