When did the word racism first appear in history?
The word racism did not exist until the 1930s. Before the late 19th century, the concept of race as a biological determinant of character and ability was largely absent from Western thought.
Common questions about Racism
Short answers, pulled from the story.
What was the Spanish doctrine of limpieza de sangre?
The Spanish doctrine of limpieza de sangre, or cleanliness of blood, emerged during the Reconquista to stem the upward social mobility of converted Jews and Muslims. This legal and social system created a complex caste system in the colonies of the Americas that determined a person's importance in society based on degrees of perceived racial distance from European ancestry.
Who were the early race theorists that divided humanity into groups?
Early race theorists like Johann Blumenbach divided humanity into five groups based on skin color. Polygenist Christoph Meiners split mankind into two divisions which he labeled the beautiful White race and the ugly Black race.
When did the term institutional racism originate?
The term institutional racism was coined by Stokely Carmichael in the late 1960s. This form of racism operates at every level of society, from housing policies to employment decisions.
What was the outcome of the Valladolid debate of 1550 to 1551?
The Valladolid debate of 1550 to 1551 highlighted the moral conflicts surrounding racial systems by pitting the Dominican friar Bartolomé de Las Casas against Juan Ginés de Sepúlveda. Las Casas argued that Amerindians were free men in the natural order, while Sepúlveda claimed they were naturally suited for slavery.
When was the first known Christian marriage in the continental United States recorded?
The marriage of Luisa de Abrego, a free black domestic servant from Seville, and Miguel Rodríguez, a white conquistador, was recorded in 1565 in St. Augustine. This union stands as the first known and recorded Christian marriage anywhere in the continental United States.