Mestizos

MESTIZOS, individuals or groups of individuals resulting from the crossing of more or less distant breeds. Depending on the degree of closeness of the original forms, the type of M. varies greatly, changing from improperly formed, short-lived organisms to well-developed and stable ones. However, some quite viable M. during sexual maturity due to anomalies in the process of maturation of sex cells (division of chromosomes in the synapsis stage) often prove incapable of producing offspring when crossed with each other or even with one of the parental forms. On this basis, as early as 1856, Broca established 3-4 types of M., connected by numerous transitions. Those least capable of reproduction are usually called hybrids, those that reproduce more easily—M. in the proper sense of the word, and those in which the difference from the original forms is reduced to a few secondary characteristics not affecting fertility, may be called mixolioneans. The latter, as well as proper M., represent diverse combinations of mosaically combining parental properties inherited according to the laws of genetics. Hybrids are usually less variable and combine the characteristics of the original breeds in one more constant and often less harmonious type. However, modern genetics denies the fundamental difference between hybrids and M., and these terms are used by some researchers as equivalent. A synonym for both terms or only the second is the term bastard (see). The degree of viability and fertility of M. generally corresponds to the degree of closeness of the original forms in the taxonomy of organisms. Forms that produce viable and fertile offspring usually belong to the same species. Generic and specific hybrids, for example mules, are usually sterile or have limited fertility. As for humans, mixtures of close races should be defined as mixolioneans. Modern large tribes of the great majority of humanity represent populations that are a mixture of several racial elements, the identification of which constitutes the task of anthropological analysis. Mixtures of more distant breeds of major races should be classified as M. As a product of such mestization in the distant past, some researchers consider many tribes of the tropical belt: E. Fischer—Ethiopians, Legendre—southern Chinese. Leaving aside these hypothetical and often poorly substantiated views, it is advisable to limit the use of the term M. only to relatively recent crossings of the most distant breeds—major races—such as Europeans, Negroes, Oceanians, American Indians, etc. The main mestizo groups in this sense are the following: in Europe—Norwegian- and Swedish-Lappish M. in northern Scandinavia; in Asia—Dutch-Malay M. in the Malay Archipelago; in the Asian part of the USSR—Russian-Buryat M. in Transbaikalia, Yakut-Russian and Evenki-Russian M. along the Lena River; in Oceania—Anglo-Polynesian M.; in Africa—a small but characteristic group of Dutch-Hottentot M. Mestization is particularly strong in America. In the central and southern parts of the American continent, the native population has preserved its original type only in isolated areas of tropical forests and the interior of the pampas. In the zone of settlement of Europeans, a significant part of the non-European and non-Negro population consists of mixtures of Spaniards and Indians (in Spanish—mestizo; in Mexico up to 50%, in Bolivia up to 80%). Many mestizo families marry only among themselves and trace their ancestry back to the first conquistadors. Offspring from the marriage of a Spaniard and a mestizo is called a castizo, and with a further influx of European blood—a albino. In the southern United States, from the cohabitation of European planters with their Negro mistresses during the period of slavery (in the 16th-19th centuries, about 15 million Negroes were transported to America from Africa), a numerous mestizo population called mulattoes arose. Of the 10 million modern Negro population of the United States, at least 15% are mulattoes, quadroons (mixture of a European and a mulatto woman), and octoroons (mixture of a European and a quadroon woman); the latter are known under the general name of creoles. There are also Negro-Indian M. of various degrees. In the Arctic belt in Greenland, a small group of Danish-Eskimo M. is known. Such widespread mestization establishes that even distant human breeds relatively easily form mixtures. The opinion of previous researchers (Knox, Waitz, Perrier) that the existence of mestizo groups is possible only due to their replenishment with new crossings is refuted by facts. However, both fertility and the type of M. change gradually and vary significantly within one type. Therefore, modern biology, considering M. as a combination of independent hereditary predispositions, raises the question of the nature of the combination of predispositions, their harmony compared to the types of original forms, and at the same time the question of the stability of mestizo groups. Exact data on the fertility of M. are available only for a few groups. The number of children in Dutch-Hottentot M. and Anglo-Polynesian families turns out to be quite high. Of course, these families represent the product of some selection, and it is possible that not all crossings of distant types at their initial meeting were equally fertile. However, under modern conditions, the fertility of crossings of neighboring living races hardly differs significantly from intra-racial fertility. The growth in the total number of M. is usually less than the growth of the colonizing element, since the latter is replenished by new immigrants; compared to the native population, M. increase in number faster when the natives have weak growth (for example Indians), and slower when the native population is numerous and growing rapidly (for example Malays). The type of M. represents a mosaic combination of individual properties of parental races, mostly polygenic, each determined by several predispositions inherited independently. As a result, the type of M. is extremely variable. Some properties reproduce the characteristics of one or another parental form, others have an intermediate character, and others represent new formations. If the original forms differ greatly in morphological structure, immunity, temperament, etc., then among M. forms should appear with both favorable and unfavorable combinations of parental characteristics (harmonic and disharmonic types). As for morphological characteristics, most modern mestizo groups do not show sharp asymmetries, irregularities in structure, or decline in physical development. According to Gould, mulattoes have a smaller chest size and lung capacity than whites and Negroes, but Russian-Buryat M. are developed no less than the parental races, and Central American creoles are considered a very strong and beautiful people. The question of the harmony of functional characteristics is more complex. Mioen finds that Norwegian-Lappish M. are more susceptible to tuberculosis than both original races. There is an opinion, however insufficiently verified, that asthenic constitution arises on the basis of the incompatibility of predispositions that arises when crossing different constitutional types. The existence of a certain proportion of disharmonic M. is thus confirmed by some, although possibly not sufficiently accurate, studies. With sufficient numbers of M., sharply disharmonic and harmonic combinations according to the theory of probability will be approximately equally frequent. The specific composition of a mestizo group will however depend on the processes of differentiation and elimination of mestizo types, processes closely related to social and natural conditions. Depending on them, the fate of mestizo groups may be different. If conditions favor the development of that mestizo type which is closest to one of the original forms, the favorable type will gain predominance, absorb the others and merge with the original. Under different conditions, sometimes one of the original types, sometimes another, and sometimes both simultaneously are favored. Thus, according to the observations of Kolbrugge, the end product of mestization on the island of Tenimber—Europeans, on Java—Malays. In Africa, despite the prolonged mestization of Negroes and whites, there are no large groups of M.: they stratify and merge with the original types. In these cases, it is said that the type of M. is unstable. Conversely, in those cases when an intermediate or unique mestizo variant is favored, it grows into a more or less adapted unique group, absorbing other variants and competing with the original types. In these cases, the outcome of mestization is considered positive. Such is probably the type of Spanish-Indian mestizos in Central America. The condition for a positive outcome of the mestization of human races, as well as in animal husbandry and plant breeding, should be considered the large size of the mixing groups and the large number of generations of M. These conditions create the possibility for the selection and sorting of harmonic combinations. Therefore, despite the widespread mestization in the past and present, the number of stable mestizo types is relatively small. Thus, modern teachings on mestization serve as additional proof of the unscientificity and absurdity of the racial theory of German fascists.

The process of mestizaje under certain conditions can lead (and does lead) to favorable results, to harmonious combinations. Moreover, 'pure' tribes and races do not exist in nature under the current conditions of world exchange and international relations, with modern means of communication and transportation. The racial 'theory,' no matter how one approaches it, is a class-political theory of militant fascism, having nothing in common with science.