The Idea of Racialism

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History Of Africa Fifty years ago, Louis L. Snyder wrote in The Idea of Racialism, that any “racial differences that have been established thus far are so much dependent on outer circumstances that no proofs can be stated for the existence of innate or inborn racial differences” (p. 31). His idea was, at least in the popular imagination, well ahead of its time. Even some subsequent considerations of human origins in Africa have seemed to argue against his assertion. You initially had a chance to study his views when we considered Unit One. Now you should compare them to the summary of more recent research concerning the earliest history of Africa in chapter 2 of AiWH. Then write your Unit Three Essay on this topic: To what extent do the latest scientific and historical views of human origins in Africa support Louis Snyder’s views on “racial differences” of a half century ago? Be as specific as you can by referring to your required reading and study materials. Africa is the birth place of mankind and mother to several different cultures and even though we humans came from this particular continent, the idea of racial differences still emerged. Early perceptions agree that racial differences did not exist. The evolutionary perspective on human origins show how the idea of racial differences originated. The starting point on how racial differences started cannot be precisely pin pointed. Louis L. Snyder believed that any “racial differences that have been established thus far are so much dependent on outer circumstances that no proofs can be stated for the existence of innate or inborn racial differences”. Both modern scientists and historical views of human origins support and contradict his claims on racial differences. How, exactly, does the notion of race get spread out? Back when humanity began, people living in different places varied in physical
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