Harvard students sit the 1964 Louisiana Literacy Test

Daily Mail ^ | 12 Nov 2014 | David Mccormack

[maddog55]

A group of Harvard students were recently asked by their tutor to sit the 1964 Louisiana Literacy Test - a notorious document with confusing questions that was used to stop black citizens from voting.

Just 50 years ago, states in the South asked voters who couldn't provide proof of a fifth grade education to pass the test in order to be eligible to cast a ballot.

The test was intended to disenfranchise African-Americans, who in order to pass had to correctly answer all 30 questions in 10 minutes.

Despite their Ivy League pedigree, none of the students managed to pass the test and their reactions as they struggled to make sense of the obtuse questions was filmed.

[BlackAdderess]

So I’m assuming that a thank you to the Republican Party for making this illegal in 1965 was part of the lesson plan?!

[SoFloFreeper]

Today it is still blacks.

Black parents would love to have school choice....who opposes it? Demon Rats.

Black citizens would love to have opportunities for good jobs, low taxes and productive economic status. Who opposes these benefits in favor of inflated wages via statute, high taxes, and welfare? Demon Rats.

Black children would love to have stable homes with two parents--a mother and a father. But who promotes the corrupt/bankrupt/perverted idea that families aren't that important or definable AND that dependence on the federal government is the answer to all your needs and desires? Demon Rats.

The Heritage Foundation has shown that the problem with high crime and other problems that are rampant in the black community have to do with FAMILY STRUCTURE and not race. Whites from broken homes and in the same socio-economic situation as blacks have the same damn problems. It isn't race--it is CULTURE; family is of paramount importance (I would include faith as well)...and the Demon Rat party is, in the end, OPPOSED to a tight knit family and local structure. The Demon Rat party is all about creating dependence on a bureaucracy.

Star Parker, a wonderful black conservative woman talks about this phenomenon in her books and writings...

[SoFloFreeper]

[aft_lizard]

Sorry but did you read the exam? I doubt a single freeper could get 30 out of 30 in ten minutes. Some of the questions are obviously set up to deny people a correct answer.

[aft_lizard]

I read it too, but it has some very confusing questions. No offense but I sort of doubt your reply. Either way though it was ridiculous to ever require a literacy test.

[FourtySeven]

It’s not that difficult if interpreted fairly but of course as the Mail points out that is the whole point. The questions (some) are ambiguous and thus open to biased interpretation. #20 is a perfect example. Is that asking to spell “forwards” backwards or “backwards” forwards?

Also there are clearly some questions that any student with a 12th grade education should be able to answer (or do) no one with just a 5th grade education (probably learned 10-20 years ago) could answer. #28 is a perfect example. Unless a typical 5th grader knows what “bisection” means.

[bigdaddy45]

The point is, the test was outrageous, and was solely designed to prevent people who wanted to vote from voting. I assume white voters weren’t required to take the test.

[Fiji Hill]

Translation: to “sit” a test means to take a test.

[bigdaddy45]

“Nothing racist about this test.” Really? How come blacks had to take it, but whites didn’t? And how does ANY of the crap in this test determine that someone is knowledgeable enough about current events to vote?

It was designed to prevent blacks from voting. No other reason. Hence, it was racist.

[Presbyterian Reporter]

From 1880 until 1980 the Governor of Lousiana was a DEMOCRAT.

Thus all this 1954 intelligence test proves is that Democrats treat blacks badly.

[aft_lizard]

How would you answer the first question? It’s a 50-50 answer and I guarantee the correct answer was only dependent on who the grader was.

[morphing libertarian]

can you find the two zs in the row of letters which only has one? One of the problems I have with the test.

[PAR35]

So they are a little weak on reading comprehension. Let’s see their scores on the Los Angeles Math Test.

[IMR 4350]

“Poor thing needs to take Circles 101.”

Wrong.

You draw a line around it without the two ends connecting but the ends of the line overlapping otherwise you have a circle not a line.

[ShadowAce]

Pick a question and answer it—I bet I can explain why your answer is wrong.

[kabar]

I bet they didn’t call it a literacy test.

[defconw]

Well maybe I found it easy because I do a lot of logic puzzles and that sort of thing. On those you have to follow the directions very carefully. I would like to see an answer sheet. I was disappointed that there was not one. I love a good quiz.

Also I would note that the test was rigged so that they would get the wrong answer no matter what they wrote down. I would submit that any black person who had been educated through the 8th grade probably could have passed that test if it were fairly graded. Educational standards were much higher back then.

[Jack Hydrazine]

Eidolons are for demogogues!

[duffee]

Enough to make it float.

[Safetgiver]

But then again, I didn’t go to Harvard....Peasant.