RACISM OR TRUTH?

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!