Are blacks (the Negroid Race) the least intelligent among
the races of humanity? Psychology professor, J.Philippe Rushton in his book:
Race, Evolution and Behavior, says yes they are! And he adduces several
statistical data to support his view.
He groups humanity into three races namely: Mongoloids
(Asians), Caucasoids (Whites), and Negroids (Blacks).He says “IQ tests measure
intelligence and predict real life success. The races differ in brain size and
on IQ tests. On average Orientals (Mongoloids or Asians) have the largest
brains and highest IQs. Blacks average the lowest and Whites fall in between.
The brain size differences explain the IQ differences both within groups and between
groups.” He even postulates, among other things, that while Blacks may compete
in taught situations e.g. in classroom environments, they lack creative
(inventive) ability. Besides, even when he “acknowledges” Blacks’ top position
in the area of sexuality (organ size and libido), he claims that this has also
resulted in their having the highest rate of sexually transmitted diseases!
Expectedly, he got a lot of flak for his “Racist”
postulations while he also enjoyed the support of some of his fellow
researchers. Ironically his critics have been mostly Caucasians who concerned
themselves with faulting the validity of his statistical data vis-à-vis his
conclusions therefrom.
As is to be expected also, the Asians have maintained a
dignified silence on the matter, probably gleefully basking in the euphoria of
their glorified position at the peak of human intelligence, courtesy of
Philippe Rushton!
Those who feel aggrieved by Rushton should listen also to
P.W. Botha, one time president of Apartheid South Africa. Addressing members of
his cabinet he said, among other things: “We are not obliged…to try to prove to
anybody and to the blacks that we are superior people…The fact that blacks look
like human beings and act like human beings do not necessarily make them
sensible human beings…….Intellectually, we are superior to the blacks; that has
been proven beyond any reasonable doubt over the years. They (blacks) are good
in nothing else but making noise, dancing, marrying many wives and indulging in
sex. Let us all accept that the black man is a symbol of poverty, mental
inferiority, laziness and emotional incompetence….” How does that make the
black man feel?
Much as he would readily dismiss Rushton’s work as an
exercise in racial bigotry worthy only of a place in the trash can, the black man
necessarily needs to do some introspection. What, if anything, is wrong with
him? Looking at his situation in the universal scheme of things in terms of
development, scientific creativity and inventiveness, in which position can he place himself among the three
races, if not at the bottom? Is there any noteworthy invention that is
attributable to a Black man, from the simplest household items to the very sophisticated
scientific inventions?
Why is he contented with waiting for others to invent for
him to buy? Not too long ago Asians were accused of stealing technology. They
would buy specimens, dissemble and replicate them. There was a time when
Japanese cars (and indeed every product originating from that country) were
looked down upon as inferior in quality. Today they are market leaders. Same
goes for Taiwan, Korea and lately China and India. All of these countries have
found ready markets in Africa. We buy any and everything that is on offer and
glory in our purchasing power!
Is it not ironic that despite the Black man’s location in
the hottest continent, it took the ingenuity of the “top” two to invent
electric fans and air- conditioners as well as the electricity to power them?!
Left to the Black man he most likely would have remained in his primordial
state of fanning himself with leaves! Same can be said of every aspect of his
life. He finds comfort in an attitude of “wait and buy”. Even when the product
is not suited to his environment, he waits to buy a “tropicalised” version. If
he lacks the ability to invent must he also lack the ability to adapt? What is
the matter with him? Is he just unintelligent or is he bearing the burden of
Noah’s curse on the descendants of Ham as some would say?
Whether Rushton (and indeed some philosophers before him e.g.
Darwin), was a racist bigot is not important. He probably stretched reason too
far. But what has the black man himself done to prove him wrong? Nothing! He
seems to have accepted his inferior position with philosophical stoicism and is
ever willing to play “Tag Along”. This is not good enough. Not good at all!
