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.
40:01
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Quick takeaways
- Dr. James McCune Smith's critique of the term 'Caucasian' reveals the flawed pseudoscience underpinning racial hierarchies in 19th-century America.
- Frederick Douglass utilized photography as a powerful tool to counter racial stereotypes and assert the dignity of African Americans.
Deep dives
Dr. James McCune Smith and the Shift in Racial Discourse
Dr. James McCune Smith, the first African American to earn a medical degree, played a pivotal role in shifting racial discourse in the 19th century. In crafting an introduction for Frederick Douglass's autobiography, he critiques the term 'Caucasian,' highlighting its fading relevance among ethnologists. Smith sharply observes that the concept of a superior 'white race' is based on misguided pseudoscience and suggests that historical and geographical roots of this concept should be reevaluated. His insights reflect a broader struggle against racial hierarchy, which continued to permeate American society.
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