Skin Deep - Dispelling the Science of Race

Racial differences are rooted in biological reality, right? That's certainly what a small group of anthropologists, psychologists and pundits would have you believe. Portraying themselves as brave defenders of the inconvenient truth, this group took the revival of 'race science' from alt-right online message boards into mainstream academic journals. They seek to justify raging social inequalities from poverty to incarceration rates with a simple message: some people are just born to be poor. There's just one problem... race science isn't real.

The first Europeans had dark skin and black curly hair. Culture was born in Africa, not Western Europe. Gavin Evans examines the latest research on how intelligence develops and laying out new discoveries in genetics, palaeontology, archaeology and anthropology to unearth the truth about our shared past. Skin Deep stands up to the pseudo-science deployed to justify colonial rule, the apartheid regime and the vast inequalities that persist today. As race dominates the political agenda, it's time to put the hateful myths about it to bed.

About the author

Gavin Evans was born in London and grew up in Cape Town, where he became intensely involved in the anti-apartheid struggle. He studied economic history and law before completing a PhD in political studies, writing extensively on race and racism. He lectures in the Culture and Media department at Birkbeck College, London, and broadcasts regularly for the BBC World Service and is a keen marathon runner.

Summary

The dark heart of race science... and why it's nonsense.

Report

'a thorough overview and detailed critique of contemporary "race science," and a poignant description and assessment of scientific racism... an easy-to-read overview of the latest academic research in genetics, evolutionary anthropology, archaeology, and paleontology that explains disparities in human intelligence... but not in terms of the construct "race." As a seasoned science journalist, Evans explains complex concepts and theories with clarity and precision, and he brings moments of levity to this challenging subject matter.'
Choice

Product details

• Authors: Gavin Evans, Evans Gavin
• Publisher: Oneworld
• Languages: English
• Product format: Paperback / Softback
• Released: 31.10.2020
• EAN: 9781786078117
• ISBN: 978-1-78607-811-7
• No. of pages: 384
• Subjects: Humanities, art, music > History > General, dictionaries; Non-fiction book > History > Miscellaneous; Social sciences, law, business > Sociology > Sociological theories; Sociology, POLITICAL SCIENCE / General, SOCIAL SCIENCE / Sociology / General, Sociology: customs & traditions, HISTORY / World, SCIENCE / Life Sciences / Biology, MEDICAL / Genetics, SCIENCE / Life Sciences / Genetics & Genomics, SOCIAL SCIENCE / Anthropology / Cultural & Social, SOCIAL SCIENCE / Customs & Traditions, Social & cultural anthropology, ethnography, General & world history, Politics & government, Politics and government, Social and cultural anthropology, General and world history, Medical Genetics, Human biology, Cultural studies: customs and traditions