Keen On America

The Great White Hoax: Two Centuries of Manufactured Racism in America

Jun 27, 2025
Philip Kadish, a Professor of American Studies and author, dives into the chilling deceptions behind America's racist history in his latest work. He reveals that many supposedly scientific theories were actually deliberate frauds by opportunists, not misguided beliefs. Kadish discusses the pivotal role of the 1840 Census in cementing scientific racism, highlighting how authority often triumphed over actual expertise. He also explores the profit-driven media narratives that perpetuate these harmful ideologies, weaving a compelling tale of manipulation and societal impact.
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INSIGHT

Intentional Racist Scientific Hoaxes

  • Many racist scientific theories in America were deliberate hoaxes, not honest mistakes.
  • Some individuals knowingly created false evidence to promote white supremacy.
ANECDOTE

1840 Census Scandal

  • The 1840 US Census falsely reported Black Americans as far more prone to insanity, data used to justify slavery.
  • John Calhoun knowingly recertified this false data, starting American scientific racism.
INSIGHT

Scientific Racism Influenced Policy

  • Despite competing scientific views, racist ideas like those of Madison Grant influenced policies.
  • Scientific debates didn't prevent adoption of racist immigration restrictions in 1924.
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