October 18, 2007

Pioneering DNA Scientist Draws Outrage for Saying Africans Are Less Intelligent

The Nobel laureate James D. Watson, a co-discoverer of the structure of DNA, has drawn waves of outrage after the geneticist told The Sunday Times, a British newspaper, that Africans and Europeans have different levels of intelligence.

The comments have triggered a landslide of condemnation from scientists, lawmakers, and civil-rights leaders.

London’s Science Museum canceled a sold-out lecture by Mr. Watson, who shared a Nobel Prize in 1962, after the newspaper printed his remarks. Mr. Watson is now chancellor of the Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory, in New York.

The Times quoted the 79-year-old scientist as saying that he was “inherently gloomy about the prospect of Africa” because “all our social policies are based on the fact that their intelligence is the same as ours — whereas all the testing says not really.” He added that while he hoped everyone was equal, “people who have to deal with black employees find this not true.”

This is not the first time that Mr. Watson has made outlandish comments. The Independent, another British newspaper, tallied Mr. Watson’s other controversial remarks, including that there are links between skin color and sex drive, and that women should have the right to an abortion if genetic tests showed a child would be homosexual.

Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory, a private, nonprofit research institution, issued a statement on Wednesday saying that its board, administrators, and faculty members “vehemently disagree” with Mr. Watson’s latest comments. The statement said the comments did not reflect the lab’s mission, and stressed that the lab “does not engage in any research that could even form the basis of the statements attributed to Dr. Watson.” —Bijal Trivedi

Comments

1. Bigots, homo-phobes and racist in Science and in the Ivory Tower…who knew?!

   — MP    Oct 18, 03:36 PM    #

2. How could the “board, administrators, and faculty members “vehemently disagree” with Watson’s statements while they are “not engaged in any research that could even form the basis” for the discussion at hand?

   — Mark de Goz    Oct 18, 03:46 PM    #

3. I guess it’s ok to say blacks have a “different musculature” which enables them to be better athletes. Looks like two sides of the same coin from here.

   — Bob    Oct 18, 03:47 PM    #

4. Although my experience would in no way bear out Dr. Watson’s conclusions, shouldn’t the academy at least allow him to present his research and findings for discussion and critique. If we cherish academic freedom, it strikes me that any person deserves a fair hearing. It appears, and I have no research to bear this out, that political correctness automatically excludes certain topics from debate—an action which serves to indict the academic community and the principles it claims to profess..

   — LO    Oct 18, 03:50 PM    #

5. Who knew? Anyone who thought about it. You’ll find that kind of thing just about everywhere. As anyone who knows Dr. Watson knows very well, he is one cantankerous, out-spoken, self-assured individual. And while this can be said of many people, Dr. Watson is one of a kind! Heard from him, these quotes sound to me more like personality traits than outright homophobia, racism, etc.

   — David    Oct 18, 03:50 PM    #

6. Consider the source.

   — LH    Oct 18, 03:50 PM    #

7. I realize that there will be outrage because I even bring this up. . . but what if he’s right? Not that I particularly think that he is. . . but I’m not sure that outrage is the right reaction.

   A decade plus ago it was Charles Murray and the Bell Curve. . . A couple of years ago it was Larry Summers and Women in Science. Now it’s this scientist. The reaction is always emotional outrage. . .but why not get the true answer? Why not research the hypothesis? What if he’s right? What if Summers is right? Wouldn’t it be better to know so that we could do something constructive to reconcile the difference? And if research shows conclusively that what we hope in our hearts is scientifically true, then future claims will just get a laugh.

   It seems to me that in academia, instead of saying “That’s to horrible to say,” perhaps we should be asking, “What is the scientific truth?”

   — Bill    Oct 18, 03:53 PM    #

8. Come on, LO! Watson isn’t basing his remarks on “his research and findings,” unless the prejudices people form in everyday life count. Those who actually work day-by-day in population genetics (like Luca Cavalli-Sforza) can’t find the “correlations” that Watson notes.

   If in his experience white associate professors are smarter than black janitors, or all white lab assistants are superior to all black lab assistants, or few black research associates publish as much as white research associates, I will allow that he believes he has evidence that these things are true. But unless he has gathered evidence according to accredited scientific standards or arranged double-blind experiments, he is just another Jim blowing off steam.

   — Dennis    Oct 18, 04:08 PM    #

9. Hmm. . .“funny” and sad how quickly we still jump to defend racism and homophobia in this country. Personality traits?!? Puh-leeze!

   — Cathijoon    Oct 18, 04:16 PM    #

10. Dennis’ point can be extended to the Larry Summers case. What was so egregious there was his ignorance of decades of research on the subject.

    — Lee    Oct 18, 04:21 PM    #

11. I’d say, consider the source. Look at CSHL website. They even have a Eugenics Movement archive. They actually believe that some eugenics is positive!! What does that tell you about this group?

    — J Herrera    Oct 18, 04:23 PM    #

12. Two well-known books shed light on opposite sides of this issue:
    The Bell Curve
    The Mismeasure of Man
    It is far better to read both than either one alone.

    — Don Wunsch    Oct 18, 04:27 PM    #

13. I’m not sure his lecture should have been cancelled. There are many scientists with whom I disagree on political, religious, and social issues but I still think they have a lot to contribute to science. That work should be judged on it’s research merits alone. On a personal level, however, I know that because Dr. Watson is an eminent scientist his words will be used to support the views of racists and homophobes. That aspect of his statements is rather chilling.

    — HC    Oct 18, 05:32 PM    #

14. Plus ça change, plus c’est la même chose … We’ve been down this road before with the physics laureate William Shockley …

    — JB    Oct 18, 07:28 PM    #

15. South AFrica was one of the most prosperous nation when whites ruled it. Under black rulers it has become one of the porrest nation. Does it say something about differnce in intelligence level or it is just a coincidence.

    — Phil    Oct 18, 07:42 PM    #

16. I believe Bill has nailed the issue straight up. As a scientist, or anyone else in our global society, there are bound to be differences between any segment of the overall population. It often depends on what you measure, how you measure it and finally, how you interpret those findings that demonstrate the “truth”.

    But none of this will occur unless we are willing to use the scientific method to ask the question. It makes no difference what we think we know – only what can be shown though careful evaluation and analysis.

    I say go for it and let Chuck, Bill, Larry and now Jim show whether any valid correlation exists.

    Which of you, kind readers and critics alike, would be willing to accept the “facts” if they were shown?

    — David    Oct 18, 08:24 PM    #

17. Is there any research supporting Dr.James D. Watson’s thesis? Let us look at it intelligently and objectively before dismissing his statements.

    — Kan Chandras    Oct 18, 08:26 PM    #

18. Sometimes the truth hurts. Why do we attack the messenger when we do not like the message (even when it may be true)? Do the research to either verify or refute his claim. If the public is so quick to refute this claim, maybe they should also refute his claim on the structure of the double helix!! What would that mean for the whole biotechnology sector? Please keep an open mind now with what he claims. Let him present his evidence. We do not always like the truth, but the Truth can set you free. Like the Earth is not considered the Centre of the Universe. Classical mechanics does not explain everything. Evolution and creation (genetic engineering) are not inconsistent theories. The only way we can move forward is to openly and without preconceived notions of right or wrong, evaluate the scientific evidence. Why so many blacks in the NBA? Are they better athletes? Why so many whites in medical school? Why so many Asians in medical school also? Are they, Asians and whiles, smarter, more intelligent, or is it better nuture (parenting, culture, language)? Evolution is based on natural selection. In one environment intelligence is selected and in another environment athleticism is selected. In a common environment, all things being equal, they should then the selection process should do its thing. But is affirmative action a natural selection of the best, or are humans trying to play God and intervene? Food for thought.

    — KJJ    Oct 18, 08:48 PM    #

19. I do not know what is more disappointing, the Prof.‘s baseless comments or the racist remarks on this thread. In Cuba the medical and scientific establishments are composed largely of people of Afro descendant, and Cuba is thought to have the most advanced medical and scientific disciplines in Latin America.

    — Jim    Oct 19, 12:33 AM    #

20. In the animal world, we have learned that the breeding of a sothful bull with a slothful cow will result in a “poor doer” calf. Years of genetic selection toward war, poverty, and failed society building has taken its toll in Africa. Africans are not inherently less intellegent or are thay indiviudally dumb, but a group (as this geneticist has pointed out) can narrow its pool to the point of degrading the population. Pure science and we want to put a racial face on the problem.

    — L. B. WINDLEY    Oct 19, 06:05 AM    #

21. What an isolated conclusion to a piece of unfounded research? Any research can say what the author wish in his/her heart. It is better to provide the evidence and let individuals make their conclusion rather than rush to make conclusion of racial and bias comment which is divisive to the humnity.

    — IBO    Oct 19, 07:54 AM    #

22. One should never confuse intellect with character.

    — John    Oct 19, 08:00 AM    #

23. I have found these responses to be refreshingly candid. It is not easy to face reality, but it is far worse to turn away from it and try to ignore it. Yes, blacks do jump higher than whites in a general sense. Why? I don’t know, but they do. If one race is considered smarter than another, it might be true without being bigoted to state it. I am Anglo – but I feel that Asians as a whole are better at math than whites.

    — GT    Oct 19, 08:05 AM    #

24. Will they burn him for heresy? He speaks the truth of course. 30 IQ points is the difference.

    — Grantland    Oct 19, 08:10 AM    #

25. Shades of Shockley! Wow, it is surprising that this old argument is still around today. Reminds me of the Loch Ness Monster; every so often, it will raise its ugly head?

    I recall that other disgraced scientists, such as England’s Sir Cyril Burt, Arthur Jenson, and others often faked research that found differences in racial intelligence. But remember, what does “differences” mean? The testing models are based on European models where the standardization samples are predominantly white. Therefore, the “differences” in inate intelligence are not accurately measured by these types of instruments. certainly Nobel scientists understand this type of problem. Then again, Wm. Shockley was also a Nobel Laureate, but we know that his pronouncements on race, dysgenetics, and intelligence quotients were purposely projected due to a personal hatred of the black race.

    This also begs the question, where do African-Americans fall within this African-intelligence paradgm? We receive the same education as whites in America, social class not withstanding.

    Sometimes elderly people say things based on old notions and assumptions. Dr. Watson is really out-of-date. Metaphorically speaking, I think that he is still standing in the “School House Door” in Alabama.

    No need to really get riled over this type of nonsense anymore…

    — Dr. Eric D. Young    Oct 19, 08:11 AM    #

26. James D. Watson is absolutely incorrect in his assertions.

    William Allan Kritsonis, PhD

    — William Allan Kritsonis    Oct 19, 08:12 AM    #

27. U.B. Phillips, Cyril Burt, Wm. Shockley, Arthur Jensen, and Charles R. Murray all tried to make names for themselves with this type of insane argument. Charles Sowell showed that differences in black-white intelligence in America was due to suppression of inate potential (i.e., slavery, social inequality). What the Bell Curve failed to document was that Asians have the highest intelligence quotients of all races. That sort of shot down the white superiority argument right there.

    — Dr. Eric D. Young    Oct 19, 08:31 AM    #

28. I am shocked at many of these responses (Bob, Bill, Phil, David, KJJ especially) and the nearly complete ignorance about genes, environment , selection and evolution behind them. As an evolutionary biologist and one who has read the supposed evidence at hand, I can assure you that Watson has none. He is irresponsible in talking with Nobel credentials about things he clearly does not understand.

    Yes there are differences among members of populations and among populations which have been somewhat isolated from each other and lived in differing environments. But human differences are a very complex mix of genes, environment, cultural forces and cultural transmission. They cannot be presented or discussed in such simplistic statements as are made above. Sure there are genetic differences between blacks and whites, men and women, me and you . But saying that really says very little. Anyone who claims that, or even hints that “it is all in the genes” does not understand how evolution works. I challenge anyone to find a study, done correctly, that shows “intelligence (whatever that means) has a high enough heritability to measure, let alone conclude that it is genetic.

    I have students who have asked me why Shockley and Watson should be allowed to keep their Nobel prizes if they use them to deliver such unscientific misinformation. Good question.

    — JKW    Oct 19, 08:41 AM    #

29. Interesting. Would there be such condemnation if Watson or another person with equal or greater eminence said the reverse was true? Doubtful, and I’m sure you’d all agree.

    — RC    Oct 19, 08:55 AM    #

30. If certain white scientists, economists, political theorists, right-wingers etc. weren’t so preoccupied with proving their “superiority” over other groups, perhaps Watson’s comments wouldn’t be a concern. And if you don’t believe me, visit the library. Eugencists existed long before Hitler, Mengele and the SS. They were particularly effective in shaping public policy and foundation funding in this country. I agree with the poster who said Watson’s statements are the best rhetorical candy for society’s most vile elements, but at least I can see these folks outright. I think I’m more wary of those who sanctimoniously shroud themselves in the lofty principles of “free thinking” and “scientific principle” who have no regard for the potential outcomes on the “subjects.” Meanwhile, we have people like Jared Diamond, who won the Pulitzer Prize for his book , “Guns, Germs and Steel,” and it seems no one in the media has contacted him about his anti-racist approach to evolutionary biology and history. No wonder a pervasive mistrust of science and the medical establishment exists among certain groups. Not necessarily because they’re all luddites, but more so because, time and again, the motivations behind what some of these “scientists” are trying to prove shows through. To try to say people are “emotional” when comments like Watson’s are made doesn’t delegitimize their concern. I speculate it’s “emotion” that drives many individuals to study the things they do. At the very least, we live in a time where institutional review boards try to establish some semblance of ethics when it comes to biomedical and behavioral research. But don’t get offended that the Hottentot Venus, Tuskegee Study of Untreated Syphilis in the Negro Male, Buck v. Bell, the Immigration Act of 1924, and most of all the Shoah (Holocaust), still paints a frightening picture in people’s minds. They should. Before some of you start spouting off, check out the Eugenics Archive funded by the Human Genome Project. Also do a search on Watson’s statements before and during his directorship of the Human Genome Project. He initiated the project’s Ethical, Legal and Social Implications Program — a wise move — but he also said he was responding to a personal fear he would be labeled a closet eugenicist because the Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory once housed the infamous Eugenics Records Office. You know: The office that pushed for laws leading to forced sterilization of a number of people in several U.S. states. Well, judging from Watson’s most recent comments, in addition to some others I’ve read, perhaps he needs to come out of the closet and call it a lifetime. No one can deny Dr. Watson’s achievements; nor should they try. However, it would be foolish for those of us “defectives” not to watch our backs. History has shown that humans drunk with power can take the greatest achievements and use them for unthinkable cruelty.

    — simcha    Oct 19, 09:00 AM    #

31. In addition to Stephan Jay Gould’s “The Mismeasure of Man” it is also helpful to read “Human Biodiversity: Genes, Race, and History” by Jonathan Marks.
    This is a complex issue and impossible to satisfactorily address here, however, it must be pointed out that your suggestion that Africa has had “Years of genetic selection toward war, poverty, and failed society building” demonstrates a misunderstanding of genetics and complex social phenomena. Africa, as a continent, has the greatest genetic diversity in the world (http://www.journals.uchicago.edu/AJHG/journal/issues/v66n3/991340/991340.text.html?erFrom=-5777059460859087422Guest). There is an incredible amount of “pure” scientific research that supports the fact that race is NOT even a biological category (see Gould and Marks). Watson did not care to address it. In addition, both Watson and several of these posts are ignoring the complex history of colonialism and oppression that has contributed to the plight of many African countries. As educators, we owe it to ourselves to really research this issue or risk doing a great disservice to ourselves, our students and society.

    — Christensen    Oct 19, 09:24 AM    #

32. Actually, I have a number of African friends who say the same about Europeans. Never been outraged. Often thought they actually are bloody well right! Watson and the the vehement protests to his somewhat lunatic (post-dram?) execrations seem to prove the African point, don’t they?

    — Dag von Lubitz    Oct 19, 10:19 AM    #

33. I don’t know that I believe his assertion to be true, but the emotional outrage at the thought of such things is one reason why we believe the world was flat and that everything in space revolved around the earth for so many years. If it’s possible there’s merit to this “research,” then research it some more. It will either reinforce itself or die.

    — Carlo    Oct 19, 10:23 AM    #

34. Blacks are less intelligent than Whites, and in this sense Watson is right. But, Watson said only a small portion of the truth.

    Some other truth:

    1) This is only a statistical result, i.e. inapplicable to individuals. It’s not that every Black is less intelligent than every White.

    2) It would be a crazy and impossible to say that all races are exactly equal in intelligence.

    3) If the differences in other features are so pronouncerd, why subtile differences in brain can not exist?

    5) Who said it’s just in the brain? May be it’s the emotional influence on the brain?

    6) The difference is huge in its effect. The probability of giving the correct answer to a question that requires only one step, may be, let’s say 90% in one individual. But an individual who gives the right answer with 80% probability will fail miserably when answer requires six steps – the probabilities multiply!

    7) All this talk has no value except for purely scientific purpose, because truly intelligent people long time ago decided that individual is an individual and he must be given equal treatment with others, UNLESS HE ACTUALLY FAILS!

    — Michael Pyshnov    Oct 19, 10:32 AM    #

35. What is intelligence? Are all whites more intelligent than blacks? As the wheel is spun, perhaps it could as well be said, categorically, that all Asians are more intelligent than whites.

    — Solomon    Oct 19, 11:01 AM    #

36. I come from Kenya and went to school with a mixture of Indian and white Kids. The scores on national exams did not favor one race over another. Alliance High School (all black in Kenya) consistently sends High School graduates to MIT without remedial prep. Black vs white intelligence issues have been used since time immemorial to put down blacks. It is NOT true that whitse are more intelligent than blacks. Similarly, it is NOT true that blacks have collectively bigger penises and sex drives than whites. Many White scholars that spew this nonsense have never, for example, interacted closely with black children and base their observations on knee jerk racism.

    — jolivets    Oct 19, 11:19 AM    #

37. Those of you who are shocked at those of us who don’t know, but refuse to simply react emotionally to Watson’s statements, are the problem. You are far more an impediment to the advancement of the human race. . .to the advancement of science. . .than the crazy notions of the occasional scientist gone off the deep end. You’ll be happy to know that the old coot has been suspended and he’s repeating the oft heard refrain of ‘I’m mortified and I don’t know how those words came out of my mouth.’ I imagine he’ll be in rehab in a day or so. . .isn’t that how it works?

    What he said probably is crazy. That’s not the point and shouldn’t be. The point is that there is a continent living in misery. They are not the same as Europeans. They are not the same as Americans. Why not? What are the differences? How do the differences affect or determine outcomes at an individual level? At a societal level? Most importantly, can resolving the suffering be addressed scientifically rather than by simply throwing money at it? Of course the answer would be quite complex, JKW. Nothing is ever simple. But the problem of reacting with outrage is two-fold.

    First, it can put a chill on research. Would you want to be the one to do 20 years worth of research that proved there indeed was an intelligence issue for people living in Africa? What if it was true and you could prove it? Would you? Or would you fear the emotional/political reaction? And two, it is yet another introduction of politics into science. If scientists allow their political, social, or emotional viewpoints to color their conduct or interpretation of research, we get faulty information. You scoff at my nearly complete ignorance about genes, etc. . . but of course! That’s not my discipline. I have to rely on others for information. . .but regardless of discipline, I want to see facts, not political viewpoints or emotion. And if emotion or politics/policy dictates science. . .if there is already a “consensus” about what the scientific answer should be (as opposed to what the answer is), then the scientific reliability of knowledge is lost.

    Who is the real problem? Crazy old James Watson? No. It’s those who would criticize the genuine, scientific curiosity of others… those so mortified of one answer or so heavily invested in another that they condemn the question. Those who would force others to simply accept the current “consensus” thinking . . .especially through name-calling such as racist, homophobe, denier, etc. It’s not much different from those religious nuts 300 years ago who burned “witches” rather than try to find the truth. Those who corrupt or stifle science to further political or social aims should be condemned. But so should those who use political or social aims to corrupt or stifle science.

    — Bill    Oct 19, 11:50 AM    #

38. Interesting in deed. I have read a few entries above by individuals who are calling for further research to determine if watson is right on black vs. white intelligence. Most of these entries have conveniently ignored watson’s view on homosexuality. Some of the said individuals condemned Iranian president’s view on homosexuality. They were either dead silent or ridiculed the Iranian’s call for further research on holocaust. Woe unto you hypocrites

    — mkenya    Oct 19, 12:20 PM    #

39. Mr. Watson has managed to bring out so many issues on race. It is terrible that Mr. Watson is hiding under the banner of “intellectual” and “research” to exhibit his lack of true intelligence. Of course, like all generations before him (including the current generation) there seems to be this notion that they can prove anything they think, whether it makes any sense or not. I would imagine whether such early-caveman and homosapienic ideas would have been espoused prior to the 12th century when the same Africans taught the world what civilization really meant. But of course, after the true history and records have been destroyed by (according to Mr. Watson) the “more-intelligent” Europeans, these Africans do not have any “proof” or “research” to show what they did for the Eurpoeans. Sometimes I wish there were more true historians like Basil Davidson, ...but I digress.

    The same “more-intelligent Europeans”, according to Mr. Watson, were the same people that took the civilized welcome approach of Africans for weakness and totally destroyed the continent in various ways, some of which are still going on today. But of course, Mr. Watson’s research “makes” his point by simply pointing out….“just look at the Africans today…”

    Unfortunately, people like Mr. Watson hide under the banner of an “intellectual”, and “research evidence” to expose what one can simply label a total lack of real intellect. As a researcher, how could Mr. Watson simply “research” the EFFECT, and reach a conclusion without “researching” the total picture. Using Mr. Watson’s analogy, looking back 200 years and all the wars and various terrible things that come with wars, would his “research” lead him to conclude that Europeans and their descendants all over the world are naturally violent people? Will this be a researchable subject for him since he is the “expert” on human living.

    Having said all this, the bigger problem is that society seems to express outrage when something like this happens as if to say they don’t know that it exists everywhere. The same people that express outrage will go about their ways actually putting in practice what Mr. Watson has verbalized. For starters, think about the U.S. justice system, think about the people that are CONTINUOUSLY living under the oppression of race. Some of you may have heard the expression “....these people seem to be obssessed about race…” hello..oo. I think we need to explore further the idea proposed by Dr. Pouissant (Harvard Professor) that racism is a mental health issue.

    Finally, to test his true intelligence, Mr. Watson should take the IQ test in any African country of his choice. His score on such a test would really determine his level of intelligence. And remember that an IQ test conducted in any society would be based on that society’s norm. So before Mr. Watson jumps at the opportunity to take the test, one of the requirements is that the test will be conducted in the language of the country or society in Africa. Good luck!!

    — Anene    Oct 19, 01:07 PM    #

40. I agree with those who say it is valid to study differences. The problem is Dr. Watson chose to utilize non-scientific “evidence” in his comments when, to quote from the original posting above: “He added that while he hoped everyone was equal, “people who have to deal with black employees find this not true.” I doubt there are too many scientists who would use such “evidence” in a scientific presentation to peers.

    — Karen    Oct 19, 04:02 PM    #

41. If he is judging against Blacks in Africa, (or poor Blacks in the USA for that matter) which is home to some of the poorest nations on earth and also then the whites in the western world he there is a big problem. He is forgetting that malnutrition can damage the brain and reduce intelligence for that person. Malnutrition is a huge problem in many parts of Africa and with some of the poor and working poor in the USA (so he needs to include poor whites in his studies and I bet he will get the same effects). It seems to me global statements without controlling for very real effects of conditions is poor science.

    — anon    Oct 20, 12:36 PM    #

42. I find these comments absolutely fascinating for their candor if little else. Comment 15 was especially enlightening about the intelligence of black South Africans after the demise of the white SA government and apartheid. This remark speaks volumes about the enthno-centrism of some who ignore the human and environmental ravages by the white establishment and the virtual destruction and inequality of the educational system, employment and business opportunities for blacks there. It will take decades of affirmative action and investment opportunities before the black majority catches up. Similarly, in the USA, our educational systems are NOT equal and never have been. Opportunities to employment and higher education are only useful if there is a solid foundation at the elementary and secondary levels. Lastly, the ravaging of the African continent’s material and human resources, including slavery, can largely be laid at the feet of Europeans. With such continental destruction, are they truly the most intelligent beings on the planet? How, indeed, to we measure intelligence?

    — SJ Wilcher    Oct 21, 03:47 PM    #

43. And yet, when a scholarly study comes out that implies that average Jews are smarter than the average non-Jew, everyone says, “hmmm, that makes sense.” It’s all a bunch of hooey. Intelligence has nothing to do with what IQ measures.

    — marci    Oct 22, 02:41 PM    #

44. Item #15 is a good example of lack of critical thinking or the absence, deliberately, of thinking at all. How many whites ruled South Africa? On whom were the riches of South Africa spent, during white rule, minority whites or majority Africans? Now that Africans have taken over South Africa, who still owns the wealth? Do you want the present African led government in South Africa, to nationalize the ill-gotten riches of white South Africans? Maybe that should be done. That will be communism, the horror movie of capitalism, right?
    How many studies must whites, pseudo-scientists, engage in to prove a self-fulfilling prophecy? Take a look at studies on “race”, an illusion that does not exist. Why do many white geneticists spend a lot of time pondering over the issue, who is better, “whites” or “blacks”? Who funds this nonsense and for what political gains? Study the history of the “Pioneer Fund”. Have you ever read the “Race: History of an Idea” by Thomas F. Gossett? Read, in particular, chapter VII – “Race and Social Darwinism“. What of “The Bell Curve?” Read Herbert Spencer, William Graham Summer, Francis Galton, Stanley Hall! The list goes on and on.
    Reputable scientists (whites, particular) should condemn these and other statements by Watson and the like of him. The silence of the good people, on such pronouncements, is synonymous to Europe’s silence on the atrocities committed by Hitler against the Jews. It was Okay as long as Europeans were not Jews. However, Europe soon found out that, to Hitler, only a German was an Aryan, and not WHITE EUROPE. Need I remind you that MR. HITLER used the same pseudo-scientific rationales to claim his VICTIMS?

    — Konfor Masanje    Oct 22, 06:25 PM    #

45. I’m outraged, I tell you, just outraged! I’m so outraged my outrage is outraged! It’s outrageous!!! Outrage-alicious!!!!

    — Joe Bob    Oct 23, 01:19 PM    #

46. I am just really glad that some brave scientist finally came out and said that black people are stupid, I mean we have all been thinking it for years. I only hang around with my black friends because they are such good athletes and dancers.

    My grandmother told me that Jews were the smartest race, but that the Japanese had recently proven themselves even smarter than Jews. It must be great to live in Japan with all those smart people! For all you eugenicists: let’s breed Japanese people with Jewish people and make Jewpanese! My granny had it right even back in the day:) Thank God she didn’t let me marry a Mexican!

    I’m gonna go watch TV now. I hope you academics enjoy your “scientific research.” Please try to find a cure for my problem drinking. Thanks.

    — ari    Oct 25, 02:57 PM    #

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