I am not black and I think that on average, black people MIGHT have a different physical constitution that lets them develop more muscular bodies more easily. I don't have a clue about it, but their bodies often look more defined and sculpted. Nowitzki is not weak, but Garnett looks more muscular, although he probably weighs less. Don't know. Also, I don't remember any white players with muscles like Kevin Willis or Karl Malone or Shaq... However, I think if there are such differences, they are not huge and a white or asian at age 10, developing the same height as a black person when he will become an adult has the same chances of becoming a great basketball player, so who cares. Anyway, to pick up a point someone made earlier...let's assume that scientific evidence proves that blacks are better athletes on average, I think we would all accept that and not have a big problem with it. Now what if scientific evidence (if that were possible which I doubt) proves that Korean/Japanese people are, on average, smarter than white and black people and that either white or black people are the "dumbest" out of these three compared race groups (I think I have read something about a study having these results a while ago). Would people be just as willing to accept this evidence as they would be to accept the evidence about physical abilities or wouldn't that be a MUCH more sensitive subject? Just curious what you think about that.
The problem of race in America won't go away until we elimate race baiting extrermists such as Jesse Jackson, Al Sharpton and David Duke. These individuals use race as a crutch to further divide America between black and white. They fail to realize (or maybe even refuse to recognize) that racism in this country is attributed to only a few bigoted Americans.
While I personally don't like Jesse Jackson very much, I think that comparing him to David Duke is going overboard.
You probably meant to say a few million bigoted Americans I'm sure. I've never read anything from Jesse Jackson advocating the deportation of all white people back to Europe. Please man...
So, some of you think that everyone in the world has equal ability to do everything if they try hard enough? That's a load of BS. Some people are better equiped to do things than others. Some of it relates to race, but also culture, intelligence and other things as well. And just because a few white guys have been great at basketball doesn't mean blacks as a whole aren't better. There's natural talent and ability and then there's ability that you gain through practice. You can't get very far on just one alone. What I want to know is why any statement that deals with race is automatically labelled as racist? For example, blacks are better athletes than whites. It's not bad or necessarily untrue, but since it involves race, it's racist? I don't get that at all. Would black people saying that white people score better on SAT's racist too? Please, I'm sincerely asking because it doesn't make sense at all.
Please man.... I've never heard white American people claiming they are owed money from Europe for oppressing them hundreds of years ago, which if you don't remember is the reason many left. As for white people being deported back to Europe, that's real funny. See, many white people were deported FROM Europe hundreds of years ago, to America and Austraila. They were "undesirables." But their ancestors don't complain about that. I would think getting to live in America is a good thing, with us being free and democratic and all. I rarely hear black people be thankful for the past (even though it was bad) because it allowed them to end up in a better country, because if they hadn't have been slaves, they'd still be in Africa, which we all know is incredibly safe and democratic. And all of the bigoted Americans are white, I'm sure.
Did I really just read that? I'm not going to even post anything for fear that treeman and TheFreak will come in saying that the only reason I disagree with it is because it's Princess.
Did I lie about something? What do you disagree with? I'm not saying that they should do this, just like I'm sure Timing wasn't saying that Jesse Jackson should want white people to be deported to Europe.
BC's statement is right on, genetically we are 99.9 similar. Entine, Antonio and Street are not technically incorrect , but they miss the larger picture on the debate. Overall there are negligible differences across groups for the 99% of us that are not world class athletes. However, that 00.1% genetic variation across groups (W/E Africans) does make a difference in extremes--like when we talk about world class athletes. Like another said the fact one group on average may be .05 seconds faster in a 100 meter dash does mean something in terms of Olympic medals, but it means squat for the rest of us. In other words, when people are 99.9 similar across groups biologically, only in extreme cases with the differences be noticeable (example below). Further you have to considering sprinting as a very unusual and specific sport--the one most likely to pick up genetic differences. It is predicated on one thing only--going as fast a possible in a strait line for 100 yards. Most other sports require a combination of athletic and mental skills that further narrows genetic differences across groups. Think of it this way, all over the world you will find great soccer players with great athletic gifts, and these people represent every race and ethnicity that play it. Anyone would doesn't think the dominance of African American basketball players in the NBA isn't foremost impacted by intensity of playground and organized ball (AAU, schools) in those communities is missing the bigger picture IMO. I won't say genetics isn't a small part because basketball more than other sports is impacted by jumping and height--but the larger factors are the level of competition AA tend to they grow up with plus the motivation (BB as the only way they see out for many). It is often easier to focus on the .1% differences between groups--especially for really isolated and specific activities like sprinting-- than the 99.9% differences within the groups (or the 99.9% variation in human characteristics spread relatively evenly accross all humans), because it fits a simpler world view (and sells book and magazines), but IMO it is not a balanced way to see the world.
Why don't you ask Charles Murray? This isn't precisely what The Bell Curve proposed, but the left couldn't move fast enough in trying to discredit him as a "racist" and his research as "junk science" when that book was published. I think it's interesting that we tend to treat the preponderance of black professional athletes or Kenyan marathon champions as empirical evidence that justifies an exploration of genetic athletic advantages-- and yet we recoil in horror at any similar approach to apparent intellectual differences along racial lines. We're willing to entertain the possibility that blacks might be genetically endowed in ways that translate into superior athletic performance, but we're horrified at the possibility that there could be genetically-based differences in intelligence between racial groups. I'm strictly commenting on the psychology here, not the science. It's interesting.
David Duke advocates the deportation of blacks to Africa, hence my comment about Jesse Jackson. In addition, nowhere does my statement say a few million bigoted white Americans. You can run up and down these boards being an apologist for slavery and racism because "it allowed them to end up in a better country" if you really want to do so but seriously stop acting the fool and grow up.
I know David Duke does, but we were talking about Jackson. And the majority of white people don't agree with Duke. I was thinking earlier and it occured to me that when I see black people, I don't automatically associate them with slavery or anything of the sorts. They're just people. Which makes me wonder who is really making race and slavery and issue, whites or blacks? I'm not accusing either side here, but it would be interesting to look at. And you didn't say white bigots, but it sure could be inferred (and I will infer all I want from your posts because that's all you ever do with mine). Other cultures were enslaved and oppressed, like the Jews and white people in Europe but the don't cry about it all the time. They don't demand reparations. Are you denying that African-Americans are not in a better place? Some must not think so because they feel they are owed something by white people. And I'll grow up when others grow up and start taking responsibility for their own choices and their own lives.
Originally posted by Princess I know David Duke does, but we were talking about Jackson. No it was actually a comparison of Duke and Jackson. Duke does while Jackson does not, hence not a good comparison in terms of their views. I was thinking earlier and it occured to me that when I see black people, I don't automatically associate them with slavery or anything of the sorts. Well that's very enlightened of you. Which makes me wonder who is really making race and slavery and issue, whites or blacks? I'm not accusing either side here, but it would be interesting to look at. We've looked at it. Your insinuations are wrong. End of story. And you didn't say white bigots, but it sure could be inferred (and I will infer all I want from your posts because that's all you ever do with mine). Cool then I guess I'll feel free to add modifiers and adjectives to any and all of your comments as I see fit. Thanks. Other cultures were enslaved and oppressed, like the Jews and white people in Europe but the don't cry about it all the time. They don't demand reparations. I know how Jews have never demanded and received reparations. That's never happened. I guess black people just need to stop crying huh? Are you denying that African-Americans are not in a better place? The ends do not justify the means as you're of course inferring. Nice try... And I'll grow up when others grow up and start taking responsibility for their own choices and their own lives. You're right, there have been few things more responsible on this board than your rampant contradictions from post to post and frequent references to "well that's what my professor said" as evidence to substantiate your claims.
I think it's about as constructive as I'm prepared to get when someone won't acknowledge the overwhelming evidence presented against her argument in the last month or so. Thanks for noticing.
