EDUCATING TO COMBAT RACISM - THE CIVIC ROLE OF ANTHROPOLOGY

The anthropological community was taken by surprise by the recent publ ication and success of several works alleging genetic inferiority of s ome populations in the United States today. For most anthropologists, the specter of racism and arguments focusing on the heritability of in telligence are behind us. Yet the resurgence of conservative political agendas rationalized by purported differences among ''classes,'' ''ra ces,'' and ''ethnicities'' has raised questions about the contribution s and civic role of anthropology in the United States today.