Free Republic
Browse · Search
News/Activism
Topics · Post Article

Skip to comments.

Racially-Based, Academic Nonsense
15 October 2005 | John Armor (Congressman Billybob)

Posted on 10/15/2005 12:20:23 PM PDT by Congressman Billybob

No, this is not about the Rev. Louis Farrakhan and his march in D.C. Instead, it’s about an article today (15 October) in the Seattle Post-Intelligencer entitled, “ 'Slave syndrome' may still affect black behavior.” The thesis of the professor appears in the early paragraphs:

“The troubling images of African Americans displaced by Hurricane Katrina in New Orleans' impoverished neighborhoods didn't startle researcher Joy DeGruy-Leary. ‘All Katrina did was reveal what was already there. I wasn't confused, wasn't surprised,’ she said....

“DeGruy-Leary, an assistant professor in Portland State University's Graduate School of Social Work, will discuss her theory of the relationship between race, culture, poverty and history today at the third Seattle Race Conference and tonight in a separate talk. Her theory of "post-traumatic slave syndrome" concludes that African Americans needed to adapt to survive more than two centuries of slavery, and that those adaptations are reflected in their behaviors today.”

Source: http://seattlepi.nwsource.com/local/244686_seattlerace15.html

There are two problems with this professor’s “slave” thesis, neither of them noticed or mentioned in this article. The first is that emotional reactions are not biologically inherited by children, much less great-great-great-great-grandchildren. If you go back far enough, all Americans are descended from humans who bashed in the brains of other humans, and had no aversion to cooking and eating them for dinner. Those traits are exceptionally rare among modern Americans.

The second error in the article is this: the history of race relations in Seattle itself demonstrates that the professor’s theory is a vat of snake oil, designed to deceive rather than inform. Washington State was one of the areas from which Japanese-Americans were rounded up and put in prison camps without charges or trials, at the beginning of World War II. The specific story about Puget Sound was told in the book, Snow Falling on Cedars.

Surely this reporter was aware of that. The broader story is told in the book, Manzanar, about the imprisonment of approximately 110,000 Japanese-Americans for no crime, for racial reasons only. These people, most of them American citizens, lost all or most of their property and remained in prison until 1944-1945. They were treated no better than slaves for the time of their imprisonment.

And yet, Japanese-Americans today are among the highest of all demographic groups in their achievements and success, measured by any standard. If the professor’s theory about a “slave” syndrome had an ounce of truth to it, damaging effects should appear in the Japanese-American community in Seattle itself. But they don’t. That strongly suggests that the professor’s thesis is false, and that the reporter and his editor missed the story that was right in front of them

John_Armor@aya.yale.edu


TOPICS: Constitution/Conservatism; Culture/Society; Editorial; Government; News/Current Events; US: District of Columbia; US: North Carolina; US: Washington
KEYWORDS: japaneseamericans; louisfarrakhan; manzanar; portlandstate; postintelligencer; slavesyndrome
Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first previous 1-2021-4041-6061 next last
To: The Cuban

Oh yeah that book is awesome. I higly recommend it! I learned more in the first 25 pages about the South than I ever did in AP American History!


21 posted on 10/15/2005 12:58:29 PM PDT by BamaGirl (The Framers Rule!)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 19 | View Replies]

To: Mike Darancette
"Are they saying that after the Civil War it would have been kinder to send all ex-slaves and their relatives back to Africa so that their ancestors would not have to be reminded?"

That was Lincoln's plan (though maybe not his reason), but he was assassinated before he could implement it.

22 posted on 10/15/2005 12:59:41 PM PDT by robertpaulsen
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 3 | View Replies]

To: Congressman Billybob
Good analogy, better comparison.

But you're mistaken in thinking that liberals can think.

(Scheme? Lie? Propagandize? Cheat? Fraud? Certainly!

But think rationally and logically and from facts?

On a parallel note; I'd offer instead that a submissive, quiet, "accept authority", fear freedom, fear economic risk, live silently and passively tolerate ANYTHING that the government does IS an in-bred trait in societies like Soviet Russia, an perhaps, by extension, to the slave trade beginnings in Africa and Muslim Sahara.

A passive, non-rebellious figure survives. Has the potential for children, even if under slavery or socialism. A rebellious, or freedom-seeking, or ANY individual who stands out gets sent to Siberia, killed, outright, or forced into poverty and prison. Loss of jobs, food, travel, education means less (or no) breeding.

So, over the years beginning in Czarist Russia in the 1600's, rather than a Renaissance and explosion of economic freedom, the Soviet people get bred into submissive, passive, freedom-fearing people.

And slave descendent's (those who were survivors of slaves in taken from Africa to the US) are the ones who were NOT killed, actively resisting, or who were taking slaves themselves in Africa.

23 posted on 10/15/2005 1:01:13 PM PDT by Robert A Cook PE (-I contribute to FR monthly, but ABBCNNBCBS supports Hillary's Secular Sexual Socialism every day.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: wizardoz
"I guess "slave syndrome" sounded better than "welfare syndrome."

Or "break the window and steal the flat-screen TV syndrome".

24 posted on 10/15/2005 1:02:05 PM PDT by robertpaulsen
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 4 | View Replies]

To: BamaGirl

Has to be. I remember reading an article about the book a while ago. Definitely will check it out.


25 posted on 10/15/2005 1:03:45 PM PDT by The Cuban
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 21 | View Replies]

To: Ninian Dryhope
I think it is a good quote by a good politician, especially given the circumstances under which it was given. It may surprise you to learn that politicians do not always speak the exact truth all the time. It comes with the territory.

Bush makes his case for nationwide reparations. After all, there are millions and millions of those who fit his special-needs-due-to-discrimination theory, in other cities besides New Orleans.

What determines that those in New Orleans receive these better living conditions? Destruction of their community? What then is to stop those eligible from burning down their cities and having them rebuilt bigger and better?

26 posted on 10/15/2005 1:04:24 PM PDT by Jim_Curtis
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 11 | View Replies]

To: Robert A. Cook, PE
So, over the years beginning in Czarist Russia in the 1600's, rather than a Renaissance and explosion of economic freedom, the Soviet people get bred into submissive, passive, freedom-fearing people.

Except when they get attacked by Chechen terrorists. Then they get MAD!!!!!!!

27 posted on 10/15/2005 1:04:24 PM PDT by The Red Zone (Florida, the sun-shame state, and Illinois the chicken injun.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 23 | View Replies]

To: Congressman Billybob
Plus...the Jews adapted after they were enslaved by the Africans.
but...the oriental ( i know, un-PC) internees received "reparations" from the US....and that's where this is ultimately going.
28 posted on 10/15/2005 1:08:00 PM PDT by stylin19a
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Congressman Billybob
This reporter is so very close to the truth, but very far away as well.

Blacks in New Orleans were and are predisposed to be victims in this type of calamity. They suffered more, proportionally, than Whites or Orientals. They are more likely to lose a larger percentage of their goods and suffer the effects of a calamity such as this for a longer period of time than other racial groups.

But the reason isn't slavery, at least not the kind the author is referring to.

No, this slavery is imposed on 21st Century Black Americans by their so-called leadership that spends billions of taxpayer dollars each year convincing them that they can not take care of themselves without government help.

The message of the Black leadership to their racial brethren is simple: You are incompetent. You cannot take care of your own needs, in normal times or calamities.

Since many Blacks buy this big lie, then when the storm suspended government services for everyone, those who depended on it the the most, Blacks, suffered the most.

The Big Lie is an attractive one. It comes with the addictive appeal of "Free Money." But it has a horrible price; self-imposed slavery.

Black America will cease to be victims when they cease to believe the big lie about themselves, the lie that says they need special help. Tiger Woods doesn't get Mulligans. JC didn't get any extra votes at the ballot box. No Black ever became an astronaut without superb skills and dedication.

The commitment to that level of skill and dedication is available to every American, regardless of their color.

Blacks are capable of being as competent as any race, but until they throw off the yoke of slavery fostered upon them by the lies their "leaders" tell them, and so-called "social welfare" programs that only foster increased dependency on government, then unfortunately, Blacks will continue to live in a form of self-imposed slavery no government program can ever cure.

29 posted on 10/15/2005 1:09:55 PM PDT by MindBender26 (Having my own CAR-15 in RVN meant never having to say I was sorry......)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Congressman Billybob
Naughty, naughty, John -- you're being rational again. Tch, tch.

Nice column!

30 posted on 10/15/2005 1:10:38 PM PDT by SAJ
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: MindBender26

"Blacks are capable of being as competent as any race"

True, in theory.


31 posted on 10/15/2005 1:13:34 PM PDT by Ninian Dryhope
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 29 | View Replies]

To: paulat
Apparently, you are unaware of why the website Newsbusters.org was created. It exists to expose liberal-Democrat nonsense that appears in the MSM. Newsbusters has become, in two short months, a very respected and frequently referenced debunking website.

So, I did both. I responded to the post of the original article here on FR. But I also wrote a separate piece for Newsbusters. Despite the size and success of FR, the reach of Newsbusters is even greater.

John / Billybob

32 posted on 10/15/2005 1:18:55 PM PDT by Congressman Billybob (Quoted by Rush, again, this Thursday. Hoohah.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 15 | View Replies]

To: BamaGirl

That's not true of the Scots-Irish and you ought to be ashamed of yourself for making those kinds of generalizations.

The overwhelming migration of the Scots-Irish to American came between 1720 and about 1760 and from that group came the majority of American presidents and generals.

They were the poorest group to immigrate here from the British Isles and they did very well. Aside from material considerations, (they weren't wearing velvet and jewels) they were the ones who took the brunt of the Indian Wars of all kinds.

If there are pockets of lassitude and white poverty in Appalachia, these pockets exist in every culture. But maybe they like the country life.

Shame on you!


33 posted on 10/15/2005 1:21:55 PM PDT by squarebarb
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 8 | View Replies]

To: BamaGirl
"The "culture" of these rednecks was quite degenerate, including a lack of respect for life, wanton sex, inclinations to violence, no work ethic etc. Sound familiar?"

Minnesota Vikings?

34 posted on 10/15/2005 1:22:24 PM PDT by Enterprise (The modern Democrat Party - a toxic stew of mental illness, cultism, and organized crime.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 8 | View Replies]

To: Congressman Billybob

The problem is that people accept this notion that the whole World is against them. The World is neutral. Unless a person achieves fame or notoriety, the World isn't taking notice of what anyone does.


35 posted on 10/15/2005 1:23:48 PM PDT by popdonnelly
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Congressman Billybob
A good and learned non-PC summary could be found in Rushton, J. P., & Jensen, A. R. (2005). Thirty years of research on race differences in cognitive ability. Psychology, Public Policy, and Law, 11, 235-294.
(the article is available in pdf from http://www.ssc.uwo.ca/psychology/faculty/rushton_pubs.htm)
36 posted on 10/15/2005 1:25:11 PM PDT by GSlob
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Congressman Billybob

read latter.


37 posted on 10/15/2005 1:32:07 PM PDT by Mark was here (How can they be called "Homeless" if their home is a field?.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Mike Darancette
Are they saying that after the Civil War it would have been kinder to send all ex-slaves and their relatives back to Africa so that their ancestors would not have to be reminded?

Already tried previous to the Civil War....


38 posted on 10/15/2005 1:32:41 PM PDT by TotusTuus
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 3 | View Replies]

To: Congressman Billybob
Do you know why black Americans aren't as successful as they could be? The conventional explanation is that a substantial amount of racism still exists in America and that bigots conspire to keep blacks from succeeding. Indeed, the majority of blacks are told this all of their lives. This nonsense is a self-fulfilling prophecy! It gives blacks a ready-made reason not to persevere. After all, what's the point in playing the game if the deck is stacked against you?

I needn't waste your time with endless examples of famously successful men that failed countless times before finally reaching their goals. The key advantage that whites have is that we're not told that the world is against us. Consider John Creasey, the famous English author of more than 600 mystery, crime, suspense, and detective novels. Would he have continued trying to get his work published (after being rejected hundreds of times) if he had been black? If he had been black it would have been understandable for him to come to the conclusion that the world really was against him and that further efforts were futile.

Yes, there are a few bigots (and they come in all colors) conspiring to see others fail. What is the good in allowing them to do so? If someone does encounter racism the law is on their side. But black Americans must continue towards their goals even after such an encounter.

Blacks will continue to do poorly until they come to the realization that life presents hurdles for everyone. Instead of fighting for the removal of those hurdles - which is an impossible task - they have to do what everyone else does. Start jumping. Those that tell them otherwise are doing them a great disservice.
39 posted on 10/15/2005 1:35:17 PM PDT by Jaysun (Democrats: We must become more effective at fooling people.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: squarebarb

Huh? I assume you're being sarcastic? I was talking about a backward group from that area, not all Scots/English?

"If there are pockets of lassitude and white poverty in Appalachia, these pockets exist in every culture. "

Yeah you are right. The success of a group of people is less tied to their culture than their adherence to a couple of values, including a strong work ethic, moral values, respect for life, etc.

A simplified version of this is reflected in the fact that is something like if you (1) finish high school (2) don't be a teenage mother and (3) don't have a baby out of wedlock they you will have some high chance of not living in poverty. Does anyone around here know the exact statistic?


40 posted on 10/15/2005 1:36:58 PM PDT by BamaGirl (The Framers Rule!)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 33 | View Replies]


Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first previous 1-2021-4041-6061 next last

Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.

Free Republic
Browse · Search
News/Activism
Topics · Post Article

FreeRepublic, LLC, PO BOX 9771, FRESNO, CA 93794
FreeRepublic.com is powered by software copyright 2000-2008 John Robinson