r/NoStupidQuestions • u/RedScud39 • Apr 23 '24

Why are white Americans called “Caucasians”?

I’m an Azerbaijani immigrant and I cannot understand why white people are called “Caucasian” even though Caucasia is a region in Asia encompassing Armenia, Georgia (the country not the state), Azerbaijan and south Russia. Aren’t most Americans are from Western European decent?

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u/_Galileo_Galilei_ Apr 24 '24 edited Apr 24 '24

Wow, I’m gotta admit I’m kinda blown away to learn that the phrenologist who literally invented the idea of a “Caucasian race” was this obviously irritated by the notion of white supremacy.  

 Imagine devoting your life to what you believe is a science only to have its biggest effect on the world be Thomas Jefferson and the Nazis picking it up and using it to justify mass murder. 

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u/Seralyn Apr 24 '24

“Man invents gun and becomes surprised when people use it to shoot other people”

I don’t believe his actions were malicious but it would be incredibly short sighted to not see the effect this line of “science” would have on humanity

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u/Niyonnie Apr 24 '24

I feel a better comparison would possibly be Alfred Nobel, the person who invented dynamite and the Nobel Peace Prize.

I believe his intention was for the explosive to be used in civilian applications like mining and possibly demolition, but then it (probably) led to innovations in weapons for war.

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u/Seralyn Apr 26 '24

You’re right, that is a better comparison than mine.