I too struggled with what people were thinking in historic times that would
allow such injustices to go on. For the most part we are not talking about
bad guys with horrible thoughts but well educated persons who appear to be
were considered upstanding persons in the community. What I learned was
not to judge people in the past by our value system.
Learning theory at the time believed nature or heredity to be the prime
variable in predicting success....it was taught in school. The other is
that it was still believed that races were different species of humans...it
was taught in school. The result was an attitude of benevolence towards
people of color.
Let me give you an example: In the textbook Social Living principles and
problems in introductory sociology by Paul H. Landis 1945 published by Gin
and company pg. 16
"The Hereditary Factor
The red man and the white man are differnt human beings. We say they are
different because of heredity, that is, because they are born with
different physical traits. People with red skin and coarse straight black
hair ahve children with red skin and coarse straigt black hair. People
with fair skin and silky hair have offspring with fair skin and silky hair.
This law of heredity is the firs law that the sociologist must recognize
in understanding group life."
Now, keep in mind at this time Darwinian Theory was just taking hold of the
science community with Mendelian genetics. What they were reasoning was
sound WITH THE INFORMATION THEY HAD. Sounds cruel...but now we know more
about the brain, heredity, genetics, and psychology to understand it was
not correct.
Saturday go to a used book store and begin reading some of the texts from
the early 1900's. You will begin to see the picture. Also do this because
the human genome project has the potential to do great things....but they
will also begine showing differences in genes....this may start the whole
problem of genetic inheritance again. We need to be able to understand
what problems this type of thinking will create...
Betsy
Betsy@ohstpy.mps.ohio-state.edu