Eugenics and racial science flourished at colonialism’s high point

Evidence

Another clear example of eugenicist thinking penetrating colonial circles is provided by two articles that appeared in La Revue Indigene-a colonial journal devoted to “native affairs”-on the eve of World War I. The first article reported on the latest findings of the Eugenics Society: that “children of mixed parentage resemble most the parent in whose original habitat they are born and raised.” This meant that French-Indochinese children were “destined to return rapidly to the Indochinese type.” And the article concluded, “Is it because they have known this law for a long time that the English have avoided in general metissage in the colonies?” (“La science et les metis”). Another article by French colonial employees argued that no Indochinese could acquire the requisite degree of civilization to be admitted to the colonial service at the same pay as Europeans. As proof, the signatories cited “the regression which takes place when descendants of metis intermarry”; they “return slowly but surely to the inferior origin” (“Lettre des Amicales”). — Alice L. Conklin, A Mission to Civilize_ The Republican…, 1280 (#exemplifies, via linked claim)

Categorization

• XREF: connects to: Eugenicist pseudoscience was used to justify colonial racial segregation and pay discrimination — Alice L. Conklin, A Mission to Civilize_ The Republican…, 1280; Eugenics gained Indian popularity as a pseudo-scientific explanation for Hindu decline under colonial rule — Ambedkar, B R, Annihilation of Caste_ The Annotated…, 1070; Discourses of racial purity served as colonial disciplinary power — David Theo Goldberg, John Solomos, A Companion to Racial and Ethnic Studies, 3225 (+7 more)

Broader Connections

• Eugenicist pseudoscience was used to justify colonial racial segregation and pay discrimination #exemplifies (0.92) — Alice L. Conklin, A Mission to Civilize_ The Republican…, 1280