Saturday, January 31, 2009

Blacks Have Lower IQs ?

Or so says Slate;
The article states that the differences in Standard American IQ tests is genetic.

Average IQ
Jewish American - 113
Asian American - 106
White American - 103
Latino American - 89
African American - 85

But the author also states;
"Remember, these are averages, and all groups overlap. You can't determine an individuals intelligence from her ethnicity.
The only thing that you can reasonably infer is that anyone who presumes to rate your IQ based on the color of your skin is probably dumber than you are"

But the evidence is contradictory.
Slate also notes environmental and cultural variables.
The article asks;
"Why do Blacks in the white-dominated United States score 15 points higher than Blacks in Black-dominated African countries?"
But even this statement seems a bit skewed.
An article in Black Enterprise cites data showing African immigrants having a rate of those holding a bachelors degree or higher that is up to 33% higher than the American average.

According to the Slate article, the lowest IQ averages in the United States show up in the South, where the rate of genetic blending is lowest.

But what do IQ tests measure?
Are they culturally biased?
If the tests were given based on criteria for survival based on a different culture and environment - would the results vary?

Symposium of the Genetics of Early Language Development
By using the acquisition of language (both lexical and syntax) as a measuring tool, researchers noted that genetics had little impact on a child's ability to acquire nouns.
Since verbs have an inherent syntax - the tests yielded different results.
Genetics were shown to have a 35% variance in a child's ability to properly use verbs and in their ability to properly form sentences.
Environment was shown to have minimal impact on vocabulary - but a greater impact on grammar.

The American Journal of Human Genetics
(Diversity of Some Genetic Frequencies in European and Asian Population v. Steep Multi locus Clines)
States;
"Genetic divergences tend to be maximized between populations that are separated by physical factors (mountain ranges and seas) but also separated by cultural barriers (different language affiliation).
This suggests that mating isolation, rather than adaptive response to environmental change, accounts for spatially abrupt genetic change at the loci studied and that cultural differences associated with language contribute to isolating populations."

Are many of us limiting our ability to process language (and lowering our scores on Standard American IQ tests) by holding on to a dialect that may no longer be in our best interests? (i.e. - Using code words or phrases to protect against masters knowing what slaves were talking about.)
Is the inability to associate a word's spelling with the way many pronounce words a hindrance to a child's ability to read, write and learn?

Since studies show a correlation between illiteracy and the prison population (According to the Department of Justice - 67% of all in prison and 80% of violent criminals) - are we creating a new generation of felons by making it harder for children to learn to read and write phonetically?

Journal of Cognitive Neuroscience
(University of Pennsylvania Study)
The study is looking into the effects of poverty in it's relationship to low IQ and brain function. The study is also looking into the effects of stress, pollution and nutrition.
Since the poor tend to more often be obese due to poor diet - diabetes is more common.
A University of Alberta in Canada study is looking at the relationship between brain function and diabetes. The study noted that executive function (complex analytical thinking) and speed of processing were hurt by the presence of diabetes.

So, is poverty causing many to have lower IQs?
Or is a low IQ the reason many are in poverty?

Non- Conclusive
If the procedure for measuring IQ is culturally biased towards those more familiar with the WASP ideal - how do we (Blacks) best make the adjustments to prove a more accurate measurement?
Many would argue that exposure is the key.
Maybe two year olds should be watching CNN instead of BET.
Since more people of color are now reporting the news - maybe being able to use Standard American English won't be seen as "Talking White".

Many argue that schools are to blame.
But as the results of the Pay-For-Grades experiment have shown - a change in motivation was the key (not a change in schools or environment).

We've tried free lunch.
Then we added free breakfast.
Now we have free after-school tutoring.
And since education is the foundation of a better future - how do we best educate the masses?

12 comments:

CNu said...

I had no idea that you subscribe to bell curve mythology UBJ. Say it isn't so?

uglyblackjohn said...

Ah nah.. Craig.
I was just pointing out some ways that these tests are measured.
I'd have to agree with Mandissa's (I think it was her) take that these tests more greatly measure exposure than any real knowledge.
Also that studies show different results that can be contradicted by empirical evidence.(And the studies themselves)

(I was hoping that you'd be one of the last to read and comment - you had to "out" my intentions and force me to state my dis-belief in most of these studies... so much for controversy.)

CNu said...

Sorry man.

It was top of mind since I had to disavow UCBM today for once again preaching his unreformed gospel of the Bell Curve.

I asked my 9 year old son at dinner this evening what he thought about a Black man professing that Black folk are inherently less intelligent than whites.

Without hesitation he replied that the negro making such a claim probably IS less intelligent than most white folks - but shouldn't be projecting his insecurities on the rest of us.

All was once again well with the world....,

uglyblackjohn said...

IMO - It's something like this.

---
I
I
I
Level of exposure in early childhood
I
I
I
I
I
I
I
I
I
---
Like those old cell phone batteries, if you don't charge them completely the first time - it lowers their effectiveness.

CNu said...

I couldn't agree with you more.

5 years filled with 2 million utterances vs. 5 years filled with 10 million complex utterances is determinative....,

Anonymous said...

John, before you post BS like this, please read the late Stephen Jay Gould great work," Mis-Measure of Man." The IQ thing, as discussed in the western canon/narrative, has been proven to be pure bullshyte. And, as such, for us "Black Partisans," is a battle we are not fighting at this time in history.

Anonymous said...

If blacks are less intelligent, ON AVERAGE, so what? Just acknowledging it does not mean the world ends, or you are inferior or anything. The same studies say that Asians are the highest IQ, on average. Again, I say, so what?

It is pretty obvious, just look at real life. Asian kids dominate the math competitions. Black kids are rare in calculus classes. But those same high IQ Asians are totally lacking in common sense, and lack in creativity too. High IQ is not the be-all-and-end-all of the world.

I would like to see an open acceptance of the obvious, because then we can then STOP BLAMING WHITES for every Black problem.

Each race has their strengths and weaknesses. Let's just accept it and move on. IQ is not the highest strength of the black race. Its obvious to observation, it is backed up by scientific tests.

BUT.... the whole Affirmative Action scam is based on pretending that all Black problems are caused by White racism. THAT IS FALSE, and everybody knows it.

paisley said...

sometimes i wish a high iq was worth something.. i was tested in high school...132... i have retested myself at the so called IQ tests on the web....132-136... and i have made some of the most ignorant life choices of anyone i know,, most of whom have decidedly lower IQ's.....

i wish they would'a just gave me the money.....

uglyblackjohn said...

@ GDAWG - What BS?
I just presented several sides of the same topic.

@ Indra Maghavan
- O.K.
(And thanks for commenting in a more rational manner)

@ - Me too.
I cheated on the tests I took back in the second or third grade.
Well... I thought I had cheated. After I told the admin. that I had cheated, she asked, "how". I told her that I missed a few on purpose to not make it obvious.
The result... a 148.5 (not MENSA smart, but still okay).
But there were so many kids at my school who were REALLY smart. I thought I was just average.
I'm pretty sure that tests are only an attempt to measure potential - not any real knowledge.

CNu said...

Indra's not too bright.

I just wish that lower IQ folk would learn enough about statistics, cognitive science, and the specific history of the IQ controversy to hold and express an informed opinion.

brohammas said...

are you familiar with Geoffrey Canada and the harlem Children's Zone?

uglyblackjohn said...

@ cnulan - I don't mind biggoted arguments. But his are hackneyed and tired.
It's just the "give 'em enough rope" thing.

@ brohammas - Nope, but I've made a note to look into it.