top of page
Screenshot 2024-05-28 at 8.40.28 AM.png

American Physician and Surgeon



Who: Josiah C. Nott (1804–1873)


What: Known for his writings and lectures on the supposed racial differences and

the superiority of the white race.


When: Mid-19th century


Details: Josiah C. Nott co-authored "Types of Mankind" (1854) with George Gliddon,

which argued for the polygenist view that different races were created separately and were inherently unequal. Nott used craniometry and other pseudoscientific methods to claim that Africans were biologically inferior to whites. His work was

influential in promoting scientific racism and was used to justify slavery and

segregation.


Why and How It Was Racist: Nott's work perpetuated the belief in racial

hierarchies and provided a scientific rationale for the discrimination and

dehumanization of Black people.


Sources: https://collections.countway.harvard.edu/onview/exhibits/show/this- abominable-traffic/agassiz-and-polygenism/polygenism

Byrd, W. M., & Clayton, L. A. (2001). Race, medicine, and health care in the United States: a historical survey. Journal of the National Medical Association, 93(3 Suppl), 11S. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2593958/

Comentarios


Address

Johns Hopkins University
2800 N. Charles Street
Baltimore, MD 21218

Email

Connect

  • Spotify
  • Twitter
  • LinkedIn
  • Instagram
bottom of page