Examining how Zealots and Racists Shape(d) American History and Biology Curriculum
Length of Presentation
50 minutes
Start Date
15-10-2021 3:00 PM
End Date
15-10-2021 3:50 PM
Document Type
Presentation
Abstract
Charles Darwin shaped science and history. His pathway of natural selection both suggested common descent and threatened White, Christian, conservatives’ racial and religious superiority. Darwin, though an anti-slavery advocate with distinguished abolitionists on both familial lines, used language replete with assimilationism, racism, and colonialism. His insights on science and complicated history with racism elicited startlingly different responses from empowered regulators atop America’s social hierarchy. White, Christian, conservatives—whether socioeconomically privileged or marginalized—collaboratively resisted evolution instruction differently over time and context. Members of this same demographic have melded evolutionary iterations within racist ideas to justify colonialism, segregation, social Darwinism, eugenics, and racial science. This presentation explores how Darwin and his ideas are (mis)represented within common science and history curriculum today. This study is based on a careful review of over 150 biology textbooks and 100 history-based children’s and young adult trade books.
Description
Charles Darwin shaped science and history. His pathway of natural selectionboth suggested common descent and threatened White, Christian, conservatives’ racial and religious superiority. Darwin, though an anti-slavery advocate with distinguished abolitionists on both familial lines, used language replete with assimilationism, racism, and colonialism. His insights on science and complicated history with racism elicited startlingly different responses from empowered regulators atop America’s social hierarchy. White, Christian, conservatives—whether socioeconomically privileged or marginalized—collaboratively resisted evolution instruction differently over time and context. Members of this same demographic have melded evolutionary iterations within racist ideas to justify colonialism, segregation, social Darwinism, eugenics, and racial science. This presentation explores how Darwin and his ideas are (mis)represented within common science and history curriculum today. This study is based on a careful review of over 150 biology textbooks and 100 history-based children’s and young adult trade books. This is intended for parents, teachers, and students. I demonstrate the not-so-hidden presence of homophobia, racism, and Christianity within modern science and history textbooks, trade books, and curricular supplements.
Creative Commons License
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial-No Derivative Works 4.0 License.
Examining how Zealots and Racists Shape(d) American History and Biology Curriculum
Charles Darwin shaped science and history. His pathway of natural selection both suggested common descent and threatened White, Christian, conservatives’ racial and religious superiority. Darwin, though an anti-slavery advocate with distinguished abolitionists on both familial lines, used language replete with assimilationism, racism, and colonialism. His insights on science and complicated history with racism elicited startlingly different responses from empowered regulators atop America’s social hierarchy. White, Christian, conservatives—whether socioeconomically privileged or marginalized—collaboratively resisted evolution instruction differently over time and context. Members of this same demographic have melded evolutionary iterations within racist ideas to justify colonialism, segregation, social Darwinism, eugenics, and racial science. This presentation explores how Darwin and his ideas are (mis)represented within common science and history curriculum today. This study is based on a careful review of over 150 biology textbooks and 100 history-based children’s and young adult trade books.
