The Surprisingly Racist History of "Caucasian" | Decoded | MTV News
Why Do We Call White People “Caucasian”?
The Definition of Caucasian
- The term "Caucasian" is commonly understood in America as referring to white-skinned individuals of European descent, but this definition varies globally.
- In many countries, "Caucasian" specifically refers to people from the Caucasus region, which includes parts of Russia, Georgia, Armenia, Azerbaijan, and northern Turkey.
Historical Context and Scientific Racism
- Christoph Meiners was an early proponent of "scientific racism," claiming that Caucasians had the most desirable physical traits and viewing other races as inferior.
- Meiners categorized non-Caucasians as ugly and immoral; he believed Middle Eastern and Asian peoples were less intelligent and predisposed to evil.
Blumenbach's Contributions
- Johann Blumenbach expanded on these ideas by asserting that the Georgian people represented the pinnacle of beauty based on his collection of human skulls.
- He classified humanity into five races: Caucasian (white), Mongolian (yellow), Malayan (brown), Ethiopian (black), and American (red), labeling others as "degenerate forms."
Legal Implications in America
- Blumenbach’s classifications influenced U.S. racial ideologies, aiding justifications for slavery and immigration policies.
- A pivotal Supreme Court case in 1928 determined that "Caucasian" legally referred only to white Europeans when Bhagat Singh Thind attempted to claim citizenship based on anthropological definitions.
The Persistence of the Term
- The term "Caucasian" remains prevalent due to its historical legal usage and implications about racial identity in America.