According to 23andMe, I have more Neanderthal DNA than 96% of the human population. So the idea that one of my human ancestors had sex with one of my Neanderthal ancestors because it was better than nothing, is a huge assumption.

We understand very little about either of these early cultures, we don’t know muchabout their sexuality, their mating rituals, etc. At this point, it’s all speculation.

Research has been uncovering that Neanderthals were not simple, ignorant cave people, but had specific types of intelligence.

Most importantly, making these types of assumptions about which species were ‘superior’, borders very closely on the same types of modern prejudices held towards black and brown people and leads to racist acts that have historically been justified through science.

Every species that has walked, slithered or swam on this Earth was equally valuable and worthy, even those who did not live on because of environmental or cultural changes. Be careful about your assumptions, especially since you are writing about some people’s ancestors…