Is it possible that blacks are less intelligent than whites?

Question

DNA scientist and Nobel Prize winner James Watson recently stated that blacks are inherently less intelligent than whites.

Leaving emotion and name-calling out of it, couldn't it be possible? There are obvious physical differences, couldn't there be mental differences also?

Answer 1

Wow, I am embarrassed by the lack of intelligence displayed by some of the previous answerers.

Yes, there are scientifically and medically recognized differences between the three major human races, it falls to reason that there could possibly be some differences in mental capacity also.

However, we're not allowed to talk about differences between races, or we'll be called racists and bigots...

Answer 2

Dr. Watson based his conclusions on IQ tests that still assumed intelligence to be linear, a notion that has been found as baseless as claims of a flat earth. Intelligence is most certainly NOT linear. It's multi-dimensional and complex to even grasp.

Thomas Edison and Albert Einstein were both considered dull and unteachable as kids. They simply couldn't learn the way the schools taught. Does that mean they really couldn't master intellectually challenging concepts?

I've lived in Asian countries and seen the news daily around the time of college entrance exams; news of kids jumping off 25-story buildings because they knew they'd done poorly on one test or another. Does that seem like a bit of a pressure cooker? That's exactly what it is. But it DEFINITELY has its impact on perceived national IQ's.



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Answer 3

Firstly, it's essential to define and really know what 'intelligence' means or consists of, before one gets uptight about the whole thing.
I would like to look at it in a very open way and consider that all living things have 'intelligence'. Scientists have often mentioned the high intelligence of countless animals and plants that are just amazing. Just for illustration, dogs, chimpanzees, elephants, dolphins, whales and even the ants, spiders and squids are highly intelligent creatures. Look closely at how the spiders build their webs so accurately with precise spacings between each thread. Dolphins creating various types of bubbles for play and whales not attacking humans. Some trees in desert regions extend their roots in an attempt to 'strangle' each other so as to survive!

Among humans, no matter what colour or creed, there is already a lot of intelligence involved when you speak, read, talk or type on your keyboard, using a complicated language. Your level of intelligence enables you to study up to a certain level of education and also to play a variety of sports and doing other skills.
Do not compare yourself with another person who may be born with certain gifts, or that his parents are wealthy enough to send him for courses to enhance his skills. There are countless blacks who are talented musicians, singers, professional people, politicians, tv hosts, etc---what do you say to that. I never believe that one colour should be more supreme than another---black, white, pink, brown or shades in between. So let no known create this illusion and myth. It is because of several ignorant people in the community having totally wrong ideas, that the world has so many social problems and disharmony. Some idiots in the past created the label 'yellow face' but look around and see if any person match that colour. These colour-blinded characters couldn't distinguish between yellow and brown!

Have you also not heard about scientists,astronomers, physicists and other professionals keep changing their theories, discoveries?

I sincerely hope the above can clear your doubts and that you are now convinced and happy.The world will be a far better place if there were more truths, facts than myths. Best wishes!!!

Answer 4

It's always POSSIBLE such a thing has credibility. Some races are more prone to certain diseases than other. And there are an unknown number of physical traits that are more or less common within certain families, races, or even between men and women.

But I would be skeptical of any such statements until they have gone through extensive peer review and trials. Plus, there would have to be some definition of what is meant by black - unless this scientist is simply trying to make a link between skin pigment and mental capacity.

Absent this extensive scientific process, it sounds like research that might be sponsored by the KKK or some other racist group.

EDIT
A Plague on your houses: while your basis premise may be correct, you're ignoring significant cultural and economic factors. Can you produce any research comparing test and intelligence scores for rich suburban blacks vs rich suburban whites; what about for poor ghetto blacks vs poor ghetto whites. Personally, I think that given the opportunities, every person (without regard to race) is capable of achieving great things.

Answer 5

Wouldn't it be a pretty subjective statement? If there are differences, wouldn't they likely be 'a bit here and a bit there' on both sides? Logically, I can say there 'could be differences' but wouldn't it be pretty jingoistic to decide which mix was best? We could say the same for males and females 'obvious differences' yet we are each a product of a mix of both.

As a social policy 'equal' works, even if in science you ultimately prove 'equivalent'. In any event, given equal opportunity, you would find both 'at the top.'

The violence in Africa would tend to encourage the best to leave, however, which would make it difficult for those who remain to get ahead.

Answer 6

Yes, it is possible and even likely. I was sorry to see a scientist of Watson's stature silenced for taking an unpopular view.

For 100 years, blacks have scored lower, on average, than whites on intelligence tests. Blacks have underperformed whites in school and in professional life. Libs and activists have bent over backward to blame racism. The argument in science is usually that the least complex answer is usually correct. I think blacks are less intellgent than whites.

Of course, that is a statistical finding. Any individual black may be more intelligent than any individual white. But in the population as a whole, blacks are less intelligent.

It's also important to note that Watson did not say whites were the "superior" or master race. In fact he said clearly that Asians and European Jews have higher intelligence. I think he's probably right about that too. There was a reason that Marx, Freud and Einstein were all Jews, and why Asians outpace all other races in the US school system.

So cheer up whites! We're #3!

Answer 7

There are many good answers on here. So you'll have a hard time deciding best answer. Just to throw in my 2 cents on a lower intellectual level....

Economics's also factor into this as does opportunity. Many blacks go to inner city schools which don't offer the benefits other schools do. Simple really. It has nothing to do with brain CAPACITY.
I'm white and wouldn't put myself above those like MLK or even Bill Cosby. ALL people's have the capacity to achieve beyond the norms for their particular group. It's whether they CHOOSE to or not. Or are even given the OPPORTUNITY.

Answer 8

Can you please point to the statement or some other study or research paper on this? Opinion on such important topic should be supported by scientific study.

Answer 9

Sure it's possible, just like it's possible that Asians are more intelligent than whites. I wonder why nobody gets angry or defensive about that suggestion.

Answer 10

Not true!
Whites never had any monopoly in intellegence.
Whites civilization rose only the last1000 years, there were more intelligent non white civilization prior to that, in fact, the so called western civilization is nothing but theft of other nonwhite civilizations.
And that's not Intelligent at all!

Hence Blacks are not less intelligent for there is lesser intelligence than the one alleged!

I suggest you stick to the mental differences for now!