One of the key anthropologists working for the WCE, Franz Boas, developed into a world leader speaking and writing against hierarchical classifications of contemporary humans. Boas wrote extensively to argue that difference and diversity did not provide compelling evidence for theories of cultural superiority. One group of contemporary humans was not any more or less "advanced," "civilized," or "evolved" than any other group. Rather, Boas argued that the differences visible between different groups of humans were far smaller than the differences among humans within a single human group. The differences among peoples in diverse cultural groups illustrated the tremendous creativity and potential intelligence of the human species as a whole, not the superiority of one group (or way of life) over others. In particular, Boas provided multiple examples proving that all contemporary humans belonged to one group/species, not different or distinct biological "races." This research provided critical contributions to those fighting for equal rights and privileges for all people living in the United States, and for victims of European and U.S. colonization around the world. So while many areas of the World's Columbian Exposition did emphasize ideas and exhibits suggesting exoticism, hierarchy, and Euro-American superiority, there were growing and developing trends against these tendencies within the Exposition as well. Today, anthropologists continue to research human physical and cultural variation. For more information, see the AAPA Statement on Biological Aspects of Race.


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