19th and Early 20th Century Racial Hierarchies: A Legacy of the Enlightenment

The concept of racial hierarchies, prevalent during the 19th and early 20th centuries, was deeply rooted in the scientific and philosophical zeitgeist of the Enlightenment period. This misguided belief that a person's 'race' determined their behaviors was a product of the materialistic scientific view that was emerging during this time.

Enlightenment Influence and Scientific Materialism

The thinkers and scholars of the Enlightenment period were instrumental in shaping the prevailing attitudes of the time. With the abandonment of ancient religious beliefs, European man embraced a materialistic and scientific approach to understanding the world. This approach involved detailed measurement, counting, and description of various aspects of reality. As a result, hierarchical structures were created not only among animate and inanimate objects but also among different 'races' of humans.

The logic extended beyond recognizably distinct racial groups such as black or white. It encompassed broader notions of inherent characteristics. For example, the British often spoke fondly of the 'fighting races,' which included indigenous peoples like the Maori, Nepalese, Zulus, and Irishmen. These groups were believed to be naturally endowed with a particular bellicose nature, a trait that, from a colonial perspective, was considered admirable.

Self-Justification and Colonialism

These racial hierarchies not only rationalized and justified colonialism in the eyes of those who enacted it but also provided a semblance of moral justifications. The sentiment of justifying actions as one's duty rather than as exploitation was widespread. For example, the French colonial enterprise was often referred to as "the mission to civilize," a phrase that carried the odor of paternalism and goodwill.

This is where Rudyard Kipling's poem 'The White Man's Burden' comes into play. Commissioned by the U.S. government, the poem was intended to encourage Americans to join in the colonial enterprise. It echoed themes of responsibility and the moral duty to 'send forth the best ye breed' to serve and civilize 'your new-caught sullen peoples.'

The poem states:

“Take up the White Man’s burden—

Send forth the best ye breed—

Go send your sons to exile

To serve your captives need

To wait in heavy harness

On fluttered folk and wild—

Your new-caught sullen peoples

Half devil and half child”

“Take up the White Man’s burden

In patience to abide

To veil the threat of terror

And check the show of pride

By open speech and simple

An hundred times made plain

To seek another’s profit

And work another’s gain”

“Take up the White Man’s burden…”

Conclusion

These ideologies of racial hierarchies and the 'White Man's Burden' are deeply rooted in historical contexts that are often cloaked in noble intentions. While it is easy for present-day voices to critique these ideas, it is important to remember the complex and often contradictory nature of these beliefs. The legacy of these beliefs continues to shape our understanding of race and the responsibilities of those in positions of power.