...
written by Gichangi , October 18, 2007

Well, what is his assessment based on? IQs? Ridiculous, especially coming from a scientist. It is difficult to ignore the fact that this is the pervading view of the world, and also of many Africans and their Diaspora. IQ tests are culture-biased and as such those scoring highest in them will have had some cultural advantage.

...
written by Gichangi , October 18, 2007

Race and intelligence

...
written by Timothy Wainaina , October 18, 2007

Is the Strongest Man in the World a good soldier?
More importantly, is there really such a person as an African? Or a black man?

...
written by Stephen Wanyama , October 18, 2007

Must be off to work now, thought I would leave you with this from the cretin's own book.

Growing up, I worried quietly about my Irish heritage, my mother's side of the family. My ambition was to be the smartest kid in the class, and yet the Irish were the butt of all those jokes. Moreover I was told that in the old days signs announcing the availability of jobs often ended with "No Irish Need Apply." I wasn't yet equipped to understand that such discrimination might have to do with more than an honest assessment of Irish aptitudes. I knew only that though I myself possessed lots of Irish genes there was no evidence that I was slow-witted. So I figured that the Irish intellect, and the shortcomings for which it was known, must have been shaped by the Irish environment, not by those genes: nurture, not nature, was to blame. Now, knowing some Irish history, I can see that my juvenile conclusion was not far from the truth. The Irish aren't in the least stupid, but the British tried mightily to make them so.

Yes, Watson wrote about that, he seems to have forgotten it all over again. Pretty consistent pattern though, the victims of hate usually end up very vicious and hateful themselves.

Might just add. There really is no such thing as an African. There are fools among us who think so, and here is the consequence.
You also hear random idiots talking about Africans and dancing, Africans and libido (another one from Watson), Africans and strength and so on.

I say again, there is no genetic, cultural or otherwise entity such as African. The concept of race itself is a lie.

...
written by Juma Ousman , October 18, 2007

Well,this lends credence to President Kibaki's favorite word: "Pumbavu".

Does our behaviour lend credit
written by Aideed , October 18, 2007

Just look at any charity campaign and you almost surely you are going to see a wretched African face begging for mercy and most probably from the white races! These is despite our unequaled resource endowment, our celebrate powerful African physic, our abundant numbers and our enviable clime.

Why do we cry foul when some bigot associate our misery with our African-ness?

Eugenics with stolen data
written by Savco , October 18, 2007

Would you like some eugenics with that stolen data, dear?

Kidding aside, I have to agree with Stephen Wanyama and Aideed. It was very nice of Stephen to quote his book so that we could all see where his prejudices stem from and how he's using his expertise in a scientific field to attempt to justify them.

At the same time, by continually failing to launch as a continent, we give such people ammunition as Aideed pointed out. That leaves us with only one option.

However, I believe his opinions are quite widespread, just that most people don't consider it to be politically correct to voice them. Personally, someone (one of those evangelist types) once 'complimented' me by telling me "You are the most intelligent black person I've ever spoken to." I was speechless, even though he didn't mean to offend me.

...
written by seline , October 18, 2007

This guy simple said what other people of his race or other races (not all) think but are too scared to say out loud. Are africans (i think he meant black people) genetically less intelligent?-i don't think so. I have interracted with old African men who have never seen the inside of a classroom but whose IQs beat George Bush's, or some of those self-declared western elites.

Blessed will be the poor souls
written by CARLOS , October 18, 2007

The world is still overloaded with so called intelligent people making 'stupid' reflections about others ...
Just let us all together bless those which are thinking about improving the life of 'their neighbours' instead of having pitty with them ...

Supposing it is true ...
written by Vlad , October 18, 2007

Supposing this Watson guy is right, or at least, his view became accepted in the Western world. What are the Westerners gonna do?

Create a major homeland for us in the Sahara?

Release all those brothers in prison since their puny brains were to blame?

Sack all Blacks working in "high grey matter" jobs?

Get the Blacks to seat at the back of the bus again?

What exactly would happen if Watson & Co converted everybody?

Huh?

Vlad

jienjoy Watson
written by Nowa Indania , October 18, 2007

When such trash is mentioned I love the 'genuine' hurt, consternation and indignation that pours forth by those who feel that they have been dissed.

Many of us have never and may never meet the punk Watson. However everyday I have to meet my fellow kenyan at the door to the office lift. I cannot meet his eyes these days.

The whole argument started because some leaders said that they were superior to the others because of a certain physical attribute.

well.....

...
written by Tim Norwood , October 18, 2007

Vlad,
I'd like to take on your first position, what if it is true. Now the only reason we are asking this at all, is the fact that Watson is an eminent scientist. Science however, ought to be about proof, and about studies and experiments.
There have been several attempts over the years, to attempt to rank the races in this way, but all of them have proved only one thing. Like with all genes, there are more differences INSIDE of 'racial groups' than there are between 'racial groups'.
Still if we are to agree that the rule is true ( like some commenters above I agree that race is a lie), what of it? If the least intelligent black person is less intelligent than the least intelligent white person, why should that reflect on the policies of the West toward Africa, if as the real world proves, there are millions of intelligent Africans?

More importantly however, Watson's statement was intended as an insult and not as a scientific position.
------

Savco, Wanyama
The Irish were once thought of in the very same terms black people are today. The Romans also thought the Germans were inferior barbarians, which opinion was also that of the Persians towards the Greeks. What do the Japanese think of western Europeans? Do not the Chinese also see themselves as the master race?

Perhaps the question black people must ask of themselves, is why this hurts at all, and why do so many of us actively believe this nonsense.

...
written by aeichener , October 18, 2007

A very mature comment by Tim.

As to his last question: to ask it, is to answer it.

Alexander

Arrogance
written by H. , October 19, 2007

The geezer must have received so much praise for his DNA structure discovery that he thinks he can now verbalize his inadequacies. Smart of him to say so when he is about to expire, huh! Let the fool go in peace.

What defines intelligence? Watson's idea rises from the idea that Africans are incapable of implementing Western policies.

The Khoi-san in the wilderness of south Africa live their darn life without western policies nor water, more civilized than this American barbarians.

Who is to say what is intelligent?
I bet 10 years from now his DNA discovery will be thwarted.


'Race' was first introduced in the 18th century. CONTINUE....

God Of Olympus
written by Grikgod , October 20, 2007

This statement following the data that most of the graduate degrees in America go to a significant number of African students? Even beating the Americans?

That being said, I don't think intelligence is not confined to race. If you look at the world's geniuses you find them scattered across the board, and unfortunately, African IQ is not as well documented as Westerners thus dropping the number in our continent.

This dude is rascist, should be knocked on the head, and told to think straight. But he is getting the attention he was seeking.

So what next?
written by newafroguy , October 20, 2007

I think part of the problem is distinguishing between the notion of intelligence as the innate ability to reason and the being "smart" or adept at certain civilizations/cultures.

I would blame the plight of the black man NOT on genetic lack of "intelligence" but on poor integration into the western civilization which happens to dominate our present world. Numerous studies have linked cultural factors to outcomes in health, academics, and economic performance of distint ethnicities. Many Africans that have integrated have been "successful" and continue to do even better than the locals abroad.

Having said that, we need to ask ourselves how we as African communities can cope with this cultural transition and claim our stake on the globe just like the southeast Asians did. No amount of whining will change global perceptions as long as our people continue to live in squalor, with no tangible achievements of their own, all along depending on western handouts and ideas. Victim mentality precludes accountability and responsibility and only perpetuates dependency.

Grikgod above raises the question of documenting our IQ achievements. Well, the onus is on us! The Irish, the Asians and the Arabs took charge of their destinity and waited for no acknowledgements. I guess we have our job cut out for us.

Watson Wrong
written by Pat Loa , October 20, 2007

Watson has insulted all the brains of Africa, that having been said why should it matter anyways?
who cares what he says coz there is evidence to the contrary. Humans are literally different talent wise but that doesn't mean it is a race thing. No it is not, how many Africa students who are A students in IVY league schools in the west, America in particular? we have been to the so call best schools in the west and Africans have had excellent success.

so Watson's and his crap should be ashamed that his baseless outburst totally fails. However, i won't take is bullshit to brand other nice white people. His shit is unfortunate especially from a "scientist". damn Ass!

Awful
written by Doogiebrain , October 20, 2007

This is awful

Please read this and comment
written by benadede , October 20, 2007

Please read this report and comment.

...
written by Mbeche , October 20, 2007

I fully agree with NewAfroGuy in that the problem is in improper integration to a western culture. But i must mention that its not only Africans who suffer from this. I live in Dubai and have seen Asians from all around the continent who will shame even that distant cousin of mine from deep shagz!

Once a conman, always
written by Ssembonge , October 20, 2007

Very few people are aware that Watson & Crick were not the brains behind the discovery of the DNA double helix. They used deception to claim the discovery.

The person who made the discovery was Rosalind Franklin. Her efforts led to her death and she was excluded from the Nobel prize.

Link here.

...
written by X , October 21, 2007

There are certain philosophical and psychological tactics that have been used by the white man for ages that get us in every attempt. There is a generalization that has been put in place to demean the black man to what for some will be forever.See, If you walk in front of me and I clap my hands I know automatically you will turn your head. This is exactly what this man (scientist) is doing to achieve various goals 1. To resurrect the old myth, that the blacks are inferior 2. To seek attention to himself and his works etc. I think that he has succeeded and will get away with it like they always do..

reflex trap
written by Atandi , October 21, 2007

Greetings to you all,

I will pick up from mr.X above who gave a good clapping analogy. I do seriously fear statements such as those uttered by that Watson fellow. Intentionally doing something knowing very well that you will respond in line with what has been said.

If you are not careful, you become a puppet; he makes you try to proove yourself worthy, 'clever', 'smart', 'intelligent' e.t.c Sometimes we do fall into this trap of trying to proove ourselves worthy. Sometimes you end up wasting time proving what is already obvious hence making a fool of yourself. You become a scientific experiment whereby you have to meet a certain creteria to nullify the hypothesis stated, in this case, Intelligence. Today I tell you to prove yourself intelligent by passing IQ and Technology invention tests, tomorrow I will ask you to prove yourself a cow by eating grass......slowly by slowly you unconsciously become a slave...a puppet.

Here is a short conversation between Shaka Zulu & his Military General, Mkobozi, at the time of first contact with the white man.

Mkobozi:
Shaka, the white man works with illusion; you have taught us to work with reality...the life on one dedicated Zulu is worth 100 lives of the white man..

Shaka:
The leopard is also superior mkobozi. One day in the proud life of a leopard is worth 100 days in the life of a raven. But if the leopard were offered wings to walk the sky, he would be foolish to refuse them.

Mkobozi:
No Shaka, the leopards kingdom is the earth. On the earth he is master, in the sky he becomes victim.


Remain well.

...
written by Tiana , October 22, 2007

What is this test based on? Does color really have anything to do with intelligence? What were the conditions under which the participants grew in? Does this take into consideration the various aspects of life one is exposed to? so many questions!!

Wisdom Beyond Years
written by Jayawardene , October 23, 2007

I guess it could be said that there are as many writing styles as there are writers. There is a style of writing that is soft spoken but quietly confident and the writer uses charm and wit to disarm the reader...almost as if the writer is saying...shall we go, will you take me on a journey?

To read a few lines from Atandi has got to be worth more than a 100 years in the life of watson and his disciples.

Stay well Ndlovu-Nkulu

poor old watson
written by new day , October 23, 2007

oh God, we are at this issue again. Ever since I took the Afro-American Prose Fiction elective at campus, every time I come across similar statements as Watson I just laugh. I have never stopped reading books dealing with black/white racial issues; groups such as the Ku Klux Klan, leaders such as Martin Luther and authors such as Richard wright. I would encourage People of African descent to read widely about their history and own it. That way, politically crafted 'findings' such as this one - probably funded by the US Republican party to discredit Obama - will never ever make Africans feel small again. New day.

re: Reality check
written by Wambui Mwangi , October 24, 2007

They were occasionally still used as strage props for Intrepid White Reporters from Crisis Regions, and would be taken out of cryo-stasis storage and set in the middle of a bleak mud plain, together with a patient tame vulture.
Alexander

Beyond the shadow of a doubt my favourite quote of the day...except perhaps I wouldn't mind if the vultures were not quite so patient, really. A little impatience, pour encourager les autres? I'm just saying...

Reality check
written by aeichener , October 25, 2007

Aideed, you are far, far, faaaaaaaaaaaar out of the timestream. Hungry black children with drum-bellies, bleary eyes teeming with flies, are out and have been so since the mid-1980s.

They were occasionally still used as stage props for Intrepid White Reporters from Crisis Regions, and would be taken out of cryo-stasis storage and set in the middle of a bleak mud plain, together with a patient tame vulture.

That has also fallen out of favour since the last reporter who won a pulitzer prize or something similar silly with such a staged pic killed himself, out of remorse (he probably felt white guilt conscience pangs about the vulture).

No, charity campaigns today almost invariably use opics of happy, merrily smiling Africans who demonstrate that charity helps indeed (very popular are young rural businesswomen in colourful dresses gleaming all over their four cheeks and explaining how much microcredit has changed their lives and has made a difference).

That's how charity advertising is done these days in the Developed World (tm).

Alexander

A mad Scientist?
written by simbamalala , October 26, 2007

This is not news especially when it comes from a man with the name "watson". he is just repeating what we have heard from times past. Has anyone watched the movie the gods must be crazy? It will rest the case for mr. watson. If he is intelligent.

...
written by Masaa , October 26, 2007

Well I used to think otherwise but ever since I started following political discussions of most Kenyans, most of which spewed a dangerous mix of hate, ignorance and utter stupidity, I am slowly starting to believe that a LARGE majority of Africans really are dumb and tend to create their own problems.
Sorry for bringing politics into this discussion but it was necessary.
I have however also met extremely intelligent africans with a clear mind so my doubts are open to question but I believe Mr. Watson ought to have kept his thoughts to himself.

neglected crises
written by new day , October 26, 2007

I do not understand how the Kenyan political situation which is akin to any the world over can be put in context with this most uncouth expression of social bias.

Western reporting is all pregnant with pictures and stories of Africans living in poverty and bad conditions. Most jungus secretly enjoy seeing Africans living dirty, otherwise all the misery would have been long eliminated. Therefore, it is not surprising to come across such 'new findings' as propagated by the Watsons.

Political discussions are all crawling with hate, moreso the internet forums. However, this in my view is linked to local identity and not comparative intelligence. Identity crisis does not immediately imply less brain power since it is very closely related to our perception of our surrounding and Maslow's hierarchy of needs. Brain capacity on the other hand is complex, based on both physiology and practice. Theories that link brain power with environmental stimuli make more sense to me, because they show that areas in the brain that get practice and are put in use regularly develop at the expense of areas that are dormant. This is true irrespective of region or continent.

I have seen very dumb Europeans in Paris subways, not necessarily poor or struggling but flashy and energetic but simply dumb and stupid. It gets worse when you visit the countryside. Characterized by poor memory, poor counting skills, bad linguistic capability, slow ability to interpret signs, these people are suffering from a neglect that is the making of their own people who are driven by the desire to humiliate those who are just different. New day.

I think it is...
written by jmaruru , October 28, 2007

I believe the President's word is "Kumbavu".

Anyway, I went to school in a predominantly Asian populated school. I would hear other African students, once they had failed their math and physics, complain that they were not Asian.

I'll borrow the words of a local radio presenter who commented on the above: "Yes, people should not be allowed to make inflammatory potentially genocide precipitating remarks for whatever reason, but at the same time everyone needs to consider how they use the intelligence they do have. Can we somehow stop focusing on hwo to get rich at any cost and consider what we can leave as a heritage for future generations, so that at no time in the future, no one will talk about the IQ challenged people of darker skin color?

Oh yeah...
written by jmaruru , October 28, 2007

Y'all forgot about him and now he's got a whole lot of attention!

That said, has someone thought not of Mr. Watson but of the fact that in well maybe another 100 years we may have completely new races on the face of the earth.

According to the theory of the Mitochondrial Eve, we all came up from a single genetic pool and diversely adapted to our various environments. If Mr. Watson uses this theory, he might argue that we adapted to our environment and developed stronger physiques and weaker intelligence.

I'm not a scientist but I'm guessing a lot of you out there are. How in the whole world would the above thesis make sense? Take into consideration that to survive on less than a dollar a day takes a whole lot of planning.

I've met kids who can rationalize on why they can't go to that school trip because it costs 350 KSH and mum needs food plus 100 KSHS to get to the clinic and recieve her ARV's.

How about we let an old senile man go to rest and we focus on how to make it possible for these kids to have a chance at fighting for their place in this unfair world?

well said J Maruru
written by Jardene Waya , October 28, 2007

We are wrong to be so exercised by such a comment from such a man by such a paper in such an environment.

The dice are loaded against us each time we play because this is their game played by their rules. The only way that we can win them is by ignoring their constant outpourings of vile racist propaganda and concentrating on putting our own houses right.

ps...J waururu's comment is more recent but appers amongst the older ones, why?

...
written by Kamale , October 29, 2007

Just stop and think about it.

How much has the African done to actually counter the Watson theory? Africans are perhaps intelligent at an individual level, but tend to fail miserably at a collective level hence the level of problems our continent faces.

I am not asking the african to justify him/herself to the comments by Watson. But would it not be better if the African showed otherwise about his intelligence?

are we not worthy?
written by Jardene Waya , October 29, 2007

Just stop and think about it.


I am not asking the african to justify him/herself to the comments by Watson. But would it not be better if the African showed otherwise about his intelligence?

Like perhaps voting in a certain way?

now think about it
written by jacooqs , October 29, 2007

everyone says this is all rubbish...but think about it. the part of being genetically less intelligent has no scientific base...at least for the moment...

let me say first that am also a black man, and am not stupid, at least i believe i am not.

now, honestly we africans may not be stupid but we certainly do act that way. not all of us of course...think about kenyans. look around you and see the silly things people do or say all the time. enter a matatu and carefully observe how people conduct themselves, the fights for a bus at kencom, the spitting and littering all over the city...etc and the big one, politics. people are easily incited to violence, and vote in that person...they just dont think..not because they are stupid, they just dont think

we africans terribly let ourselves down. we look at the west as being superior all the time...when you go to the shops, you dont buy local products now do you? nope..you just dont trust em!

we let ourselves down and act stupid.

when i act stupid, i DESERVE to be called stupid

...
written by Timothy Wainaina , October 30, 2007

Speaking as a geneticist, Watson's comment would perhaps have best been framed in an evolutionary light, and in this light dear friends, intelligence is purely down to the capacity to survive, even to thrive in the harshest conditions.

All other things may be useful to our modern conceptions of intelligence, most of them informed by a narrow aptitude for the satisfaction of attributes peculiarly attractive to a particular people in a particular time but in the course of evolutionary history, not particularly significant.

I suppose there were some Dodos that could tap dance or whistle a divine melody. Plenty of good that did them, aye?

...
written by Gichangi , October 30, 2007

Whatson' comments pre-suppose that we know how to measure "intelligence" and that the measures we use are universal, and have nothing to do with culture, language, or any other incidental factor. Anyone for example who has taken the SAT tests will tell you that they are highly biased towards a certain culture, a certain way of thinking. For the American child raised from age 2 knowing that the choice of college will depend on how well he does at this test, there is a sharpening of the intellect with regard to this particular goal.

Anyone living in England will similarly have noticed their obsession with puzzles- crosswords, sudoku and so on, and their passion for trivia. Now to an insider these may seem particularly good measures of intelligence, i.e. we are all British, with the same circumstances, the same education, the same cultural influences and therefore- higher intellects will perform better at these trivial pursuits. It is not just a Nigerian or a Kenyan who will have trouble showing the same aptitude at these two obsessions, one American, the other British. An Australian, or a German, for all the similarities in culture/ 'race' with the English/ American will not perform nearly as well as they have never had to develop the same competence!

So it is that when people will argue that blacks aren't as smart as whites, what they really mean is that blacks aren't as white as whites. Let's not confuse being white with being intelligent or superior.

...
written by Njenga , October 31, 2007

What Watson said is not new as it had been said publicly before by Tatu Vanhanen (Matti Vanhanen's father).Matti Vanhanen is the Finnish prime minister Tatu was speaking after writting a controversial book in 2002 called IQ AND THE WEALTH OF NATIONS. Tatu's book was co-authored a Mr. Richard Lynn of University of Ulster.

The book mainly entails of how unintellligent africans are and the results of our poor IQ. one of the remedies he suggests while making the controversial statements was that he would really encourage africans to inter-marry with europeans in a bid to boost their kids IQ rate.

Watson's statements as well as Tatu's should serve as a eyeopenner to africans to know exactly how the western world sees us. As Kamale said, there are individuals in Africa whose IQ surpasses of most westerners but collectively we got nothing to show. This is evident in the way Governments are run, how the justice systems in africa carry out their duties among other things.

If anybody is to change that negative perception, its only us africans

Cheaper communication is key
written by Savco , October 31, 2007

Good debate. Perhaps Watson and Tatu (btw Finns are the most self righteous people I've ever met, geez!) should visit KI.

Kamale
I've often wondered how come collectively Africans have nothing much to show though individually they can be brilliant. I think we can find the answer in a Form 2 physics text book. We are like an unmagnetized iron bar with all the dipoles pointing in random directions thereby mostly canceling each other out (happy-go-lucky-everyone-loves-us attitude). The result is very little to show for on the macroscopic scale (non-magnetism). Once we align ourselves we will achieve what others have and more. Just my take.

Njenga
I think Africans are soon gonna find out what the world thinks of them. Internet connectivity is soon going to become more affordable and more reliable in Africa. Young Africans will be able to interact with their peers worldwide say by playing MMRPGs such as World of Warcraft, Final Fantasy etc from the comfort of their living rooms. This will provide them with the necessary feedback that might be just what is needed to align those dipoles I was talking about.

And the sooner this happens the better 'coz I have a distinct feeling that in a few decades the West (and possibly the BRIC countries) might be knocking on doors to sell us something else. As if christianity, 'civilization', democracy, 'freedom' and humanitarianism wasn't enough!

Atandi
I can see we have a Shaka Zulu the miniseries fan. Nice. The dialogue you quoted is amongst my favourite.

An eye opener
written by otieno , October 31, 2007

This was recently the topic of much debate on digg.com, a social site/blog frequented mostly by americans and british. While some of the comments were quite objective, i was appaled at the degree of ignorance and bigotry exhibited by some of these so called "geeks" http://digg.com/general_scienc...says_DNA_
pioneer

its all about attitude towards
written by new day , November 06, 2007

Otieno: thanks for the link to dogg.com. I found this interesting comment:

'Evolution takes thousands of years of competitive pressures. Let me ask you this. How come most humans across the races.. (if taught) can learn to read and do math and all that. How come across the races 20/20 vision is the norm (why arent some races that "evolved" in different environments equipped with better resolution and color sensitivity),

Does one race have a better memory capability than another? How come this hasnt been shown in a scientific study. How come every race has advanced mathematicians. If the "math" gene was lacking in blacks .. how come there are math PhD;s who are black/african? There should be zero african (unmixed race).math professors. I'll tell you, there is far less variation in humans than people think'.
Savco: No amount of MMRPG and high technology can reverse bad attitude.
New day

Dr
written by asilii Fama , December 10, 2007

Watson knew that this was the only way he was going to get publicity, hence his comments worthy of many bigoted westerners. If Africans were as unintelligent as he claimed, why do lecturers in certain universities in the west deliberately keep their grades low, and pass on unwrthy white students? Were the latter left behind by the ship of intelligence?

live under Black government
written by EXPERIENCE , February 18, 2008

Anyone doubting the clever doctor, should take up citizenship in an African country.