The races of man
An example of mid-20th century ‘scientific’ classification and ranking of races: The Races of Man (1932) was a textbook on physical anthropology written by Robert Bennett Bean, Professor of Anatomy at the University of Virginia.
In general, the brain of the White Race is large, the convolutions are rich, with deep fissures. The mental characteristics are activity, nervous and physical vivacity, strong ambitions and passions, and highly developed idealism ... Their industry is incessant and elaborate ...
The brain of the Yellow-Brown Race is about medium in human size, with medium to good convolutions, which are sometimes varied and deep. The mental characteristics of the Yellow-Browns need further study, but the seem to be less vivacious, with emotions and passions less strong ... They possess moderate idealism ... but have less spirit for exploration and adventure than the White Race ...
The size of the brain of the Black Race is below the medium both of Whites and of the Yellow-Browns, frequently with relatively more simple convolutions. The frontal lobes are often low and narrow, the parietal lobes voluminous, the occipital protruding. The psychic activities of the Black Race are a careless, jolly vivacity, emotions and passions of short duration, and a strong and somewhat irrational egoism. Idealism, ambition and co-operative faculties are weak.
Bean, Robert Bennett. 1932. The Races of Man: Differentiation and Dispersal of Man. New York: The University Society. pp. 86, 94–95. || WorldCat
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