Well, I’m a person who believes in dynamics. Poverty does have long-term effects on all aspects of health and development, including IQ. I’m not disputing that the present IQ disparity as a statistical measure of large population groups appears to be real; however, we cannot ignore the effects of encultured poverty and “poverty behaviors” on the present low-end group. I continue to believe that any government assistance should address behavioral expectations, not just give handouts—a view directly opposite to the lefties and the DOJ, who are all about blaming successful people for the failures of unsuccessful people, but then preventing successful people from telling the truth and giving practical advice or suitable consequences on how to avoid failure, since that might “offend” the unsuccessful people.
My town has many immigrants from various African countries. They are not at all like the descendents of slaves whose poverty behaviors we despair of in our inner cities. The several Kenyan families in our block are among the very best neighbors. At work and church I meet people who have recently immigrated from Eritreia, Ghana, French Guiana, Nigeria and other countries. All entrepreneurs or otherwise well employed and living in nice suburbs. Several have expressed dismay NOT at how American blacks “are treated”, but at how they “behave.”
I’ve posted this before, but here it goes again:
How to Get White Privilege from Childhood through Adulthood:
Go to bed on time.
Say your prayers.
Clean your room.
Take care of your belongings.
Address your elders as “Ma’am” and “Sir”.
Do your chores before you play.
Respect your parents and the house rules.
Eat what’s put in front of you.
Sit up/stand up straight.
Do your homework.
Get good grades.
Go to Sunday School and church.
Attend confirmation classes and learn your religion.
Obey the Ten Commandments.
Be home on time.
Boys do not hit girls.
Girls do not chase boys.
Avoid a bad crowd.
Do not smoke, drink or swear. If you do, do not let any authority figure catch you.
Obey all driving laws and get a job to pay for your insurance.
Graduate from high school.
Get a job or go to college; if you go to college, also get a job.
Save money for the future.
Wait to get married before having sex.
If you don’t wait, you will have to give up the child or give up school and marry that person. So choose carefully.
Being married is teamwork.
Keep your finances simple and clean.
Work hard and respect your spouse and/or your boss, even if he/she is a jerk.
House, feed, clothe and love your child(ren).
Discipline your child fairly; do not spoil, do not abuse.
Read to your child.
Pray with your spouse and your child(ren).
Don’t ignore your spouse or your personal grooming because you’re now married or a parent.
Stay married.
Settle fights with your spouse before going to sleep at night.
Save money for old age.
Take care of your elders.
Expect the above list also of your chlld(ren).
Does it occur to you that those neighbors are from the far right of the Bell Curve, for their place of origin, and race?
Back in 1994 I read “The Bell Curve,” slowly from cover to cover. It documents decades of research, and hundreds of studies.
I knew nothing of such matters prior to reading it, so it wasn’t just a confirmation of prejudices or already held views.
It explained so much. Among the most striking facts, was that even highly educated, professional upper income blacks in America, have out of wedlock children far above the rate of other races. Leads me to believe it is racial and cultural, not economic or a result of poverty as you state.