The Appeal. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn. ;) 1889-19??, 1922-07-08
White Race Not.
Superior To Others
---Anthropo|ogiist

The white race is not superior to
others, declares DR.. A. A. Golden
'Weiser, anthropologist, in an adj
dress delivered before the thir-
teenth annual conference Of the Ma
tional Association for the Advance
ment Of Colored People, in the Robert
Treat School, Norfolk and Thirteenth
avenue, Newark. DR.. Goldenweiser
is a lecturer on anthropology at the
new school for social research in
New York city.
1.-The evidence of anatomy and neu-
rology so far available does not indi-
cate any appreciate superiority Of
the white race over the other races"
he declared. "The psychological tests
during the war to the contrary not
outstanding, the psychologist also
fails to provide any definite data to
support the contention of psyche
logical inferiority of so-called prin-
tive races, including the Negro, to
the white.
"In the domain of civilization it
must, of course, be admitted that
other races, with the possible excep-
ton of the Monaghan, have not pro-
duced civilizations in all respects
comparable to our own, and even the
Monaghan does not qualify when
science and industry are taken into
consideration. But an insight into
the characteristics of the historic
process makes it more than doubtful
whether any but purely historical
causes need be invoked to account for
the differences in the civilizations be-
tween different peoples. It must,
moreover, be remembered that in
just those particulars in which white
man is lncomparably superior to
primitive races he is also superior to
the civilizations of the ancient world,
such as those of Egypt, Greece or
Rome. 80
"On it's practical side, the problem
OF races in particular the Negro race
has two aspects: the present and fu-
ture of the Negro in Africa, and the
present and future of Negro popula-
tions elsewhere, primarily in the
United States. ~.
"There can be no question that the
Negro civilizations of Africa will
henceforth develop under the ever
increasing influence Of white civiliza-
ton. 1t will, however, be unfortu-
nate if all specific tendencies, all local
color characteristic of such civiliza-
lions, will be submerged in the pro-
cess of assimilation. It seems more
than probable that the importation of
white mans civilization into Africa,
1t accompanied by humanity and alb
sence of prejudice, will not result in
the complete obliteration of the in
digen6us traits of Negro civilizations,
while furnishing these with the tools
and advantages of the modern white
world -.
'..By far the most difficult aspect of
the Negro problem refers to the Ne
gro populations outside of Africa,
primarily in the United States.
There can be no question that com
plete legal emancipation is desirable,
necessary, and will within the near
future be attained. The social as
pect, on the other hand, appears much
more gloomy. Deep-rooted prejudice,
supported by certain physical reac-
lions and backed by historical tradi-
ton, cannot readily be dislodged.
Here the work will be. tedious, pain
full and prolonged. It will. not be
achieved without whole-hearted and
self-sacrificing cooperation on the
part of the white and the Negro
alike. But if both groups assume
their share Of responsibility, their I'LL
innate success in this domain also
cannot be doubted"