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Neanderthals are not our ancestors, but older and very close relatives. We have common ancestors, but in Africa there was no known interbreeding (because there
by ivanhoe 9y ago
Neanderthals are not our ancestors, but older and very close relatives. We have common ancestors, but in Africa there was no known interbreeding (because there was no Neanderthals) AFAIK. However the physical differences are significant enough, so I don't see how it is more racist than, say, making a distinction between a husky and a golden retriever. They are close relatives and can interbreed, but they're distinctively different breeds, aren't they? Racism is only in the part where we always like to presume to be the smartest ones...
- adekok 9y agoThose are both the same species. Neanderthals and sapiens are separate species. Just look at the pictures here: https://phys.org/news/2014-11-neanderthals-sub-species-modern-humans.html https://phys.org/news/2014-11-neanderthals-sub-species-moder... Clearly related, but also different.
- danieltillett 9y agoThey may not be your ancestors (if you are solely of sub-saharan decent), but they are most definitely the ancestors of most people on the planet including mine. Racism only enters the picture if we assume one Homo species is “superior” to any of the others, something for which we have no evidence. Different !== worse.