Black brilliance

Posted: Monday, February 05, 2007 11:18 AM by Alan Boyle

When American history books mention famous black scientists, the list usually doesn't go much further than botanist George Washington Carver, the former slave who did wonders for the peanut. Why aren't there more on the list? Over the decades, there's been a lot of talk about racial differences in intelligence scores, paralleling the debate over the gender gap in math and science. But the case of industrial chemist Percy Julian, a pioneer in the production of synthetic alkaloids and steroids, illustrates how racial stereotypes and downright discrimination served to dull black brilliance.

Lolita Parker Jr. / WGBH

Ruben Santiago-Hudson portrays
chemist Percy Julian in the PBS
documentary "Forgotten Genius."

Perhaps you're asking, "Percy who?" Well, that's the whole point of a public-TV documentary premiering this week, titled "Forgotten Genius." The two-hour "Nova" presentation, timed to coincide with Black History Month, is the first in-depth program to tell Julian's story. And it's a tale that may well inspire future generations of brainy African-Americans.

It's hard to focus on your research goals when employers shut the door in your face, freely admitting that it's just because of the color of your skin. And it's a challenge to keep your eyes on the scientific prize when your house has been firebombed and almost dynamited. But that's just what Julian did: He not only showed the way to new techniques in chemistry that still apply today - he ended up becoming a millionaire in the process.

Julian's breakthroughs started out with the discovery of a method for synthesizing physostigmine, an alkaloid used in the treatment of glaucoma. Over the years, he and his lab colleagues derived dozens of products from soybeans, including firefighting foam, a substance that could be converted into progesterone for warding off miscarriages, and an inexpensive compound that could be turned into cortisone for treating rheumatoid arthritis.

"Forgotten Genius" uses cutting-edge computer graphics to show how the chemistry works, and it uses archival photos and re-enactments to show how Julian branched out on his own to commercialize his innovations in cortisone production. Success didn't come easy: Julian had to duke it out with other companies - at one point even testifying before Congress on what he saw as unfair trade practices. But Julian Laboratories turned a profit, and Julian himself became one of the country's richest African-Americans.

After he sold his company in 1961, Julian continued his scientific work at the Julian Research Institute, but he also became a strong supporter of the civil rights movement up until his death from cancer in 1975.

"Forgotten Genius" portrays Julian in his latter days as a man who had great achievements, but great regrets as well.

"There's no doubt that he had the feeling that he could have accomplished much more had it not been for the prejudice and racial animosity that he had to deal with," said James Shoffner, a student of Julian's who is now adjunct professor of science at Columbia College's Institute for Science Education and Science Communication. "Here was a person who was highly motivated and inspired. The weight of discrimination, the inability to go in the direction that he wanted to at a particular time ... there's no doubt in my mind that he was held back by that."

Academic doors were often closed to him, and one company in Wisconsin decided not to hire him because of an ordinance forbidding blacks from staying overnight within city limits.

"Even though he eventually succeeded, the route he took was not a route that he had very much to say about," Shoffner told me. "There's a saying in football, that a quarterback takes what the defense is giving him. In a sense, that's what Dr. Julian had to do throughout his life. He took what was available to him."

But that was a different age, right? Haven't 40-plus years of civil rights legislation made the situation today much better for blacks in science?

"Indications are that it has not improved a great deal, particularly in academia," Shoffner said. He pointed to studies conducted by University of Oklahoma chemist Donna Nelson, showing that there's still a disparity between blacks and whites in the higher levels of the scientific community.

"Industry has performed much better, although there is room to grow there, too," Shoffner said.

Shoffner, who shows up as a commentator in "Forgotten Genius," hopes the documentary will do more than merely highlight another name in the list of hallowed black scientists.

"Everyone likes to see every individual get their just due, and Dr. Julian did not get the proper acclaim during his lifetime," Shoffner said. "But we also hope it will be an inspiration to many young people who will be hearing about his exploits for the first time."

Still more accolades may be coming Julian's way: Sen. Barack Obama, D-Ill., has introduced a resolution that would honor the chemist's memory, and it's hard to imagine why it wouldn't pass. For more about Julian and his legacy, check out the "Nova" Web site, or this Web presentation from the Chemical Heritage Foundation, or this text-plus-audio report from the University of Houston. And click on over to Black-Scientists.com as well as our own clickable roundup of "Creative Geniuses" to read more tales of black innovators.

When it comes to the next generation, there are plenty of creative geniuses to go around. Shoffner passed along a list of just a few of today's black chemists working on tomorrow's breakthroughs. All of them are fellows in the National Organization for the Professional Advancement of Black Chemists and Chemical Engineers:

James Mitchell, vice president, Materials Research Laboratory (Lucent, retired).
Paula Hammond, professor of chemical engineering, Massachusetts Institute of Technology.
Sharon Haynie, research associate, DuPont.
Greg Robinson, professor of chemistry, University of Georgia.
Joseph Francisco, professor of chemistry at Purdue University.
James Letton, research fellow at Procter & Gamble (retired) and one of Julian's former employees.
Isiah Warner, professor of chemistry at Louisiana State University.

Among the innovations these scientists have worked on are synthetic spider silk, eco-friendly "green" chemistry, alternatives to the ozone-depleting chemicals once used in refrigeration, and new blends of organic and inorganic chemistry that could be applied to nanotechnology.

It was with some reluctance that Shoffner listed these few - because he was aware there were so many other great black chemists out there, not to mention black scientists working in other fields. "I really do want to give credit to some young scientists who I think are going to do great things. Yet, I know I will miss some. It's always a dilemma," Shoffner wrote.

Fortunately, the list needn't be limited: Feel free to add to the roster of black scientists, or add your own scientific angle to Black History Month, simply by filling out the comment form below.

EMAIL THIS

Comments

This is one of the most racist articles PERHAPS ever written, so far this year? I mean Uh HELLO where are all the famous WHITE scientists.. most people can only name Einstein! THEN where are the Chinese..? Japanese?? Women.. most people cant name a single famous female scientist ...

THERE are thousands of black scientists who get mentioned every now and then but WHO THE HELL IS KEEPING COUNT.. oh, thats right.. the Racist folks are.

Alex Franks, San Diego California (Sent Tuesday, February 06, 2007 12:16 PM)

I was actually going to write three or four paragraphs and respond to all the ignorant nonsense displayed above but, then I read the comment from Johnnie Steele, Kandahar, Afghanistan.

All I can say is: Well Spoken!

Nicole Knight, Charlotte, NC (Sent Tuesday, February 06, 2007 12:38 PM)

How is it that nobody ever mentions Captain Michael Healy when Black History month rolls around? Just look up in the history books all that Healy did. Besides being the "law" in Alaska for several decades he rescued many shipwrecked individuals from icy conditions, introduced reindeer to Alaska, fought pirates and had brothers and sisters who all went on to huge careers even though they were the children of slaves.

mike (Sent Tuesday, February 06, 2007 12:49 PM)

I watch Keith Olbermann show. He always invites an African American scientist to commend anything about space science. I don't think race playing anything in this topic. It is the same in the classical music recital. If you looked around, not many African American kids were in classical music. It is more likely culture or role models in the growing-up environment. My son attended a science competition and marked himself as a black just because he did not see any black student around. He has a Chinese last name. He also marked himself as a black in his PSAT. He was in the top 1%. He received a letter from Harvard African American students association to encourage him to apply the school. There are a lot of African American medical doctors who are good at science. They just do not go to more academic science fields. Development and Research Departments in most cooperation are not so important than the Marketing Departments. Most bright students want to get MBA instead of PhD. We will not have many American scientist in any races in the future. Those scientists in the university labs will mostly come from other countries. Only one color counts - 'Green' in our decision for our career. Some PhD in math go to Wall Street to make big bucks. Yes, Science any where when the green shows.

Middle, Pittsburgh (Sent Tuesday, February 06, 2007 12:52 PM)

There is already a movie out on cable about Vivien Thomas called, "Something the Lord Made".

I believe the writer of this article achieved his goal by stiring up the thoughts and emotions of the readers.

Black people who are successful seem to be the only race who has to represent a whole group of people. For some reason the rest of the world seems shocked when a Black person achieves anything great outside of sports and music. Why is that?

I work in a field that is considered non-traditional for women and Blacks. After 20 years people are still shocked to see a female, Journeyman Electrician. Why is that?

S.D.Willis, Troy, MI (Sent Tuesday, February 06, 2007 1:27 PM)

Quit looking outward for someone to blame. Start looking at yourselves and how you raise your kids. Take some accountability for yourselves. You think you're the only race that has been discriminated against? No. But it does seem that you are the only race to define yourselves by it. Quit being the victims and take care of your own. Everyone has their own burdens to bear. Stop blaming your cultural shortcomings on racism and discrimination. It's just a crutch and you will never truley be equals until you stop using it.

Joe Blow (Sent Tuesday, February 06, 2007 1:45 PM)

The saddest realization is that all that intellectual talent has been wasted for generations. That is the real curse of racism, it is holding us all back.

"If you have a racist friend, now is the time for that friendship to end." The Special A.K.A.

Gaurav Goel, Austin, TX (Sent Tuesday, February 06, 2007 1:47 PM)

Those of us that studied science and engineering at historically black colleges and universities (HBCUs) developed a keen since of awareness of the contributions of black scientists and engineers. HBCU's are known to produce the vast majority of black scientists and engineers because you are allowed to thrive in an environment were you realize pioneers walked before you. As a physics major at Virginia State University, I knew that the University produced great physicists, chemists and mathematicians.... go where they grow should be the advertising slogan for these schools when it comes to science because they continue to perpetuate an environment that produces (men, women, white, black, Asian- you'd be surprised at the diversity) lovers of science. So here's to the power of learning and discovery. As a Black woman with a MS in Physics, I thank Virginia State, all HBCU's and the great pioneers of science and math education (Davenport, Henderson, Stith (John and James) and Venable, Smith, etc) for the opportunity they afforded me.

C.Ryan, Richmond, VA (Sent Tuesday, February 06, 2007 1:52 PM)

Dr. Charles Drew should be added to the list. Dr. Drew established the method of storing blood so that it could be used in human transfusions. Without his contribution, many more soldiers would have died in combat in World War II.

Linna Hanson, San Pedro, CA (Sent Tuesday, February 06, 2007 1:58 PM)

I believe this article is a good start, however it fails to recognize, that even in the face of segregation, there are many Black inventors that have not been recognized for thier contributions to society. There is an obscure poster that you can buy that lists great black inventors who did not get proper credit for thier inventions. Did you know a black person created the toaster? And for the person above who asked if "black americans were african or american" I ask, are Irish americans, Irish or american, Italian americans, Italian or american, German americans, German or american - the difference is they came in search in a better life - the American dream - we were brought here from the eastern coast of Africa - and denied participation in the American dream. The legacy of segregation is still alive and well and present in the economic disparities that exist as a result of the policies of segregation. We are one generation away from segregation - it is our generation that is the first to be able to freely generate wealth, own land via mortgage, invest, and pass down that wealth and knowledge to the next generation. African Americans will continue to do great things, and now we are in a position to demand the recognition we deserve.

Melinda Goldring, New York, NY (Sent Tuesday, February 06, 2007 2:10 PM)

VLofton - I wish your daughter luck!

I agree that there was MASSIVE discrimination, which makes the historical pool to choose from much smaller.

There is probably some discrimination going on now.

As some of the other posters have said (along with Bill Cosby) - there is also a problem in the black community itself. Unfortunately, it'll probably take another generation or two to go away. When you are brought up beaten down (as many parents of today were), you pass along the attitude - just like if you are brought up to value education or whatever, you will pass that to your children

As for women in science - I can tell a personal story. My wife (then girlfriend) was in the middle of studying for her physics degree (and in fact, had finished the requirements for the major) when she looked at the road ahead. Going on through post-doc, working LONG hours, the publish/perish trap, etc, and looked at her life, and said "Becoming a scientist AND a Mother are NOT compatible - the time off to be a Mom will put you enough behind that you'll never make it up" - and she switched schools and majors.

Top scientists - male or female, black or white, sacrifice a LOT to get there, and she made the decision she didn't want to make that sacrifice

kg2v (Sent Tuesday, February 06, 2007 2:12 PM)

reply to "R Hates" --

Within the sophisticated research community, the opinion has been virtually unanimous that The Bell Curve was a primitive, oversimplistic and flawed analysis

Clover (Sent Tuesday, February 06, 2007 2:15 PM)

African Americans score an average of 15 points less on standardized IQ tests (Bracken & colleagues, 1993). In fact, they score lower than any other minority in the United States today.

This is not rocket science, people. Look around you. Look around the world. Name one advanced, successful, and well functioning unit of society (Country, City, or State) that has been created and operated by a Black majority. There is none. Look at the declining state of the major Cities in the U.S. where Blacks are a majority. Is there any coincidence that these same cities have the highest crime rates and disease rates as well?

Various studies have concluded that the Black race on average have a smaller physical brain capacity than other races. Simply stated, blacks do not excel in intellectual abilities because they lack the physical facilities to do so.

In general, Blacks do excel in sports. Blacks are better athletes. Most basketball teams today are 90%+ black. Do you hear other races crying "racism"? Do you hear other races demanding more representation?

Other races, on average, excel better in fields that require high intellect. That's just the cold hard facts. There is nothing "racist" about it. It is simply the truth.

John Goodman, Raleigh, NC (Sent Tuesday, February 06, 2007 2:30 PM)

Are The black people in the U.S.A. Africans or Americans?
Haskell B. Moore, Woodward, Oklahoma (Sent Monday, February 05, 2007 6:31 PM)

The dearth of distinguished black scientists (in relation to the black population as a whole) is directly and irrefutably tied to lower IQs of blacks.
Ike Kono

Bulls**t racism at its not so subtle best.

Burnie Metzen (Sent Tuesday, February 06, 2007 2:39 PM)

I find it hard to believe that so many people still quote The Bell Curve and the fantasy of the lower IQ of one race compared to another, since IQ really is a measure of education. There is no true measurement of innate intelligence. Furtheremore, the concept of race is also an utter idiocy. [...]

To speak of race is to demonstrate total ignorance of genetics, there are people of different color but the genetic fact is that humans are so genetically intermingled that there are no distinguishable races.

The reason people from a jewish or oriental background score better in IQ studies is simple ethnic (not genetic) upbringing. Culturally, both of those groups have a tradition of education. Children are indoctrinated from birth to enjoy reading and learning with sports and physical endeavors being a secondary diversion. In most black (and other low income groups) the story is diametrically opposite, most children haven't read a book till they reach school, and by then its woefully too late. The fallacy of the smarter than normal asian is another stupidity, there are plenty of mid and lower bell curve asians in asia, however the ones represented in america tend to be the educated elites from their respective countries since they are the ones that have the oportunity to flee leave their country for a better life here, its not uncommon that the old guy that ran the laundry was a proffesor in the old country and although they were only marginally succesful they possesed the tools to enable their children to succed. The story of black underachievement is one of chronic marginalization and chronic dependency. Its a self defeating circle of ignorance, prejudice and victimhood. Even more unfortunate is that the blacks that do achieve emancipation from such a circle are shunned not only by their caucasian coworkers but by their own black peers. Given this problem, educated, succesful blacks seldom return to their communities since now their own people consider tham outsiders rather than models of achievement. It is a well known fact that adopted kids raised by educated, succesful families are educated and succesful regardless of their race. This completely debunks any race IQ relationship.

Edgar Betancourt,MD (Sent Tuesday, February 06, 2007 3:35 PM)

There is a lot I would like to say in regards to this article and some of the responses it generated. I would need a lot more time than I have to address all the issues though. The article itself was interesting and inspires me to learn more about great scientists in general not just black scientists, though I'm sure it will be much eaisier to find information about non-black scientists. The comments were enlightening and it is amazing how people speak on things that they have no idea about. As a young African-American, and recent college graduate let me say "Until you walk in a Black Man's shoes, don't speak on it." You have no idea...

Jerome Sandifer, Canton, OH (Sent Tuesday, February 06, 2007 4:04 PM)

Mr Steele:

Your blithe dismisal of [belief in the importance of] genetics as "brainwashing" is idiotic and unsupported by any science at all; your allegation of "psychological warfare" is simply babble, unworthy of analysis. You cite the importance of hard work and determination - fine traits, no doubt, in a man or woman of any race. But "attitude", if you will - all other factors being equal - never trumps aptitude, and never will. Despite being athletic and over six feet tall - no matter how hard I try, no matter how much I practice, no matter how badly I want to dunk a basketball - I will NEVER be able to do it. Why? Genetics - in my case, the absence of "fast-twitch" muscle fibers. OF COURSE there are plenty of exceptions - e.g., Orientals who stink at math, blacks who are lousy athletes, brilliant black academics, white folks with 42" vertical leaps and so on. Nonetheless, even as we count the decades since the end of racial segregation - and around 150 years after the Emancipation Declaration - we see distinct patterns of prowess, or lack thereof, which (whether one likes it or not) can be tied to intrinsic genetic characteristics. And, it must be noted that many ethnic groups (who also faced discrimination, although not slavery) have been in the U.S. for a much shorter time than blacks but have accomplished much more in all fields except athletic. Personally, I think anyone with a gift of any sort (academic, creative, athletic, whatever) should be encouraged to utilize it for his or her benefit. On another (personal) note, I should add that I am not only aware of but deeply appreciative of the contributions of black (as well as yellow, red, brown and white) Americans in many fields. Speaking of black people in particular, here are just a few of the standouts I admire: Benjamin Banneker; Thomas Sowell; Alan Keyes; Count Basie; Grant Green. As long as we play by the same rules, I don't care who wins, and - by the way - if I prefer his stance on the issues,
I will gladly vote for (half-black) Barack Obama or any other person, irrespective of race, ethnicity, gender, sexual orientation, religion. In short, my belief in the importance of genetics is meant to explain differences, not to support social policies of discrimination.

Ike Kono (Sent Tuesday, February 06, 2007 5:32 PM)

Change comes from within, so if you expect to see more 'black scientists' and wonder why you don't, you should examine the cultural differences as stated above. The interest isn't there--too many people expecting to be hip/hop or pro ball players, looking for easy money instead of being willing to work hard and apply themselves. It seems to me that the reaction of the 'African' Americans to the past is that since slavery was wrong & their ancestors had to work hard, they shouldn't have to & should have everything handed to them. While racism does still exist in this country towards every race and it is unacceptable, it seems to me that black Americans are the most racist group out there and keep the racism alive. Black history is AMERICAN history period! Black history month is racist and shouldn't exist!! What about BET (Black Entertainment Television)? The Black Miss America Pagaent? All black colleges? Scholarships? The United Negro College Fund?? The list is endless! Can you imagine the reaction if whites tried any 1 of the previously mentioned? And if you really want to get down to the heart of the situation, Indians & hispanics were in this country first, but they don't have their own history months, pagaents, etc and if anyone in this country deserves it, the Indians do! I say it's time for everyone to get off their rumps and set their sights higher as people, cultures, and a country and stop making excuses. Those who can, do and those who don't want to do, complain.

Stepheyne, Louisville, KY (Sent Tuesday, February 06, 2007 8:53 PM)

TO DOES PEOPLE OF AMERICA WHO DON'T BELIEVE RACISM IS ALIVE AND LIVING IN YOUR NEIOGHBORHOOD, TRY STEPPING OUT OF YOUR COMFORT ZONE. MY SON DID A RESEARCH PAPER ON PERCY JULIAN IN 6TH GRADE. HE WAS INSPIRED TO STUDY HARD FOR THIS TEST AND GIVE A WONDERFUL WRITTEN AND ORAL REPORT TO HIS CLASS. TO HELP GIVE A INTERESTING REPORT HE RAPPED ABOUT SOME OF THE FACTS ABOUT THIS GREAT SCIENTIST. I SAY ALL OF THIS TO SAY THAT HE TOOK AND EDUCATIONAL REPORT AND MADE IT INTERESTING FOR CHILDREN HIS OWN AGE THAT APPLAUDED HIM FOR HIS REPORT AND THEY WERE ABLE TO RECITE FACTS BACK TO HIS TEACHER. DON'T GET RID OF EVERYTHING THIS GENERATION OF CHILDREN ARE GIVING US IT'S ALL ABOUT HOW WE EDUCATE THEM AND MAKE IT INTERESTING TO WANT TO BECOME GREAT SCIENTISTS AND STAY IN SCHOOL.

NOW FOR THOSE PEOPLE WHO ARE READY TO SAY UNTIL AFRICAN AMERICANS DO FOR THEMSELVES, THERE WON'T BE MANY AFRICAN AMERICAN SCIENTIST. GO BACK AND STUDY OUR HISTORY. OH YEAH THAT'S RIGHT WHEN AMERICAN HISTORY WAS BEING WRITTEN THEY LEFT OUT ALOT OF THE WAYS THEY STOLE THOSE BLACK SCIENTIST REPORTS AND GOT CREDIT FOR THEM. THAT IS NOT MY HISTORY BUT HIS STORY. WHY HAVEN'T WE ELECTED AN AFRICAN AMERICAN PRESIDENT? IT'S NOT BECAUSE THEY AREN'T QUALIFIED. WE KEEP HEARING OH AMERICA IS NOT READY FOR A BLACK PRESIDENT IF NOT NOW WHEN? WE HAVE ALREADY HAD DUMB AND DUMBER TWICE. AT LEAST AND AFRICAN AMERICAN WILL BE WILLING TO WORK HARD AND HE DOESN'T HAVE TO BE A SCIENTIST TO BE GREAT!

JDAVIS HUBER HEIGHTS, OHIO (Sent Wednesday, February 07, 2007 12:01 AM)

Thanks, Jason. I'd like to add a small note to the discussion, a bit off the track maybe, but relevant to the general topic. Today, I listened to an interview on CBC Radio One with author Lawrence Hill, a black writer, about his new novel, "The Book Of Negroes." It is the life story of a girl in Mali, Africa, who gets taken with other members of her family as slaves in the late l700s to the USA, the south, where she begins to become a woman with her own mind. She is taken to New York, then gets to Nova Scotia. As an old woman she joins a group of several hundred who sail back to Africa. Hill's readings from the beginning and the ending are moving and reach deeply into the human condition. The book is Hill's contribution to this year's Black Heritage month, February, here in Canada.

DesEmery The Carborundum Chronicles, St.Thomas,ON,Canada (Sent Wednesday, February 07, 2007 1:10 AM)

This is not an attack on anyone's comment but an observation. As an African American professional man, it is sad that people on this blog still refer to us as "negroes". By freely and openly being insensitive it is proof that this country is still very racist.

I come from an educated family and have educated my two grown sons. America really needs to face the fact that "negroes" are educated, intelligent, and are the true builders of this country. We ARE American history!

Rog Houston (Sent Wednesday, February 07, 2007 11:56 AM)

I don't know about you people but I know that it is my soul or spirit that occupies a body. I am not that body, just like when I drive I am not the car.

Genetically most people on earth are ignorant and very few are truly intelligent, wise or enlightened, which are often confused with education or education institutions.

Gary J. Montreal Canada (Sent Wednesday, February 07, 2007 1:29 PM)

In case anyone forgot, affirmative action works both ways. A non-Black student can get a minority scholarship to a Historically Black College or University. BUT not many have the guts to attend one. As for Blacks having lower IQ's than other races, we have what the old folks call "common sense." You can have all the education in the world, but if you can't live your life unless someone else tells you what to wear or what to buy or what your body should look like, then you are just an "educated fool." Blacks (African-Americans, whatever you want to call us) have always bounced back from adversity. When people tried to keep us from coming in through the front door, we found a way to slip up on you through the back. Almost everything in popular culture today is just a copycat of stuff we've been doing for years. It still amazes me that this is 2007 and people are still just as prejudiced as ever and have the nerve to try to "intellectualize" their behavior.

Nicole, Dublin, NC (Sent Wednesday, February 07, 2007 2:16 PM)

America is still racist. Some people say that racism doesn’t exist anymore. That is just not true. It is worst. Remember all the parents you (whites) incarcerated? All the families destroyed? All the jobs taken? The stupid rules you made? Now 50 yrs later, all the children that were born are now of age, unemployed or underemployed, uneducated, without any moral compass. This is the result of all the past bad deeds.

You ask why blacks are in the bad state they are in? It is because, we did not have parents (you jailed them), we had the worst schools, the least medical care, and we have been to far many more funerals than weddings, the social experiment of welfare.

You cannot pass on a job, if you are lucky to get a good one, you cannot put your child thru college is you are just barely making it yourself. How many whites were adults at 18? Really adults, ready to go out into the world with no help? Blacks, in the best circumstances, only get to live at home rent-free until 18. Then we have do be grown. No mom and dad to help with finding that first apt, help with college tuition, help with a car; they are barely making it themselves. It is no shock that Black children want to become NBA/NFL/MLB players. We see nothing else that we can do other than physical things. I bet it would be nice to just be a child, not to have to grow up at 12, to help with the bills, get called a n****r, etc. I bet it is nice to just “be” whatever you imagination guides you to. You (whites) can never understand. You were told you could do anything. You can flunk out of college, live at home until you get some “compass” about what you want to do. You can go explore and take a year off to discover whom you are. Blacks better hustle out the gate, get a full time job, be at the top of their advanced studies classes, participate in all the advanced science clubs just to be at the bottom of the pile if they make it. These are the reasons America will never be the greatest country in the world. Blacks need reparations. This would mean assets for college, a chance to be a child, a chance to explore the world, to discover what we can do to help it. Imagine if the few scientists had that. Carver/Drew may have discovered a cure for AIDS. There would be more Black scientists. By the way, I am Black.

Kelvin, Seattle Wa (Sent Wednesday, February 07, 2007 2:41 PM)

Still I Rise

You may write me down in history
With your bitter, twisted lies,
You may trod me in the very dirt
But still, like dust, I'll rise.

[Greg cites the entire poem in his original post. To read "Still I Rise" by Maya Angelou, follow the link below - AB]

http://www.onpurposenow.com/inspiration/stillirise.htm

Greg Fields (Sent Wednesday, February 07, 2007 6:12 PM)

Reporting as a former federal government employee, Native Americans and Hispanics, as well as Male Homosexuals and Lesbians, along with other diverse groups, DO have their own history and/or celebration months. Employees who volunteer to serve on agency facility EEO groups are tasked with providing educational and other cultural events at their facility during each respective month. Perhaps the other 11 months simply are not deemed media-worthy enough to be as publicized as Black History Month or maybe the various groups' memberships don't sponsor as many events. It is to be hoped that by celebrating all of the unique contributions of Americans, by birth or choice, through time, to our collective history, we can overcome our differences, whether they are actual, perceived or imagined.

Lewalani Long, Kamuela, HI (Sent Wednesday, February 07, 2007 7:31 PM)

Funny, mastery of abstract thinking is thoroughly
wanting. To begin with, a Piltdown biologist maintains that increased brain size is tantamount to higher intelligence. Now he's up against carpenter ants--brain size equal to a grain of salt--as they organize societies on par with that of humans.

Meanwhile a handbook of English states that recognizing irony is the surest mark of intelligence. Yet Piltdown biologist cannot see that American slavery is the greatest detractor of the I.Q. debate: The auction block chopped up families, fostered tyranny, illiteracy, and poor nutrition and fashioned the cradle of black mathematical and mechanical genius.

Black magazines such as Jet Magazine, Ebony Magazine, Black Enterprise Magazine, Crisis Magazine and Legacy Magazine cover the spectrum of black individualism in education such as Lorraine Monroe and Marva Collins, and in politics, entertainment and sports. Other aspects of individualism include business, science, and medicine.

Piltdown biologist grasps very little. For example, certain French colonialists saw INDIVIDUALS among the subjugated population and, sent them to French universities. They in turn, were made into Frenchmen. (Standards were NOT compromised by negative inaction at those universities.

Later writer Jessie Redmond Fauset, who penned CONATIVE verse, attended the University of Penn., Cornell Univ., and the Sorbonne. Like the above Africans, Fauset also adhered to AFFIRMATIVE ACTION. (Courtesy of the OP-ED Page of the Philadelphia Inquirer over a decade ago. The piece was written by an Irish American clergyman.)

Like the above French colonists, the "racist" press and the Irish American clergyman are among ALLIES of the black mind.

Other allies are Darwinistic public schools. They resort to ability grouping. White teachers and students witness the overlap, who are placed on the advanced level, notwithstanding black disadvantage. Notice AFFIRMATIVE ACTION programs such as A Better Chance and Upward Bound.

According to the "racist" press, black parents in Montclair, New Jersey, were among parents who rebelled against the move to discontinue ability grouping during the Nineties.

The Washington Post featured an article of a black family whose youngest daughter was to enter college, while skipping high school. The BBC informed that sub-Saharan Africa endures a BRAIN DRAIN, as students leave their home countries for the modern West.

Class portraits of New York's select Dewitt Clinton High School in the Thirties and Forties were integrated, despite black impoverishment.

Scientific racism has much more to fear: the U.S. Patent Office for listing numerous black inventions, one being the library desk on which to research racist material.

And the bones of Cecil Rhodes must be rattling with rage, for there are black scholars in honor of his name. The former mayor of Baltimore Kurt Schmoke is one, courtesy of the Baltimore Sun, and the other is an immigrant who memorized his graduation speech last summer at Princeton Univ. Things got worse when Oxford University expressed an interest in the student.

Then there is Rhodes scholar Randall Pinkett, who hails from a humble beginning. The great developer Donald Trump had brought Pinkett into the fold of capitalism, as an apprentice!

Unfortunately Asian Aamerican and white students at Johns Hopkins University cannot SEE Ben Carson, a world renowned neurologist on the University staff. Furthermore beyond their reach is recognizing that Vivien Thomas, is affiliated with Johns Hopkins Univ. and Vanderbilt Univ. through having worked with heart surgeon Dr. Blalock.

Blacks are routinely viewed as the seller's market by non-white people, who seek to immigrate to the U.S. However the unfortunate Iraq war enables their leaders to meet with Condeleeza Rice, and, before that, Colin Powell. Powerful black people on the global scale.

Another unfortunate time was during World War II, when the U.S. War Dept. asked the late Albert Lloyd Quarterman, chemist and researcher from Philadelphia, to serve on the Manhattan Project.

Competence, restraint and independence might be recessive traits, but the Bush adminstration has demonstrated that sickle claws appeared in the fossil record.

Likewise the former President Clinton appointed Vernon Jordan as advisor to a Japanese bank. The former President Jimmy Carter appointed the late Patricia Harris to a high position in government. (Unfortunately until the Clinton era, the Democrats had been taken for a give-us party.)

Other allies of the black mind include white feminists--they anthologize CONATIVE POETRY by black women; white women authors of the Image of America series; commercials, ads from companies like Toyota and Ricoh, representing Japanese and Korean allies; colleges and universities that in some way highlight black separatist students.

Bonafide biologists warn that findings about groups must not be applied to INDIVIDUALS. In late August, 1982, the Philadelphia Inquirer covering disparity on test scores, quoted the late R.J. Herrnstein, who informed that racists do not acknowledge that five million blacks are unaccounted for in the I.Q. debate. Still his attempts at explaining this on the former "Phil Donahue Show" and was shouted down.)

In the mid-80's, the New York Times reported on Asian students as "model minorities" in a supplement on education. It also included opinions of economist Thomas Sowell.

Newsweek's version of a bell curve, represented DIVERSE celebrities, which is tantamount to the color pattern of an Orca. Madonna and Reggie Jackson among celebrity. (Remember, Reggie Jackson is "only" in sports.)

Speaking of sports, Bill Russell turned basketball into a science. For him the game became a mental exercise, which evolved into a sphere of higher action.

So what's to fear about scientific racism, itself the prey?

Judith Iscariot (Sent Thursday, February 08, 2007 6:02 AM)

I've noticed a trend that might be irrefutable evidence that intelligence is directly correlated to genetics. The majority of these scientists were biracial. None having more than 75% African ancestry. With the exception of George Washington Carver, it seems to me as if only those blessed with the big brain gene from whites succeed in math and science. I know mixed race people who lived in pretty bad poverty; pull themselves out and now make a decent check to check living, while the darker ones still remain in the ghetto.

When I was a child, I wasn't into sports, I'd play street ball or something but I never had a dream to become a pro athlete. I've always wanted to invent something, when I went outside to play I'd recruit all my friends and we'd try to build something to entertain us. I'd always open electronics and tinker with the innards, reassemble them, hoping one day I'd know what all the parts' functions were and be able to build a device of my own. I'd always assemble items that required it without reading directions. Was this a compulsion, just some innate hobby I was born with?

Timothy M Williams, Fort Lauderdale, FL (Sent Thursday, February 08, 2007 6:18 AM)

My daughter has a 14-year-old friend who moved here last summer. His mother is black and his father is white, but her friend "looks" black. He is bright, well-mannered, studies hard, plays in the band, and has a great sense of humor, but he has been ostracized by the blacks at school. He sits with his white friends at lunch. Now who's the racist?

What I can't understand is why black people turn on their own if one of them is trying to succeed. If you don't act like a trash-talking gangsta hip-hop artist or ball player, they say you are "too white" and try to bring you down.

Black people are the ones holding black people back now. All the affirmative-action in the world can't change that.

JC Derrington, Chicago (Sent Thursday, February 08, 2007 4:16 PM)

It's great being able to utilize technology for debate and thought provoking conversation.

I believe God gave man free will to control his own destiny. However, history demonstrates that fear and hatred will make even individuals of the same race or culture devour each other.

Unfortunately, America is reaping what it has sown. Our problems go beyond Black & White issues, but our society in general is too ignorant to realize America isn't the center of the universe.

Most Black males have some sort of struggle in America, but the talented tenth are ones that persevere and define their own destiny.

I know too well about obstacles. My struggle involved finding my murdered when I was only 10 years old. My father was an alcoholic. I lived in the ghetto and saw a lot of violence... Several of my friends were killed before age 15. The one good thing that father did was to move us to a slower paced city.

As a young college student in a different city I dealt with racial profiling and getting stopped by the cops while driving. To my credit I always had a job, valid registration, and insurance. Some officers were nice and others just plain jerks...

I had one arrest. My public defender wanted me to plead guilty to something that I was guilty of. Fortunately, I was able to hire a private attorney and 3 felony charges were all dismissed. We all know that this is not the norm - I'm just keeping it real.

Anyway, I have A.S. in Electronics/Robotics Technology with Dean's highest honors and I graduated Cuma Sum Laude with a B.S. in Information Technology. I work as Systems Programmer and also have a background in Environmental Source Sampling, i.e. air pollution control. If you don't know, that job involves physics, chemistry, electronics, and engineering.

In conclusion, I believe life is about balance. You have the haters, the ones in the middle, and the ones that truly accept you. I wear the mask and utilize psychological dualism to adjust for any given situation. No, I didn't make that term up. It comes from a very distinguished Black author.

Peace

LaJuan, CA (Sent Thursday, February 08, 2007 4:43 PM)

Thanks Alan Boyle for the info on Percy L. Julian. I've heard his name for years because the Phoenix Elementary School District #1 has a school named after Julian. When is the Nova show going to be aired on PBS?

Angela, Beaumont, Texas (Sent Friday, February 09, 2007 12:43 PM)

Another book that just came out for Black History month is a true story of a couple, Thornton and Lucie Blackburn, who escaped from Kentucky in 1831 to make their way north. The author is Karolyn Smardz Frost, and the book is "I've Got a Home in Glory Land, A Lost Tale of the Underground Railroad."

DesEmery,TheCarborundumChronicles,St.Thomas,ON,Canada (Sent Saturday, February 10, 2007 11:22 PM)

"So you're a black rocket scientist. That don't impress me much" ...it goes something like that doesn't it? I think I'm missing the point here. Whether we are scientists, butchers, bakers, candle stick makers, Walmart greeters or waitresess. Whether we deliver babies or deliver pizzas - it doesn't matter what color our skin is or what we do for a living. So long as we are happy. Life is short. Be happy.

Joe Blow Canada (Sent Sunday, February 11, 2007 3:40 PM)

Many Chinese have started their history in the USA as slave laborers and servants to build the railroad, do laundry, and cook, for the mostly white company owners. Today the Chinese are still made fun of, and are often made the butt of jokes by standup comics, which by the way, disproportionately include many black comics (I know because I've watched BET), as well as far too many white comics.

However the Chinese people just look at us, white or black, as "ghosts", shrug us off of their shoulders, and move along without us to seek out avenues of success in the USA. They don't allow racism to halt their goals, and so they keep their families focused and educated in any way they can. No matter what the schools and jobs are like, they work hard, and eventually they find success. Whatever it takes!

Such people from the east, and those who have allowed themselves to follow, are now the contributors in our society, starting up companies and jobs that the rest of us often have trouble qualifying for.

As long as the blacks, whites and whoever, continue the dysfunction in our family structures, and as long as we hide behind excuses of racism and counter racism as the reason we fail, and as long as we strive for unrealistic dreams because the guy on TV has big gold chains, big subwoofers, plays a mean ball game, plays mean metal guitar... we will continue to fail. And so the eastern folks, and whoever, who choose to rise above it all, will growingly continue to sit on that pot of gold. The rest of us will grovel at their feet hoping to make ends meat while blaming each other for our troubles, or fake the rich life by being gang bangers or criminals, and then blame the other for your troubles when the law catches up...

Look, folks, there will always be bad apples, but we can also search another apple barrel. And we should never stop searching just because of that earlier bad apple. Be responsible, build wholesome families without the excuses, and rid ourselves of those welfare checks and other Democrat and Republican created handouts. Fathers, be your children's leaders. If the school teaches little, parents must fill in the gap and spend time with your children, and be their teachers! Teach them by word and by example that hard work really does pay. And if that pay is substandard due to racism, use the law to set it right. If your schools and employment are substandard in your neighborhood, don't count on politicians no matter of party, but rather empower yourself and everyone around you to seek and execute realistic self made solutions. Don't say "poor me", but rather say "lookout, I'm coming in!"

By the way, who invented the computer, or the transistor, or whatever else was invented by a white or black person? The real problem is that many of us seldom know who did what! Such an argument has no bases on race, but rather the fact that such inventors, unless controversial, go unnoticed due to the human lack of subject interest. Einstein was known because his escape from the Nazis helped keep nuclear arms out of Hitler's hands, and that his E=MC2 was somewhat linked with two huge explosions over Japan. Otherwise, Einstein would be just another lab coat full of pens and a bad hair day. Stephen Hawking is known because he has a chair that talks like a late 1980's Apple Mac, which seems to have some entertainment value to many. Otherwise, again, just another lab coat.

So if we were to have some special recognition for one of these lab coats because of a particular race, though this will likely help inspire the youth of the same race, it may also create dissolution to the youth of other races. And so we find ourself continuing the spinning of that race wheel. Rather we should enforce a teaching of all great achievements to all of the youth, unbiased, so that all youths may be inspired not by the race of the achiever, but rather by the success that was achieved, whatever the odds, with a complete and honest knowledge of what transpired to achieve that success. If race issues are a part of that history, then such issues shall be taught in fullness and honesty, so such problems are not repeated in the future.

Always, with an open mind, debate whatever issues cause strife between the diverse people that we are all a part of. Question what is not understood, express respectfully your opinions, and most of all, be a good listener, so to fully consider the varying viewpoints, and the honest perspectives and backgrounds from which they arrive.

W. Davis, Sunnyvale, CA (Sent Monday, February 12, 2007 9:08 AM)

I am white. I was raised in the 50's and 60's. I just saw the movie about Vivian Thomas, and I am outraged that I've been alive for 56 years and this is the first time I've ever heard of this man. I'll tell you who the racists are -- they are the white people who leave out Black American accomplishments from our history books. Yes, there are other races who also need to be mentioned. So, my fellow white people, get busy and start learning about all of them and rewrite history to be complete. I can't believe that this country is still this backwards. When are our publishers going to mature!

Kay, Oxford, MI (Sent Friday, January 04, 2008 11:31 PM)

keep in mind that racism is all in the mind, but no matter how hard you try .. you cannot really control or manage other people's thoughts .. so racism will always exist.. and not just toward African Americans. but even toward Jews, Polish, Iranian, White Americans, among religions...
As for tests, we should know by now that they are not ACCURATE reflections of intelligence or capacity.. and that hard work can conquer all self-internalized stereotypes.
As for intelligence.. see how well you'd test if you're whole people told u that your ethnicity automatically made u stupid... if u heard it enough u would believe it...NO MATTER WHO (white, fe/male, Indian, Korean,) YOU ARE!
by the way.. I'm black and I AM NOT a naturally talented athlete... I work hard at what I'm good at!

K, L.A., Ca (Sent Tuesday, June 24, 2008 3:32 AM)

<< Previous

SEND A COMMENT

PLEASE READ: All comments must be approved before appearing in the thread; time and space constraints prevent all comments from appearing. We will only approve comments that are directly related to the blog, use appropriate language and are not attacking the comments of others.

Message (please, no HTML tags. Web addresses will be hyperlinked):

Your name, city and state (John Doe, Seattle, Wash.):

Your e-mail address (jdoe@msnbc.com):

Your website (it's okay if you don't have one):

Remember me? (We'll keep it private) Remember me?

TRACKBACKS

Trackbacks are links to weblogs that reference this post. Like comments, trackbacks do not appear until approved by us. The trackback URL for this post is: http://cosmiclog.msnbc.msn.com/trackback.aspx?PostID=49153

More Cosmic Log

Recent Posts:

Archives:

Categories:

Latest Tech & Science News

Syndicate This Site

Add Cosmic Log to your news reader:

ABOUT COSMIC LOG