Harvard Law Student: Possible That 'African Americans Are, On Average, Genetically Predisposed To Be Less Intelligent'

An email written by a third-year Harvard Law student has incited outcry at law schools across the country.

The email, reported by Above the Law, came after its unidentified writer made some controversial remarks at a dinner. It reads:

I absolutely do not rule out the possibility that African Americans are, on average, genetically predisposed to be less intelligent. I could also obviously be convinced that by controlling for the right variables, we would see that they are, in fact, as intelligent as white people under the same circumstances. The fact is, some things are genetic. African Americans tend to have darker skin. Irish people are more likely to have red hair.

The email continues:

Everyone wants someone to take 100 white infants and 100 African American ones and raise them in Disney utopia and prove once and for all that we are all equal on every dimension, or at least the really important ones like intelligence. I am merely not 100% convinced that this is the case.

The writer sent the email to a select few, one of whom forwarded it to more people. It eventually made its way to the Harvard Black Law Student Association list-serv and Black Law Student Associations countrywide.

The email's writer is set to do a coveted federal clerkship upon graduating, Above the Law reports.

The full email, and responses, can be seen here.

Comments

[tindo]

07:50 AM on 05/16/2010

Since when did law students become citable experts in genetics and microbiology? I cant believe the weight people are giving to this racist persons wild and baseless assertions.

[Rhiannon Payne]

05:05 PM on 05/05/2010

1. The email's author is not making an assumption but considering a possibility. It is not dangerous or wrong for us to question every aspect of our lives (and others'). In fact, it is healthy and encouraged as a way of strengthening our collective intellectual ability. It's called 'critical thinking'.

2. None of us can make a valid supposition in this forum without having witnessed the exchanges first-hand or at least being given the full context of what was said.

3. Even if there were studies that proved a genetic predisposition of one race regarding a particular physical or mental ability, it would not change the fact that there would be many exceptions to the findings. (I myself am an Appalachian native. It is widely believed that we are genetically predisposed to lower intelligence. Though I have never seen a study substantiate this stereotype, if it were proven I would consider myself to have overcome that predisposition.)

4. As our society becomes more connected via the internet, we will have to accept that the elites of our society are deeply flawed people and despite their flaws, they may still be capable of executing the duties of their positions acceptably. Even more importantly, they are still entitled to have private lives and private thoughts.

5. Shame on the person who made this personal communication public. That seems the coward's way out and it makes me wonder what that person stood to gain by airing out someone else's dirty laundry.

[The Albany Kid]

10:12 AM on 05/05/2010

Do any of you know of any reserach concerning to what extent (if any) the races differ with regard to tests of mathematical ability (where, presumably, there would be little or no cultural bias)?

[Ankhorite]

02:04 AM on 05/05/2010

Georgetown Law suffered through the same kind of thing via a columnist in the school newspaper, somewhere between 1990-1992.

The writer was somewhat more openly hateful and contemptuous than the Harvard 2010 author.

The effect on the entire student community at the law school was devastating, and 20 years later (more or less), it still hurts those of us who were there.

[The Albany Kid]

10:08 AM on 05/05/2010

Georgetown definitely has an ultra-conservative side (no surprise at a Catholic school, I suppose). During the early 80s or so, there was a National Socialist Party of Georgetown University (I saw a pic of one of its members in either the Hoya or the Voice).

[Bonaboman]

10:23 AM on 05/03/2010

If he had written that Germans were predisposed to evil, that Poles were more stupid, and all Southern White Men were racist, everyone would agree with him. I'm not sure what would have happened if he wrote that Asians were genetically superior in intelligence. In the end, a high number of Asians apply themselves to academics; hence, they perform better. A high number of African Americans apply themselves to basketball.

[Lee N]

01:22 AM on 05/04/2010

Good point! It's hilarious that none of the supposedly "liberal" people who post on here realize how racist this whole ordeal is towards White people.

[Nia Avalon]

11:10 PM on 05/02/2010

If I had written and turned in this cr*p in grad. school, my Professors would have beaten me to death with an unsupported racist assumption. I didn't believe it before school, and school taught me the CONCRETE evidence in actual studies that PROVED it wasn't true. I don't have the studies to hand, but don't need them to utterly disgusted by this bigot's false assumptions.

[Rhiannon Payne]

05:39 PM on 05/05/2010

This was not a class assignment. It was personal email communication.

Also, the author was not making an assumption. She was questioning the supposition that black people and white people are genetically equal in predisposition to intelligence. If I were to say to you that all men and women are genetically predisposed to be the same height, you would likely not automatically accept my assertion. You might not automatically go find a research paper that proves or disproves what I said, but you probably would not accept it at face value, either.

[Bacygirl]

05:48 AM on 05/02/2010

It's always good to know what the enemy is thinking. This article gives people open season to make a lot of insulting generalizations, outright lies and outrageous claims. It's a lot like going head-to-head on religion. I've read some comments from people who can barely express themselves or reason their way out of a paper bag but seem to think they're the reincarnation of Einstein -- they're convinced!

There have been some comments posted that are very insightful by people who have the learning and wisdom to see the bigger picture. They have pointed out the fallacies of relying on the IQ test alone to judge and pigeon-hole humans. Those who are convinced to the contrary (much like republicans/tea party folks) will not be unconvinced by knowledge presented to refute their arguments.

It's not worth my time to spend another sentence on Stephanie Grace and other arrogant, ignorant persons who need to abase others of God's creation in order to lift themselves up to feel good about who they are.

[paulus secundus]

10:51 AM on 05/02/2010

Some people are saying that the science on this issue is well established (or, more absurdly, are denying the possibility of any difference between human groups whatsoever). I think the refutation to this "liberal" hubris is curable by Google.

(i) Empirical Studies on Race recently published or in progress:
See: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC1196372/?+tool=pubmed and also
http://hapmap.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/ethicalconcerns.html.en

(ii) Empirical Studies on I.Q. Gap Between Races in America:
Actually there is a large consensus in this issue. The relevant discussion here is about the CAUSES of this gap, not about its existence: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mainstream_Science_on_Intelligence

As for the witch hunt that ensued the unwarranted publication of a Harvard's student private mail, I recommend the following article by Foundation for Individual Rights in Education (FIRE): http://www.thefire.org/article/11824.html

Finally, I'd like to remark that apparently lots of people that are disparaging this girl's personal (and private) opinions didn't actually read her e-mail in full, which is very strange since they are trying to burn the girl's reputation on this basis. The opinions stated in her private email are unusually well argued and balanced, specially considering that it was an informal (and PRIVATE!!!!) discussion, without pretention to high science.

Respectfully,

Someone That is Very Frightful of Political Correctness Gone Mad.

[bkrider9]

12:32 PM on 05/02/2010

Intelligence tests may be fashionable today in academia, but they are neither reliable nor scientifically confirmed. Our modern IQ tests “represent the end result of a historical process that has its origins in racial and cultural bigotry.” “Many of the founding fathers of the modern testing industry ... advocated eugenics.” Here’s an excellent summary: http://www.audiblox2000.com/dyslexia_dyslexic/dyslexia014.htm.

IQ testing is invalid primarily for two reasons: 1) The very definition of "intelligence" is culturally determined; any "scientist" who claims s/he's got a complete understanding of intelligence is confident only because s/he is supported by colleagues in the Ivory Tower who are equally ignorant; we hardly know anything about the functioning of the brain, or the functioning of society; therefore such "scientists" are measuring illusions. 2) "Race" is also not a scientifically recognized reality. There is simply no scientific definition of who is black and who is white, genetically or otherwise. If you can find such a globally (or even nationally) accepted scientific definition, please post it.

What does real science call it when a social group insists on measuring one illusion with another illusion? Superstition.

[bkrider9]

12:34 PM on 05/02/2010

I think certain “whites” love to throw the IQ card because it conceals injustices from which they benefit. It allows them to say that racism doesn’t exist, and that they are not obliged to change society.

Forget about minorities and "races" for a moment: What about women? What does the 5-point IQ "gender gap" mean? What does the brain-size gender gap mean? Was Lawrence Summers right to suggest that there might be “innate” gender differences when it comes to science?

One thing is clear: Few people would support Summers because women are rising like a tsunami - as are previously dismissed peoples of color around the world. It wasn’t long ago when women were considered too dumb to be accepted to any Ivy League universities, but now they are more than rivaling the men in academia. Are whites who fancy the IQ standard *happily* surprised when they see a woman or person of minority status surpassing whites in skills and wisdom? Or are they angry, threatened?

When oppressed peoples get access to high quality education they rise. Even if there is an IQ gap, so what? The more people are educated the more brilliant they become. It is humane to educate the world; it is inhumane to oppress others with enforced ignorance. Whites who cling to the IQ canard need to stop being defensive, thinking that social progress is a zero-sum game, and that if lower folks rise, they must decline. Civilization requires that all rise together.

[Bonaboman]

10:24 AM on 05/03/2010

Who is the "enemy"?

[Bacygirl]

04:59 PM on 05/03/2010

Believers and perpetuators of half-truths and whole lies. Those whose focus is to separate to elevate themselves rather than to promote that which binds us together and celebrates the whole person.

It's a fact that some people have superior intellect. I think gifted children should be encouraged and challenged in school. But intellect along does not make for a superior person. That would be those immeasurable qualities and factors like personality, drive, ambition, enablers/encouragers, character, talent(s), opportunities, etc.

[Bacygirl]

05:11 PM on 05/03/2010

In other words, the enemy is ingnorance, malevolence and those who embrace it. For instance, caucasian accomplishments must in some degree be attributed to their numbers, mobility, aggressiveness and through their dominance and control, securing and controling credit for the achievements of others.

[adman1012]

03:43 PM on 05/01/2010

Why is there an assumption that all cultures are equally evolved in all attributes and abilities? There are plenty of examples of certain cultures / races having greater aptitude in certain areas. The problem is when we ascribe importance to certain attributes, i.e. intelligence is superior to physical ability. No-one rises in protest when you say that blacks are generally better boxers than whites, but say that whites are generally better scientists than blacks and great offence arises.

We are dealing here with cultural averages, and there will always be a great white heavyweight champion and a leading black scientist. Racism should be where equal opportunity (on an individual basis) is denied on the basis of race.

[tindo]

02:10 AM on 05/03/2010

Everyone rises when people say blacks are better boxers, BECAUSE ITS RACIST. Go talk to a black person and explain how you believe 'blacks are genetically superior atheletes' and see the response you get. Youll be lucky if its just an angry response.

Go tell a jewish person how 'they are genetically better with money' and see the response you get. You are making an argument by 'begging the question' a typical racist tactic. Make an assumption (no body argues when people say...) then arguing against it. One of the more common argumentative fallacies.

[MikeDu]

12:11 PM on 05/01/2010

The person who penned that email on the *natural superiority* of the white race apparently never met my red-faced, beer-bellied, Limbaugh-listening, illiterate, smoking tobacco-chewing John Deere baseball cap wearing nephew. They shoud meet. They seem to share certain beliefs.

[Lee N]

01:24 AM on 05/02/2010

MikeDu,

I think men are, on average, genetically predisposed to be more violent.

But then again, I never met Aileen Wuornos and she was a serial killer and according to geniuses like you, anecdotal evidence disproves trends.

LOL.

[B Cryer]

01:15 AM on 05/01/2010

I love how she presumes that whites would be the smartest race. If she were going by stereotypes - which she seems to love - than she wouldn't be on the top. Just shows people who have too much privilege and not enough decency, no matter where they go to school.

[GAYF]

03:34 PM on 05/01/2010

According to the late excellent geographer, J. M. Blaut, (The colonizers Model of the World) the designation "white" came into use after 1492. Previously Europeans--now called--were English, French, Spanish, German, Polish, Russian, etc., with a long history of beating the crap out of one another, as "inferiors.". Africans were known and respected in Europe for their cultures. European colonization created and elevated the notion of "white." A "white" friend said, "I don't know why we call ourselves white, we're really sort of pinkie-grey."
There is much good scholarship, scientific and social scientific/historical on the non-issue of race. Ignorance of that voluminous body shows the gross failure of the US educational system.

[Lee N]

01:27 AM on 05/02/2010

White people used to beat the crap out of each other? Wow, did you stop and realize that EVERY RACE IN THE WORLD HAS DONE THAT, MOST STILL TO THIS DAY?

No, you didn't realize that, probably because you too have a low IQ. In fact, up until 2005, rape was legal in Haiti!

[Bread and Circuses]

12:46 AM on 05/01/2010

Stories like this always seem to make me more sad than outraged. I am sixteen-years-old, I go to a top Catholic high school, I'm enrolled in several AP classes, I have a good GPA, and I also really enjoy school. It just makes me feel depressed that there are people in the world who would probably think I'm not intelligent :( but such is life.

[Mansa]

04:20 AM on 05/01/2010

Depressed? For what? Amazing(she has gotten more than her 15 minutes of fame)Grace--to be fair to her--was speaking only of averages. YOU are an individual, and for all I know you could be much more 'intelligent" than she is. For example, assume that Grace's nominal IQ is 120--then given her learning environment about 20 points of that 120 would be environmentally determined. In your case, if your nominal IQ is also 120 then 5 points or so of your score would be environmentally based. In fact, in many cases the environmental effect on an IQ score could actually be negative. Maybe you will get your 15 minutes of real fame some day.

[ancientmarinader]

09:55 AM on 05/01/2010

Even if racial IQ gaps were established genetically (big if), it's just averages. Every group still has the potential to create a range of types, including geniuses.

[Lee N]

01:29 AM on 05/02/2010

IQ gaps are largely genetic and this will be proven in 5-10 years. Black people do not have the potential to perform at the level of Newton or Einstein. Their brains are incapable of that level of genius and there has never been a Black person to achieve that level of intelligence.

If I am wrong - name one exception please!

[Kurtis5]

11:28 PM on 04/30/2010

How exactly was her email controversial? Blacks do have lower intelligence than other races and this has been proven with every IQ test that has ever been utilized to test intelligence. Name one intelligence test on which blacks as a group do not score the lowest. Of course there are some very intelligent blacks, but the typical black person has a lower IQ. Anyone who denies this fact is extremely ignorant.

Also, the Harvard girl's "friends" should be ashamed of themselves for publishing her private email! They truly are bastards for throwing her under the bus like this.

[Wood]

01:23 AM on 05/01/2010

Um.. IQ tests? LOL.. you're funny.

And they did the right thing by exposing this white supremacist.. you're next..

[Kurtis5]

01:33 AM on 05/01/2010

Wow, what an informative response! Please regale me with your intelligence and explain how IQ tests are somehow "racist."

I bet you are black. I grew up in an area where there were many black people, so I know just how racist the black community can be. I also observed that black people tend to label anything "racist" in which they perform at a subpar level. When I was in high school, any student at my high school could get into a gifted program if they took an IQ test and scored at least 130 on the test. Of course, there were no black kids in the program and several black parents complained about the "racist IQ tests," and the high school removed the IQ requirement, which effectively dumbed down the entire program.

[Lee N]

01:30 AM on 05/02/2010

Wood - great response! You are clearly a genius! Just insult people you disagree with! Just brilliant!

[clevernamehere]

02:39 AM on 05/01/2010

IQ tests are not all they are cracked up to be. They are very accurate and pointing out the people who are far below normal intelligence, but not so good at the average and higher levels.

It is true that Blacks score lower as a group on IQ tests. But that gap has closed over the last 50 years. The fact that the gap has closed somewhat is a strong indicator that the difference is not genetic. IQ does have a genetic component but it is also highly influenced by the fetal, infant and early childhood environments. Blacks children on average have fewer advantages than white children so until those disparities disappear, it is pointless to try to use the numbers to talk about genetics.

You don't know enough about IQ to go around calling other people ignorant.

[legalgirl]

09:58 PM on 04/30/2010

Proving that law school attendance is no guaranee of intelligence.

[EdCoughlin]

06:32 PM on 04/30/2010

It is almost certainly true that, on average, black Americans have lower IQs then white Americans. The flip side to that is that many black Americans live in environments that are not conductive to IQ development which exacerbates the difference.

Many tests have been done which show that at the age of 5, on average, black students are only a few IQ points behind white students. It isn't until they are 18+ that the 15 point gap, on average opens up.

This would show that the achievement gap is at most due to race only a small amount. It is primarily cultural and related to parents and communities.

A counter community has always been Asians who it was assumed had higher IQs, on average, then whites (which would help explain why the top UCs in California have asians overrepresented by 300-400% in some cases relative to their % of the California population) but on further research it is found that Asians in America have, on average, a 99.8 IQ which is slightly lower then whites and not much higher then blacks at age 5. This means that it is almost certainly work ethic, community behaviors and parenting style that creates the achievement gap, it is not in fact a racial problem that some races can learn and some can't.

The KIPP schools are primarily black and hispanic inner city kids and have tremendous graduation and college attendance rates that rival the best rich schools.

[corwin]

08:46 PM on 04/30/2010

I don't think you have a grasp of the subject. First, IQ tests aren't done at 5 YO level.Reading is a major part of the test.Secondly, late grade school testing has shown a 15 point black/white gap that has remained fixed during the last 40 plus years. The gap remains even when income and parental education are considered. And,Eat Asians in the Us have an IQ of 106-109 depending on the study group. It's 99.8 regarding verbal but about 114 for math. (Jensen's work)
In summation, i have to wonder if you've self generated your talking points.As voltaire said, "Facts are stubborn things."

[socialiq]

09:44 PM on 04/30/2010

I don't think you have a grasp of grammatical format and structure.

U.S. is capitalized, and likewise the pronoun "I".

I beg to differ with you--standardized I.Q. tests are experimentally applied to children 5 years of age and under, in the areas of psychology and behavioral science, and most likely in the study of sociological impact on learning abilities; reading is not the only way to determine intelligence quotient.

[socialiq]

09:50 PM on 04/30/2010

As Voltaire also said, "Prejudices are what fools use for reason".

[Bacygirl]

08:55 PM on 04/30/2010

Assuming one gives credence to the IQ yardstick created to measure a certain type of ability (out of the myriad gifts, talents and abilities each person possesses), then I would agree that nurture makes up for the differences noted on that yardstick.

Taiwan is a country where children are under great pressure to excel. Children are expected to work long hours everyday. After school, they are tutored in English, art, and music. Family honor is important to these people and the children want to make their parents and grandparents proud.
Some ethnic groups come to America and thrive. They aggressively pursue the American dream and are very successful.

So why do native black Americans fail in the nurture of it's children? The family dynamic, financial status and public education systems can certainly be factored in the equation. For instance, the majority of black children are raised by one parent, and at greater economic disadvantage than white children . However, the presence of black people in the upper levels of IQ functioning is not some rare event! The concentration is always on where we fall short rather than where we excel and exceed.

[TheKurgan9]

09:04 PM on 05/01/2010

If the family dynamic for many AA people is a problem them perhaps these AA people in question should think twice before having children correct? There are many AAs with high IQs, unfortunately, the African environment was not conducive to developing high IQs. Who the heck wants to work when it is over 100 degrees out? Is it the peoples fault? No, but it is a reality.

[ancientmarinader]

05:24 PM on 04/30/2010

Even if this were true, it's just a matter of time before it's irrelevent. Beneficial genes will be identified in time and widescale gene manipulation will follow. They can't control it world-wide. Race will matter less than class in determining who comes out ahead. Well, that already happens, but it will become worse.