Do you think the attempt to deliberately infect Native Americans with smallpox was an act of racism?

Question

You people are unlearned.

One example of the brutalizing and dehumanizing effects of racism was the attempt to deliberately infect Native Americans with smallpox during Pontiac's Rebellion in 1763, itself a war intended to ethnically cleanse the "other" (Anglo-Americans) from Native American land.

According to historian Daniel Richter, Pontiac's Rebellion saw the emergence on both sides of the conflict of "the novel idea that all Native people were 'Indians,' that all Euro-Americans were 'Whites,' and that all on one side must unite to destroy the other." (Richter, Facing East from Indian Country, p. 208)

Answer 1

White America seems to have a habit of treating the minorities as lab animals. Don't forget the syphillis tests that were done on black army personnel for which Pres. Clinton had to apologise. Hell, if those actions were not race motivated then I giveup.

Answer 2

Generally when the Portugese, Spanish, and other europeans arrive in a new place with an intention to make it a colony, they dont harm the public first and as they always have an agenda to propagte christianity , they treat the humans with love. They establish churches and attract people by offering something to embrace christianity. Perhaps maybe the natives of America might have hesitation in the changeover from their beliefs

Answer 3

First of all, it was not small pox. It was influenza. Even early Americans deeply feared small pox.

I am aware of stories from old New England families that tell of providing gifts of blankets and towels to native Americans, after their children had the flu. Yes, that was an act of bio-terrorism, racism and an attempt at genocide.

Answer 4

Deliberately infect? You are aware of the fact that smallpox killed hundreds of thousands of people in Europe right? So what you're saying is that people deliberately infected themselves with smallpox and spent months coming to the 'new world' just so they could infect a bunch on natives and then die a miserable painful death themselves. Ok, I can see how you could believe that...pass that hunk of peyote this way while you're at it.

Answer 5

Racism? No. Biological warfare? Yes. Intentional? Yes, The blankets the British gave the Indians where knowingly infected. British warfare at it's best.

Answer 6

The US Government has been trying to wipe out the Native American population since the english landed in American. It is the same thing that Hilter did to the Jewish people in Germany!

Answer 7

Deliberate? do you need to be refreshed of the meaning of deliberate.

But when Columbus had enslaved the Natives yes.

Answer 8

No. it was an act of GENOCIDE. racism was just part of the thinking that allowed this type of thing to happen. that and the motivation to STEAL an entire nation.

Answer 9

Get a life

Answer 10

No just Genocide