Racial Crossings: Race, Intermarriage, and the Victorian British Empire (Oxford Historical Monographs)

"The Victorians were fascinated with intersections between different races. Whether in sexual or domestic partnerships, in interracial children, racially diverse communities or societies, these 'racial crossings' were a lasting Victorian concern. But in an era of imperial expansion, when slavery was abolished, colonial wars were fought, and Britain itself was reformed, these concerns were more than academic. In both the British empire and imperial Britain, racial crossings shaped what people thought about race, the future, the past, and the conduct and possibilities of empire. Victorian fears of miscegenation and degeneration are well known; this study turns to apparently opposite ideas where racial crossing was seen as a means of improvement, a way of creating new societies, or a mode for furthering the rule of law and the kingdom of Heaven. Salesa explores how and why the preoccupation with racial crossings came to be so important, so varied, and so widely shared through the writings and experiences of a raft of participants: from Victorian politicians and writers, to philanthropists and scientists, to those at the razor's edge of empire - from soldiers, missionaries, and settlers, to 'natives', 'half-castes' and other colonized people. Anchored in the striking history of colonial New Zealand, where the colonial policy of 'racial amalgamation' sought to incorporate and intermarry settlers and New Zealand Māori, Racial Crossings examines colonial encounters, working closely with indigenous ideas and experiences, to put Victorian racial practice and thought into sharp, critical, relief"--Publisher's information The Victorians Were Fascinated With Intersections Between Different Races. Whether In Sexual Or Domestic Partnerships, In Interracial Children, Racially Diverse Communities Or Societies, These 'racial Crossings' Were A Lasting Victorian Concern. But In An Era Of Imperial Expansion, When Slavery Was Abolished, Colonial Wars Were Fought, And Britain Itself Was Reformed, These Concerns Were More Than Academic. In Both The British Empire And Imperial Britain, Racial Crossings Shaped What People Thought About Race, The Future, The Past, And The Conduct And Possibilities Of Empire. Victorian Fears Of Miscegenation And Degeneration Are Well Known; This Study Turns To Apparently Opposite Ideas Where Racial Crossing Was Seen As A Means Of Improvement, A Way Of Creating New Societies, Or A Mode For Furthering The Rule Of Law And The Kingdom Of Heaven. Salesa Explores How And Why The Preoccupation With Racial Crossings Came To Be So Important, So Varied, And So Widely Shared Through The Writings And Experiences Of A Raft Of Participants: From Victorian Politicians And Writers, To Philanthropists And Scientists, To Those At The Razor's Edge Of Empire - From Soldiers, Missionaries, And Settlers, To 'natives', 'half-castes' And Other Colonized People. Anchored In The Striking History Of Colonial New Zealand, Where The Colonial Policy Of 'racial Amalgamation' Sought To Incorporate And Intermarry Settlers And New Zealand Māori, Racial Crossings Examines Colonial Encounters, Working Closely With Indigenous Ideas And Experiences, To Put Victorian Racial Practice And Thought Into Sharp, Critical, Relief--publisher's Information. Introduction: The Problem Of Racial Crossing -- 1. Amalgamating Races: The 'new System' Of Colonization And Racial Management -- 2. 'pandemonium On Earth'? Intimacy And Encounter In Pre-colonial New Zealand -- 3. The Experiment Of Racial Amalgamation -- 4. Racial Crossing And The Empire: Scholarship, Science, Politics, And Place -- 5. A Tender Way In Race War -- Conclusion: Dwelling In Unity. Damon Ieremia Salesa. Includes Bibliographical References (p. [249]-286) And Index. Cover......Page 1 Contents......Page 8 Key Māori Terms and Concepts......Page 10 Introduction: The Problem of Racial Crossing......Page 12 1. Amalgamating Races: The ‘New System’ of Colonization and Racial Management......Page 38 2. ‘Pandemonium on Earth’? Intimacy and Encounter in Pre-Colonial New Zealand......Page 65 3. The Experiment of Racial Amalgamation......Page 101 4. Racial Crossing and the Empire: Scholarship, Science, Politics, and Place......Page 144 5. A Tender Way in Race War......Page 182 Conclusion: Dwelling in Unity......Page 242 Bibliography......Page 262 B......Page 298 D......Page 299 H......Page 300 M......Page 301 N......Page 302 R......Page 303 S......Page 304 T......Page 305 Y......Page 306 Cover 1 Contents 8 Key Māori Terms and Concepts 10 Introduction: The Problem of Racial Crossing 12 1. Amalgamating Races: The ‘New System’ of Colonization and Racial Management 38 2. ‘Pandemonium on Earth’? Intimacy and Encounter in Pre-Colonial New Zealand 65 3. The Experiment of Racial Amalgamation 101 4. Racial Crossing and the Empire: Scholarship, Science, Politics, and Place 144 5. A Tender Way in Race War 182 Conclusion: Dwelling in Unity 242 Bibliography 262 Index 298 A 298 B 298 C 299 D 299 E 300 F 300 G 300 H 300 I 301 J 301 K 301 L 301 M 301 N 302 O 303 P 303 Q 303 R 303 S 304 T 305 U 306 V 306 W 306 Y 306 0199604150,9780199604159 Oxford University Press, 2011