Question

Known as the "father of American anthropology," ______ was a brilliant geographer and linguist who worked tirelessly to record Native American languages that were disappearing, and who argued fervently against racism, and against the validity of race as a biological category

Answer 1

Franz Boas is known as the 'father of American anthropology' for his pioneering work in recording Native American languages and cultures, and for opposing racism and the conception of race as a biological category.

Step-by-step explanation:

The "father of American anthropology" referred to in the question is Franz Boas. As a notable geographer and linguist, Franz Boas was a pioneering figure whose substantial influence shaped modern anthropology. He emphasized the need to obtain ethnographical information directly from the peoples being studied. Boas was renowned for his work with the Kwakiutl peoples of Vancouver Island, where he recorded myths, songs, and folklore in Native languages and described various cultural activities. His approach to understanding Native perspectives and values was groundbreaking in establishing an American tradition of detailed ethnographic observations. Boas also strongly opposed racial biases, argued against racism, and refuted the notion of race as a biological category. His methods and philosophies significantly influenced other anthropologists, such as his students Ruth Benedict, Margaret Mead, and Edward Sapir, each of whom took his teachings in new directions within the field of anthropology.