I am reading "The Mismeasure of Man" by Stephen Jay Gould, a history of scientific racism. It is instructive at this moment in history, when Barack Obama is on the cusp of becoming President of the United States, to remember just how far we have come. This is poignantly illustrated by quoting the words of Abraham Lincoln himself exactly 150 years ago:

"There is a physical difference between the white and black races which I believe will forever forbid the two races living together on terms of social and political equality. And inasmuch as they cannot so live, while they do remain together there must be the position of superior and inferior, and I as much as any other man am in favor of having the superior position assigned to the white race"