The Bell Curve was a book that was put out in the early 90′s (written by Harvard psychologist Richard J. Herrnstein and political scientist Charles Murray). The book generated a lot of controversy because it’s central argument was that I.Q. was something that was race based.
I personally remember how we rejected this belief as racist science that had no place in society. Plus, it was this very dogma that helped fuel Black slavery here in the US and later Jim Crow.
But I have been seeing something pop up pretty regularly on various Black-owned groups on Facebook and in cyberspace:Blacks who question the intelligence of other Blacks who commit crime. This is what I posted on Facebook last evening:
“What these kids are doing with these flash mobs is wrong. But I do not question their IQ. These are smart kids that need some strong guidance. I just debated a racist who thought the bell curve was accurate. What he was saying was no different than what I am hearing come from some of my own people.”
For the past 6 months or so, I have seen the intelligence question come up in some Black forums, but since the rise of these flash mobs it has been coming up a lot lately.
I much rather hear someone say that they simply do not have a solution then to suggest that some Black folks simply do not have the capability to help themselves.
What is sad is that there are white collar crimes that take place in this country pretty regularly and I have yet to hear any questions about the intelligence of these individuals.
These kids really need our help, not a unsolicited psychoanalysis inspired by the same ideology we claim we despise.
(*Later on, I will follow up with comments I have found around the net)
Black acceptance of the Bell Curve
by Duane on August 11th, 2011 at 7:05 amThe Bell Curve was a book that was put out in the early 90′s (written by Harvard psychologist Richard J. Herrnstein and political scientist Charles Murray). The book generated a lot of controversy because it’s central argument was that I.Q. was something that was race based.
I personally remember how we rejected this belief as racist science that had no place in society. Plus, it was this very dogma that helped fuel Black slavery here in the US and later Jim Crow.
But I have been seeing something pop up pretty regularly on various Black-owned groups on Facebook and in cyberspace:Blacks who question the intelligence of other Blacks who commit crime. This is what I posted on Facebook last evening:
“What these kids are doing with these flash mobs is wrong. But I do not question their IQ. These are smart kids that need some strong guidance. I just debated a racist who thought the bell curve was accurate. What he was saying was no different than what I am hearing come from some of my own people.”
For the past 6 months or so, I have seen the intelligence question come up in some Black forums, but since the rise of these flash mobs it has been coming up a lot lately.
I much rather hear someone say that they simply do not have a solution then to suggest that some Black folks simply do not have the capability to help themselves.
What is sad is that there are white collar crimes that take place in this country pretty regularly and I have yet to hear any questions about the intelligence of these individuals.
These kids really need our help, not a unsolicited psychoanalysis inspired by the same ideology we claim we despise.
(*Later on, I will follow up with comments I have found around the net)