Swedish Botanist, Physician, and Zoologist

Who: Carl Linnaeus (1707–1778)

What: Developed a classification system for humans that reinforced racial

hierarchies.

When: Mid-18th century

Details: Carl Linnaeus is famous for developing a system for classifying living

organisms, but he also classified humans into several groups based on physical and cultural characteristics. In his work "Systema Naturae" (1735), he categorized humans into Americanus, Asiaticus, Africanus, and Europeanus, attributing different characteristics and behaviors to each group. This classification reinforced the idea of racial hierarchies and the supposed superiority of Europeans.

Why and How It Was Racist: Linnaeus' classification system gave scientific credibility to the idea of racial differences and hierarchies, which influenced future scientific and social thought on race.

Sources: https://www.linnean.org/learning/who-was-linnaeus/linnaeus-and- race

Hübinette, T., Wikström, P., & Samuelsson, J. (2022). Scientist or Racist? The Racialized Memory War Over Monuments to Carl Linnaeus in Sweden During the Black Lives Matter Summer of 2020. Journal of Ethnic and Cultural Studies, 9(3), 27-55. https://www.jstor.org/stable/48710349