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Analysis and Discussion of a Documentary: Racism – A History (Part 2)

In part 2 of Tickell’s documentary, Racism: A History, the idea of scientific racism is brought out. Specifically, the documentary examines how the idea of scientific racism born in the 19^th century has come to be discredited by contemporary ideas of phrenology in the justification of racism and slavery. One of the themes, in the documentary, is that racism and slavery can be justified based on biology. Additionally, the second part demonstrates how eugenics were used by the Nazi to adopt racial policies based on the master race. Watching the documentary feels disheartening because it seeks to support the ideology that race and slavery can be justified based on mental faculties. Being born an Indian, I can relate on the various struggles that people of color and those with dark skins faced when facing slavery and racism. I felt for the people in the documentary who were enslaved and discriminated against because it was believed that their mental faculties were inferior because of their dark skin. I have always known that phrenology is a baseless racist ground and it does not work. Living in a family of mixed skin tones, I can relate with the discrimination that people experience in the society even in the contemporary times. However, it feels very unfortunate that people could use an idea that has failed the test of science to enslave others and discriminate against them. The documentary is enlightening, especially on how unreliable scientific methods were used to entrench slavery and racism in the society, which is an unfortunate scenario.