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Race & Genetics
On race and genetics, even popular genetics bloggers acknowledge race is a social construction, something anthropologists have known for a century.
Jared Diamond & Richard Lee
The 1987 Jared Diamond article “Worst Mistake in the History of the Human Race,” takes from Richard B. Lee–mongongo nuts without credit.
The Bongobongo & Open Access
The time is gone when anthropologists could find solace in open access, and the reaffirmation that the Bongobongo are “humans just like us.”
Savage Minds Guest Blogging #1
I was a guest blogger for Savage Minds in February 2012. “Taking Anthropology, Introduction” was the first post.
Gingrich wins South Carolina: Payoff for slapping down a black man
In 2012 Newt Gingrich wins a decisive victory in South Carolina. Race-baiting and anger still pay handsome dividends in U.S. politics.
Teaching: Latin America & Caribbean 2012
Anthropology of Latin America and the Caribbean is less about “peoples and cultures” and more about processes at work across the Americas.
Elizabeth Brumfiel, In Memoriam
Dr. Elizabeth Brumfiel, Professor of Anthropology & Archaeology at Northwestern University and an inspiring scholar, will be greatly missed.
Best Anthropology Blogs 2011 – Reader Survey
After cataloging well over 120 active anthropology blogs in 2011, a reader survey in December 2011 asked for favorite anthropology blogs. Anthropology blog readers mentioned 99 different blogs as a favorite, demonstrating a wide and varied field. The top dozen: Savage Minds Neuroanthropology John Hawks Weblog: paleoanthropology, genetics and evolution Somatosphere: Science, Medicine and Anthropology … Read more
Seizing the Holistic Moment
The innuendo on race and IQ is an opportunity to revisit anthropology on race and seize holistic understandings to reclaim this issue for anthropology.
Virginia Dominguez, Anthropology’s Challenge: We can be better
AAA president Virginia Dominguez provoked and challenged anthropologists in Montreal for the 2011 presidential address. We can be better.
Metaphors & Evolution
How can we stop trellises from turning into trees? Emphasizing non-directionality and complexity in evolutionary understandings.
Scientific Humanism
“We should be the humanistic science and the scientific humanism that Eric Wolf described nearly 50 years ago” (H. Russell Bernard, Science in Anthropology)
Capitalism, Denisovans, Anthropology in Media
Free PowerPoint for “Anthropology and Moral Optimism”; Denisovan admixture update; AAA news and the 2011 Anthropology in Media Award.
Four Field Manifesto
Anthropology’s Moral Optimism: Four Field Manifesto & alternative visions of humanity. Capitalism is not the most beautiful or respectful of shared planet.
Anthropology & Occupy Wall Street
In October 2011, the anthropological blogosphere coalesced around supporting Occupy Wall Street. But why is there not a similar movement in 2019?
Anthropology in Florida
The undergraduate anthropology major is a hidden strength: it is where the anthropological message is potentially the most world-changing.
Anthropologists Unite in Florida
Positive possibilities from the news on anthropology in Florida: Greater unity in anthropology and across humanities & sciences.
Columbus Day: Everybody’s Working Through the Weekend
Anthropology on Columbus Day: As painful as it is to re-examine Loverboy’s “Working for the Weekend” (even in ironic mode), something seems awry in academia
Admixture All the Way Down
Despite Nicholas Wade’s emphasis on splits among human groups, the research is clear that it’s admixture all the way down. Plus some Malinowski!
Oh no I’ve said too much
Re-listening to R.E.M.’s “Losing My Religion” as a professor teaching evolution in front of a classroom: Oh no I’ve said too much / I haven’t said enough.
Earliest Signs & Origin Stories
Pronouncements of firsts and earliest signs are reminders of a truth from Robert N. Proctor: There’s no glory in “second oldest.”
Denisovans, Neandertals, Immunity, Anthropology, Sex
The day Denisovans hit the big time. They needed to piggyback on Neandertals, but got a big boost from the immune system study. And sex.
Five Articles from Majors to Non-Majors
In this anthropology classroom activity, undergraduate anthropology majors suggest five classic articles that non-majors should read.
Fernando Coronil, In Memoriam
Fernando Coronil worked toward the moral optimism of anthropology, “energizing struggles to build a world made of many worlds.”