The Surprisingly Racist History of "Caucasian" | Decoded | MTV News

Summary

This script delves into the etymology of 'Caucasian,' a term often used to describe white people. It challenges the common assumption by highlighting that outside America, 'Caucasian' refers to individuals from the Caucasus region. The script explores the historical roots of the term in scientific racism, particularly through the views of Christoph Meiners and Johann Blumenbach, who classified Georgians as the epitome of beauty and categorized humanity into races. It critiques how these classifications were used to justify slavery and immigration policies in the U.S. The script also ponders why 'Caucasian' persists in American English, suggesting its legal history and the subtle reinforcement of racial ideology as potential reasons.

Takeaways

• 🌍 The term 'Caucasian' is not universally used to describe white people outside of America, as many countries define it as a person from the Caucasus region.
• 🏛️ The concept of 'Caucasian' as representative of white people originated from 18th-century German scientist Christoph Meiners, who promoted the idea of a superior 'white' race.
• 🧬 Meiners' views were unscientific and racist, considering non-Caucasians as inferior and even animal-like, while praising the people from the Caucasus region for their skin color.
• 💀 Johann Blumenbach, another German scientist, contributed to the racial classification by considering the Georgian people as the most beautiful race and categorizing humanity into five races, including Caucasian.
• 🏳️‍🌈 Blumenbach's racial classifications were adopted by the United States, which used them to justify slavery and immigration policies.
• 📚 The term 'Caucasian' has a long legal history in the U.S., with the Supreme Court using it in 64 cases, including one that defined it as white Europeans.
• 🏆 The persistence of the term 'Caucasian' might be due to its historical and legal usage in America, as well as its perceived scientific connotation.
• 🤔 The script challenges the viewer to consider why 'Caucasian' is still in use when other racial categories like 'Mongoloid' and 'Negroid' have fallen out of use.
• 🗣️ The script suggests that language plays a significant role in perpetuating racial ideologies, and the term 'Caucasian' implies a false sense of connection and superiority among white people.

Q & A

Why is the term 'Caucasian' used to refer to white people?

The term 'Caucasian' has become synonymous with white people due to historical classifications by scientists like Johann Blumenbach, who believed the Caucasus region was home to the most beautiful race of men, and extended the term to include light-skinned Europeans.

What is the geographical area referred to as the Caucasus region?

The Caucasus region includes parts of Russia, Georgia, Armenia, Azerbaijan, and northern Turkey.

Who was Christoph Meiners and what was his contribution to the concept of 'Caucasian'?

Christoph Meiners was an early adopter of 'scientific racism' who believed that people from the Caucasus region had the 'whitest, most blooming, and most delicate skin' and considered non-Caucasians to be inferior.

How did Johann Blumenbach's views on race influence the classification of 'Caucasian'?

Johann Blumenbach believed that the people of Georgia in the Caucasus region were the most beautiful race and that light-skinned Europeans belonged to the same 'Caucasian' race, which influenced later racial classifications.

What was the significance of the 1928 Supreme Court case involving Bhagat Singh Thind?

The 1928 Supreme Court case involving Bhagat Singh Thind, an Indian man, legally defined 'Caucasian' as white Europeans, excluding people of other races from being considered Caucasian for naturalized citizenship.

Why have terms like 'Mongoloid' and 'Negroid' fallen out of use while 'Caucasian' persists?

The term 'Caucasian' persists due to its long legal history in America, its use in Supreme Court cases, and its implication of a distinct racial group separate from other racial groups.

How did the racial classifications of Blumenbach contribute to social policies in the United States?

Blumenbach's racial classifications were adopted by the United States, helping to justify social policies like slavery and selective immigration quotas.

What is the modern American definition of 'Caucasian' as per the Supreme Court decision?

The modern American definition of 'Caucasian', as per the Supreme Court decision, is 'whites with European ancestry'.

Why does the speaker suggest that the term 'Caucasian' might have persisted?

The speaker suggests that the term 'Caucasian' has persisted because of its power in language to spread racial ideology and its implication of a scientific classification.

What other races did Johann Blumenbach classify besides 'Caucasian'?

Johann Blumenbach classified other races as 'Mongolian' (yellow race), 'Malayan' (brown race), 'Ethiopian' (black race), and 'American' (red race).

How does the script suggest that language can influence racial ideology?

The script suggests that language, particularly terms like 'Caucasian', can be a subtle and significant vehicle for spreading racial ideology by implying differences and connections among racial groups.