Paru ngo-1885 eParis, lo msebenzi uyisicelo esivuna uhlanga olumnyama, impendulo endabeni yokungalingani kwezinhlanga zabantu kaJoseph Arthur de Gobineau. U-Anténor Firmin wayefuna ukulwa nemibono kaGobineau yobandlululo. Umbhali uchaza i-anthropology ebucayi, yezenhlalo namasiko. Ihlola kabusha indima ebalulekile yamasiko ase-Afrika emlandweni wempucuko, kusukela kwabaseGibhithe kuya eRiphabhulikhi yokuqala emnyama yaseHaiti. Umbhali uqinisekisa ukuqiniseka kwakhe ngokulingana kwamadoda futhi uvula izindlela ezintsha zokucabanga ngesimo somnyama. Le ncwadi iyadingeka ekuqondeni ukucwasa ngokwebala kanye nemibono engajwayelekile ezungeza emiphakathini yesimanje.