Dr. James Watson, a renowned geneticist, landed himself in hot water last week for racist comments he made in British newspaper The Times. Watson gained recognition as co-discoverer of the structure of DNA, winning him the Nobel Prize in 1962.In the interview, Watson says that he is “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."
The assertions of racial superiority are downright offensive - Watson's statements are creepily reminiscent of the justification for the African Slave Trade. Watson's words are especially alarming because they come from the mouth of someone so highly regarded in the intellectual community.
What's clear though is that recent controversies, such as the movements to ban the word "nigger" (including Nas' new album), entirely miss the point of racially progressive dialogue.
While we are quick to be outraged the ignorance of others, we are still reluctant to address our own prejudices. To borrow Mos Def's metaphor, racism is not a giant living in the hills coming to visit the villagers. It's a reflection of the interactions that take place between all of us. Until we learn to confront our personal discriminations on an individual basis, who are we to criticize media whipping boys like Don Imus and Michael Richards?
photo: Markus Schreiber of the AP
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