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Skulls and Skin (Seeing White, Part 8)

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May 17, 2017
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ANECDOTE

Morton's Skull Collection

  • The Penn Museum holds Morton's skull collection, labeled with racial categories.
  • Morton measured skull volumes, believing it indicated intelligence.
INSIGHT

Early Racial Classifications

  • Linnaeus categorized humans into four varieties based on appearance and geography.
  • Blumenbach introduced five types, including "Caucasian," based on skull shape and perceived beauty.
INSIGHT

Morton's Flawed Science

  • Samuel Morton's cranial studies reinforced racist hierarchies.
  • Earlier race theorists, while still flawed, were less wrong than Morton.
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