Summary
This episode explores the invention of race and the scientific hierarchy that fueled eugenics, primarily through the lens of anthropologist Franz Boas. It highlights how Boas challenged the prevailing pseudoscientific ideas of white supremacy and the concept of "primitive people" through his experiences studying Inuit populations. The takeaway is that Boas's work laid the foundation for modern understandings of race, culture, and American identity by demonstrating the relativity of civilization and intelligence.