Jackson said the persistent, inaccurate representation of demographics and evolution  in the scientific literature distorts the authentic view of human biological variability.”

She continued, “These inaccuracies have been known for some time and, the fact that they persist, generation after generation, suggests racism and sexism are likely serving some other purpose in our society – the retentions of ‘white’ and male supremacy and the exclusion of ‘others’ in many societal areas.”

As an example, the article highlighted a depiction of human fossils by the renowned paleo-artist John Gurche, that were displayed by the Smithsonian National Museum of Natural History in Washington D.C. According to researchers, the depiction suggests that human evolution was a linear ‘progression’ from darker to lighter  skin pigmentations. The paper points out the inaccuracy of such imagery, noting that only about 14% of the people living today identify as  ‘white.’Researchers also said the concept of race itself was a part of another inaccurate narrative, as there are no biological races within our species.

“Not only do these images downplay the complexity of our evolution, they also white-wash our recent evolutionary past,” said Kimberly Farmer, a third-year medical student and co-author of the article.

The authors of the paper studied a wide-range of depictions of evolution: images from scientific research articles, museums and cultural heritage sites, documentaries and TV shows, medical textbooks, and even educational materials seen by millions of kids worldwide. The paper noted that systematic racism and sexism have existed since the earliest days of human civilization and are not unique features of Western countries.

For more information, contact Dr. Diogo; rui.diogo@howard.edu

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About Howard University  

Founded in 1867, Howard University is a private, research university that is comprised of 14 schools and colleges. Students pursue more than 140 programs of study leading to undergraduate, graduate and professional degrees. The University operates with a commitment to Excellence in Truth and Service and has produced two Schwarzman Scholars, four Marshall Scholars, four Rhodes Scholars, 12 Truman Scholars, 25 Pickering Fellows and more than 165 Fulbright recipients. Howard also produces more on-campus African American PhD. recipients than any other university in the United States. For more information on Howard University, visit www.howard.edu. 

Media contact: Sholnn Freeman; sholnn.freeman@howard.edu