Posted on 07/29/2013 10:41:25 AM PDT by jazusamo
In the 20th century, Western intellectuals' two most dominant explanations of disparities in economic, educational and other achievements were innate racial differences in ability (in the early decades) and racial discrimination (in the later decades).
In neither era were the intelligentsia receptive to other explanations. In each era, they were convinced that they had the answer — and dismissed and disparaged those who offered other answers.
Differences in mental test scores among different racial and ethnic groups were taken as proof of genetic differences in innate mental ability during the Progressive era in the early 20th century. Progressives regarded the fact that the average IQ test score among whites was higher than the average among blacks as conclusive proof of genetic determinism.
A closer look at mental test data, however, shows that there were not only individual blacks with higher IQs than most whites, but also whole categories of whites who scored at or below the mental test scores of blacks.
Among American soldiers given mental tests during the First World War, for example, white soldiers from Georgia, Arkansas, Kentucky, and Mississippi scored lower on mental tests than black soldiers from Ohio, Illinois, New York, and Pennsylvania.
Among other groups of whites, those with average mental test scores no higher than the average mental test scores among blacks included those in various isolated mountain communities in the United States, those living in the Hebrides Islands off Scotland and those in isolated canal boat communities in Britain.
(Excerpt) Read more at creators.com ...
Progressives have poisoned the mainstream black culture with the “great society” ick mentality so much that the culture no longer expects more from the children and if a parent does expect more from their children the trendy thing to do is to call them “sell-outs”.
The Definition of a Culture in Decline is a culture that doesn’t expect more from the youger generation.
The “river” tribe attacks, kills and enslaves the members of the “hill” tribe. The “tree” tribe watches with interest, shrugs and then goes about their business.
River = South of 130th Street
Hill = Back of Yards
Tree = Evanston
The media is stoopid!
Against this background, racial and ethnic leaders around the world who promote a separate cultural "identity" are inflicting a handicap on their own people. Isolation has held back many peoples in many lands, for centuries. But such social and cultural isolation serves the interests of today's ethnic leaders.
Dividing and conquering works very well; most unfortunately, it leaves the new rulers with decidedly unproductive people to rule.
This is called “cultural deprivation,” and it is certainly a known problem. I worked with retarded adults years ago in Pennsylvania, and we had some residents of the group home who probably had no organic problems but came from isolated families who lived out in the woods (in the Appalachians) and were severely culturally deprived to the point that they functioned and tested as retarded. Everybody was either illiterate or nearly so, the people who brought them up had a limited vocabulary (and many lived on a combination of welfare and hunting, so they didn’t even work with other people), and on top of that they usually had a horrible diet which led both to prenatal problems, possible organic brain damage, and later physical problems.
It’s hard to understand why television (blacks watch more TV than any other group) has not had a broadening effect on the culturally deprived, but I guess these isolated “communities” are so closed in on themselves and exert such negative pressure that there’s really nothing strong enough to oppose it.
I am trying to pick up Guns, Germs and Steel again and see if I can muck through it.
It is not a straight forward read like Sowell’s Conquest and Culture. The author of G, G & S is pussy footing his way to a hypothisis. Anyone know if Sowell commented on the more acclaimed Guns, Germs and Steel?
Prenatal alcohol exposure (fetal alcohol sydrome) also results in the same symptoms. I worked extensively with foster children in “disadvantaged communities” and this was the elephant in the room. The effects are devastating and generational—especially when comorbid with welfare.
Thank you for the ping, Jaz.
I suspect that the progs of the early 20th century massaged their data as much as they do now.
They’ve been lying and cheating to prove their way is best for 100 years.
I hope that Margaret Sanger has been dealt her just reward.
Sweet-tasting poison, indeed.
Amen, TOL and bump to MS being dealt her just reward.
you may also want to consider reading 1493. The author isn't quite able to break free of leftist groupthink, but it doesn't take much to see writers points lay waste to wise swath of today progressive nonsense.
Differences in mental test scores among different racial and ethnic groups were taken as proof of genetic differences in innate mental ability during the Progressive era in the early 20th century. Progressives regarded the fact that the average IQ test score among whites was higher than the average among blacks as conclusive proof of genetic determinism. A closer look at mental test data, however, shows that there were not only individual blacks with higher IQs than most whites, but also whole categories of whites who scored at or below the mental test scores of blacks.Planned Parenthood / Margaret Sanger / racial hygiene ping.
Having read carefully “The Bell Curve” I differ with Sowell.
I’m sure he’s scrambled all about to oppose that book’s findings, but he fails to convince me.
Same for majority that study the data.
That’s interesting. (This is a great thread.)
Will you please let us know how Sowell’s article conflicts with The Bell Curve?
Actually, the third leg of this inquiry that I had planned is Landes’ The Wealth and Poverty of Nations
“Will you please let us know how Sowell’s article conflicts with The Bell Curve?”
The book concludes from compiled, extensive testing, that American blacks have median IQs of 85 versus about 100 for whites.
Sowell, as bright as he is, refutes that but not effectively. He claims the disproof is that some blacks have high IQs.
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