A SINGLE GRAIN OF INDIGO: A READING ON MONGOLS AND TURKS IN THE U.S. LOCAL PRESS (1850-1923)

In the 19th century, when belief in racial discrimination and superiority could find a response at social even moral levels, claims about humanity as biological species turned into number of pseudoscientific assumptions. This inevitably constituted legitimate ground for Orientalist stereotypes such barbarism, despotism, ignorance, fanaticism backwardness directed towards Eastern societies. Orientalism, which has been baseline pride discourse inherent to Western society since second half 18th century method their struggle examine, learn reign East Easterners through biased theories practices are considered facts without any doubt. It is possible approach American large-scale heterogeneous sample that represents West analysis race-based reductionist discourse, steered civilizations endeavored gain legitimacy Orientalism.
 
 study aims reveal locally-penetrated reflections racist claiming be scientific take place press regards Turkish Mongolian identities frequently positioned opposite societies context being an ‘other’. These two ethnical groups embrace historically archaic bonds between demonstrated local unique sometimes, neighboring times; but same time, carriers low-profile culture can easily differentiated from civilization every attempt due its specifications.
 The image Central Asia peoples throughout 20th centuries was represented by travel notes, columns, political news, short stories, funnies. texts illustrations, mostly concerns, were sometimes published simultaneously different states with old articles columns reprinted accordance conjuncture day. Among these, there tried establish kinship ties Germans Mongols based on so-called data obtained skull measurements during Great War, thus accusing aggressive nature. anti-German propaganda took also reveals word one main reference points paradigm this period. Indeed, terms Mongol, Mongolian, Mongoloid have expanded meaning characterize all classified yellow race Westerners Chinese Japanese.
 Turks offers common area analyzed context. question mentality constitutes basis hate speech preserved, much harsher uncompromising style adopted. explained fact that, while spread orientalist content time hosted anti-Turkish campaigns Armenian diaspora country.