American History Hit What Does 'Caucasian' Mean?
Jan 27, 2025
Sarah Lewis, an award-winning art historian and Harvard professor, dives into the complexities of the term 'Caucasian' and its historical ramifications on American racial identity. She unpacks how this classification emerged in the 18th century and became intertwined with notions of whiteness. Highlighting the influence of P.T. Barnum’s exhibitions and the revolutionary use of photography by figures like Frederick Douglass, Lewis reveals how these narratives shaped societal perceptions of race, urging a reassessment of racial hierarchies that still resonate today.
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Race as a Social Construct
- The concept of race, including the term "Caucasian", was created by Johann Friedrich Blumenbach in the 1700s.
- He categorized mankind into five races based on factors like skull symmetry and geography, influencing racial hierarchies.
Reactions to "Caucasian"
- Sarah Lewis visited the Caucasus region and discovered that many people there are unaware of how Americans use the term "Caucasian."
- One person she met was treated like a god by his American roommate solely because he was from the Caucasus.
Barnum's Circassian Beauties
- P.T. Barnum exhibited "Circassian Beauties" in his American Museum, staging them with fabricated origin stories.
- These exhibitions became a way for the public to process the complex issue of racial hierarchy.