Anthropology and Race: The Explanation of Differences - Softcover

1. Race as a Social Category, Not a Biological Fact. 2. The Anthropolgical Curiosity: Why Are There Differences? 3. Ignoble Savages or Just Others? Charles Darwin and Alfred Russel Wallace. 4. Race, Culture, and Eugenics. 5. Discarding Race, Dealing with Racism. References Cited. Index.

Shanklins book represents the first undergraduate text written by an anthropologist that argues race is not a valid scientific concept but a critical construct in folk taxonomies that have political implications. .Shanklin traces the historical development of the definition of race and the studies of race that preoccupied anthropologists during the past few centuries. The author also explores the mixed role that anthropology has had in the elaboration of, and challenges to, racist thinking.