On the Media: "We Are Family" – A Detailed Summary

Episode Title: We Are Family
Release Date: August 19, 2022
Host: Brooke Gladstone and Annalee Newitz
Producer: WNYC Studios

Introduction: Reimagining Our Hominin Cousins

In the episode titled "We Are Family," hosts Brooke Gladstone and Annalee Newitz delve deep into the misunderstood world of Neanderthals. The discussion challenges longstanding stereotypes, explores recent archaeological discoveries, and examines the intersections of science, media, and racism in shaping our perception of these ancient relatives.

Neanderthals: From Paleozoic Insults to Complex Beings

Brooke opens with a humorous take on the mispronunciation and trivialization of Neanderthals, highlighting how modern language often reduces them to outdated insults. She sets the stage for a profound exploration of how Neanderthals have been portrayed both scientifically and culturally.

Notable Quote:

"You wouldn't usually say that stupid congressman is a Neanderthal. You'd probably say Neanderthal." – Unknown Speaker, 00:00

Scientific Insights: Challenging the Old Narratives

John Hawks, an anthropology professor at the University of Wisconsin-Madison, provides a foundational understanding of Neanderthals, emphasizing their successful existence across Europe and Asia for hundreds of thousands of years. He underscores that modern humans still lag behind in certain evolutionary aspects.

Notable Quote:

"Neanderthals had lived across Europe and Asia from 2 or 300,000 years and very successfully. We have another 200,000 years to go before we catch up with the Neanderthals." – John Hawks, 00:22

Angela Saini, a science journalist, discusses the dark history of scientific racism, where Neanderthals were unjustly placed at the bottom of a racial hierarchy, mirroring prejudiced views of certain human populations.

Notable Quote:

"There was this belief that white Europeans were at the top of this hierarchy and other races were slotted below. And also that those at the bottom of this hierarchy were like Neanderthals, doomed to die out." – Angela Saini, 00:39

Archaeological Discoveries: Unearthing Neanderthal Complexity

Rebecca Wragg Sykes, an archaeologist and author, presents groundbreaking findings from the Gibraltar National Museum’s excavations. She describes intricate behaviors of Neanderthals, including their use of pigments, tool-making techniques, and evidence of social care.

Cave Lives and Cultural Practices

Sykes illustrates how Neanderthals lived in both caves and open-air shelters, utilizing different areas for cooking, sleeping, and processing animals. She highlights their sophisticated tool-making skills, such as crafting wooden spears with birch bark tar for adhesive purposes.

Notable Quote:

"We can see really impressive wooden spears. They're selecting the wood, not only the species, but the parts of the tree... that's quite a sophisticated process." – Rebecca Wragg Sykes, 13:02

Artistic Endeavors and Symbolism

The discovery of the Bruniquel Cave in Southeast France astonished researchers with its complex underground structures resembling rings of snapped stalagmites, suggesting possible aesthetic or symbolic purposes beyond mere habitation.

Notable Quote:

"If there's no practical explanation that we can see at the moment, then perhaps it is something to do with aesthetic structures and productions." – Rebecca Wragg Sykes, 16:56

Neanderthal-Human Interactions: Genetic Legacies

The hosts explore the genetic intermingling between Neanderthals and Homo sapiens, emphasizing that modern humans carry Neanderthal DNA—approximately 2.5% in average individuals like Brooke Gladstone herself.

Notable Quote:

"So that means that most of us are a little bit Neanderthal. In fact, Brooke did a genetic test and she was a little disappointed that she was only 2 1/2% Neanderthal at most." – Annalee Newitz, 08:57

John Hawks discusses how climatic changes and differing survival strategies contributed to the eventual disappearance of Neanderthals, rather than any inherent inferiority.

Notable Quote:

"Neanderthals are a wrestler and the modern human is a long distance runner. Completely different physics." – John Hawks, 34:12

Pop Culture and Racial Implications: The Neanderthal Mythos

The episode critically examines how Neanderthals have been misrepresented in media and popular culture, often perpetuating racist stereotypes. From 1950s monster movies to modern advertising, Neanderthals are frequently depicted as brutish and inferior, reinforcing harmful racial ideologies.

Notable Quote:

"The Neanderthals were the first other form of humanity that we encountered. So I think because they were the first found, they have played this role as the other for us." – Rebecca Wragg Sykes, 20:26

Angela Saini articulates the troubling history of scientific racism, where Neanderthal studies were manipulated to justify beliefs in racial hierarchies, drawing parallels to contemporary racial discourse.

Notable Quote:

"What I find particularly galling is that only a hundred or so years ago... Neanderthals themselves an extinct species has been drawn into that circle of humanity." – Angela Saini, 44:23

Combating Scientific Racism: Guidelines for Responsible Research and Communication

Angela Saini emphasizes the necessity for scientists to be educated about the historical misuse of science in perpetuating racism. She advocates for a more introspective and context-aware approach in scientific communication to prevent the reinforcement of outdated and harmful stereotypes.

Notable Quote:

"I would really love is for scientists to be educated about the history of the sciences more so that they understand the mistakes that were made in the past around race." – Angela Saini, 49:51

Conclusion: Embracing a Shared Hominin Heritage

The episode wraps up by reaffirming the deep genetic and evolutionary connections between modern humans and Neanderthals. It calls for a redefined understanding that transcends racist narratives, recognizing Neanderthals as complex, intelligent beings with whom we share a significant ancestral legacy.

Notable Quote:

"We are one of the most homogeneous species on the planet. I mean, we are more homogeneous than chimpanzees." – Angela Saini, 48:27

Brooke Gladstone humorously concludes by noting her modest Neanderthal ancestry, reinforcing the idea that these ancient relatives live on within us.

Notable Quote:

"My two and a half percent." – Brooke Gladstone, 52:12

Key Takeaways:

• Reevaluation of Neanderthals: Modern science portrays Neanderthals as intelligent, capable, and culturally rich, challenging old stereotypes.

• Interconnectedness: Genetic studies reveal significant interbreeding between Neanderthals and Homo sapiens, making Neanderthal DNA a part of contemporary human genetics.

• Racial Implications: Historical and contemporary misuse of Neanderthal imagery perpetuates racist ideologies, underscoring the need for responsible scientific communication.

• Archaeological Discoveries: Recent findings from sites like Gibraltar provide deeper insights into Neanderthal lives, dispelling myths of their supposed simplicity.

• Scientific Responsibility: Scientists must be aware of the historical context of their work to prevent the reinforcement of harmful stereotypes and ideologies.

"We Are Family" serves as a compelling exploration of how our understanding of Neanderthals reflects broader societal issues, urging a more nuanced and respectful appreciation of our shared human heritage.