Another Stereotype of the Month entry:
Another Stereotype of the Month entry:
This illustration comes from a Fold-Me postcard sent to me by a correspondent. I'm not sure whether the "savage" is supposed to be an Amazonian Indian or an islander from the South Pacific (New Guinea). Either way, he's indigenous.
It's surprising to see such an ill-considered image. Usually the "Origin of Man" sequence goes from a naked Neanderthal to a naked Cro-Magnon to (perhaps) a modern man in modern-day clothes. That sequence is purely biological and a fair interpretation of the evolutionary record.
Showing a caveman in furs and some sort of tribal "savage" implies people were less civilized or intelligent before our time. It transforms the sequence from a biological to a cultural one. It sends a message that we're the pinnacle of creation—a message "civilized" people shouldn't be sending.
Related links
Uncivilized Indians
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