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The strong point was embedded in the text... that "science" becomes a cover for plain old prejudice. And even a bright mind like James Watson can fall for it.

by beat 8y ago

The strong point was embedded in the text... that "science" becomes a cover for plain old prejudice. And even a bright mind like James Watson can fall for it. edit: If you're one of the downvoters who think my argument is weak, google "phrenology". In the 19th century, it was widely believed that intelligence and character could be measured by the size and shape of the skull - with Europeans on top, of course, and non-white races showing "deformities" that reduce their intelligence and morality. It's totally debunked now, but that's what "scientific racism" sounded like not that long ago. So when I see DNA "science" used to justify racism, I think of phrenology, and think of the possibility that otherwise smart and well-meaning people are using "science" as a shield for their own prejudice.

jplayer01 8y ago
It feels prejudiced to me that only black scientists are supposedly able to recognize and defend us all against racism. It's patently absurd. Yes, science, as with any other faith-based belief system, has its proponents who will use it to further their own agenda and gather like-minded people. Yes, this subverts science and its principles. No, this doesn't mean the only people capable of seeing it are black. No, science isn't bad and scientists as a whole aren't bad. He didn't need to write pages of fluff to make a point that he barely ever got around to mentioning.
- beat 8y ago
  And that's not what the article says, either. Black scientists are in a peculiar place to recognize it, because it actually happens to them. One of the reasons whites don't see so much racism in society is because it's something that happens to someone else. I saw this same article from a different direction, through an old friend of mine who happens to be black (and a large, dark-skinned man) and was a doctor. He was totally bonding on the article, and quite upset about the situation it describes, something he's experienced himself. And it reminded me of when he was in med school, back in the early '90s. He was in his dorm, doing his laundry, and someone assumed he was stealing laundry and called the cops. He was beaten by the cops enough to break ribs, and of course arrested. For doing laundry in his own dorm while black.

by beat 8y ago

jplayer01 8y ago

It feels prejudiced to me that only black scientists are supposedly able to recognize and defend us all against racism. It's patently absurd. Yes, science, as with any other faith-based belief system, has its proponents who will use it to further their own agenda and gather like-minded people. Yes, this subverts science and its principles. No, this doesn't mean the only people capable of seeing it are black. No, science isn't bad and scientists as a whole aren't bad. He didn't need to write pages of fluff to make a point that he barely ever got around to mentioning.

beat 8y ago
And that's not what the article says, either. Black scientists are in a peculiar place to recognize it, because it actually happens to them. One of the reasons whites don't see so much racism in society is because it's something that happens to someone else. I saw this same article from a different direction, through an old friend of mine who happens to be black (and a large, dark-skinned man) and was a doctor. He was totally bonding on the article, and quite upset about the situation it describes, something he's experienced himself. And it reminded me of when he was in med school, back in the early '90s. He was in his dorm, doing his laundry, and someone assumed he was stealing laundry and called the cops. He was beaten by the cops enough to break ribs, and of course arrested. For doing laundry in his own dorm while black.