Skull-measuring racial science was fraudulent yet self-confirming

Evidence

Morton claimed he could place racial groups in a descending order of intelligence by measuring the interior capacity of human skulls. His methodology was a sham, but it conveniently “confirmed” Agassiz’s newfound prejudices by placing black people at the very bottom of the racial hierarchy. — Tamara Lanier, From These Roots, 1038

Categorization

• XREF: Connects to the lantern of science chapter on caste/scientific racism and polygenism debates generally.