Comments on: Race and National Bias in East African Palaeoanthropology

By: Mwanzia Kyule

Mwanzia Kyule — Tue, 14 Jun 2016 14:58:11 +0000

This is a very interesting perspective of the History of Anthropology and Anthropologists particularly in East Africa .I think a text book on the subject and especially on “How not to do Field Anthropology” would best a best seller

By: DK

DK — Wed, 24 Feb 2010 23:44:12 +0000

The one who got funding for the research is the one who [almost] always takes most of the credit. Works the same way in every scientific field today. Yes, the money for digs “always” come from Europe or America?

By: DNLee

DNLee — Wed, 24 Feb 2010 23:30:30 +0000

Sweet post.
When I watched old movies about archeology or exploration in Africa, the character plot was always the same: Great White male leader with individual personality, droves of blacks as labor. There would be a scene where the scientist discovers something or explains the significance of the native artifact/event to what seemed to be the natives. That always struck me as odd and not right. Even as a child I thought, “You mean to tell me that there isn’t a single expert from the local area? The expert ALWAYS has to come from Europe or America?”
Then later, via documentaries and science-related news coverage, you’d see similar scenes. But as a youth I did not know/comprehend the historical/institutional barriers of native peoples gaining the expertise needed to be a scientific authority.
Thanks for shining light on this historical issue and the role that the Leakeys played in helping to level the playing field. A great example of how priviledge can be shared to make things fair.
You want this post contributed to the Carnival,yes?

By: Greg Laden

Greg Laden — Wed, 24 Feb 2010 17:12:24 +0000

is really Oldupai in Swahili

or Maa. Ultimately, it means sisal (a plant).

By: tony

tony — Wed, 24 Feb 2010 16:59:06 +0000

My wife and I went to Olduvai a few years ago, which if I recall what our guide told us, is really Oldupai in Swahili. Anyway, he was Masai, trained in Dar Es Salaam, and gave us a reasonably good interpretation of what we were looking at. He lived about six miles away from the Olduvai museum in a small cinderblock box built by the gov’t. He told us he liked his accommodations since he could walk to work.

I’m happy to hear the Leakeys are active in working with Black Africans in the field. The “equalization of the sexes” as some Tanzanian acquaintances called it, is going to take much time.

By: Greg Laden

Greg Laden — Wed, 24 Feb 2010 15:40:35 +0000

Yes. A 3:1 ratio is half male half female. In the case of my two lists of white males, my intention is to indicate that they are all males.

By: tms

tms — Wed, 24 Feb 2010 15:35:13 +0000

Hey Greg,

I’m a bit confused. Isn’t a population with a 50/50 ratio of x/y chromosomes exclusively male?