This morning The Telegraph reported that world-famous biologist James Watson said he is selling the Nobel Prize medal he won in 1962 for discovering the structure of DNA because he has been ostracized. The Nobel laureate is also having financial trouble because of remarks he made seven years ago; remarks that he is not willing to take back even now.
In an interview with the Sunday Times in October 2007, Professor Watson is quoted as saying he was “inherently gloomy about the prospect of Africa” because “all our social policies are based on the fact that their intelligence is the same as ours – whereas all the testing says not really”. Testing, really? Did the eminent scientist consider that if Americans were to be tested based on a Nigerian curriculum most would fail?
To make matters worse, in what was to him an apology, Dr Watson recently said “I apologize… [the journalist] somehow wrote that I worried about the people in Africa because of their low IQ – and you’re not supposed to say that.” Oh yes; you are not supposed to say that because you are supposed to know better!
Well, I may be black but I am intelligent enough to know not to waste time or energy on an unrepentant racist.
On to important things: I will soon be doing a piece on skin color and race based on a recent research findings. Do watch this space.
Image from Wikimedia
This piece was originally published by the University of Michigan Risk Science Center
Risk Without Borders 