RACE IDEOLOGY AT THE TURN OF THE 20TH CENTURY

RACE IDEOLOGY AT THE TURN OF THE 20TH CENTURY

Introduction

Man has always sought to understand the world , to be able to predict the sequence of event , and to achieve certain control over the world around him . Science had been a vital instrument to attain closely on the objective of this struggle . Not only does it seek to gain better understanding of the intricate interactions of the natural world , but the direction has also pointed upon itself

Various events , often dramatic , have led attention to intergroup relations . Civil rights , freedom marches

, sit-ins , desegregation discrimination , cultural pluralism , genocide , apartheid --- were just some of the then emerging issues which students of the early 20th century of contemporary life sought to study and understand . England with a steady migration of person from Africa , India , Pakistan , and the West Indies , finds herself faced with problems of a color bar , and passes an unprecedented law limiting immigration Indonesians celebrate the expulsion of the Dutch , only to find themselves dominated by internal groups scarcely less imperialistic the South African government boldly proclaims a policy of apartheid but keeps stumbling over the problem of economic interdependence the United States , rapidly becoming a thoroughly urbanized society , discovers that desegregation is a national question Russia at this time was faced with problems of vast restlessness among her satellites , turns to anti-Semitism . Such inter-group behavior in man had been one of the central points of study in man 's attempt to comprehend man 's own behavior

Such events are not alien from man 's early history . From different points in world history , certain race had dominated another . But at the turn of the 20th century , there have been various theories presented which proposes the existence of differences or inequality of biological endowments among races of men . Most propositions present their arguments through scientific cloak or other respectable approach . Much of these theories came about with the influence from which time it came and the surrounding tensions between racial groups involved . Controversy first came about with the assumption that certain races are favorably better or possessing greater and better capabilities than others with the European 's spread and settlement in the New World . There are various illustrations from different points in time . One involves the European 's encounter and eventually the domination of the Native American Indians which erupted into disagreements in 1550-51 between Las Casas and Sepulveda . Still , another controversy rose up with Gobineau during the French Revolution , a clash coming from the poor masses ' uprising against poor treatment from the upper class . The masses tried to abolish what they perceive as the nobilities ' maltreatment that they are inferior compared to the `privileged ' few . In addition , is the American 's history which involved the clashes between those in favor of slavery and those that wanted it eliminated one of the focal point of its own past . In fact the concept of race has done a considerable role in shaping the way most Americans look upon their history . Most of...