French Naturalist and Zoologist

Who: Georges Cuvier (1769–1832)

What: Promoted polygenism and racial hierarchies through his scientific writings.

When: 1817

Details: Georges Cuvier is known for his work in comparative anatomy and

paleontology. In his publication "Le Règne Animal" (The Animal Kingdom) in 1817, Cuvier classified humans into different races and argued that Africans were naturally inferior to Europeans. He claimed that physical and intellectual differences between races were inherent and unchangeable.

Why and How It Was Racist: Cuvier's classification system reinforced the belief in racial hierarchies and provided a scientific basis for the notion of European superiority, which was used to justify colonialism and the exploitation of non - European peoples.

Sources: EncyclopaediaBritannica

https://ucmp.berkeley.edu/history/cuvier.htmlo https://speculativefaith.lorehaven.com/lets-talk-about-race-and-racism-part-5-scientific-racism/