Language:
English
Year of publication:
1996
Titel der Quelle:
Prospects; an Annual of American Cultural Studies
Angaben zur Quelle:
21 (1996) 471-490
Keywords:
Antisemitism History 1500-
Abstract:
American culture has always been tribalistic and race conscious. The USA was not devoid of antisemitism in the late 19th-20th centuries; apart from antisemitic incidents, which occurred throughout the country, anti-Jewish sentiments (as part of anti-immigrant racist prejudices) were widespread amongst the political and cultural elites. In post-Darwinian times these racist and antisemitic sentiments were underpinned by science. At various stages, evolutionism, Mendel's genetics, physical anthropology, and IQ testing were used in order to demonstrate the racial inferiority of Jews and other ethnic groups. Some Jewish scientists, such as M. Fishberg and F. Boas, although maintaining that the Jews are a racial group, stressed environmental factors which did much to undermine scientific racism. Now the Jews are accepted in American society, but so long as racial thinking abides, Jews may expect hard times in the future.
Note:
Directed particularly against Jews and African-Americans.
URL:
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