04-29-2008, 02:00 AM
[quote Black Landlord]Strange-- I though research did seem to support differences in the way our brains are wired (across various races).
There are plenty of undeniable differences in other physiology-- skin makeup, most obviously, but we're clearly affected differently by dietary differences, have markedly different risk factors for various diseases, do different things with body fat distribution, etc.
Good point, I don't completely rule it out, I think it a long time ago, racial differences, and differences in learning ability, etc, were so rife with bias, bigotry, and phony science (back when Asians and negroes were depicted in white people's science and medicine books as being mongoloid inferior mutants) that once those toxic myths were dispelled, the opposite reaction occurred, it became sort of forbidden to discuss racial characteristics or differences rationally, without arousing suspicion. Now it's an accepted area of objective study, which is good. Gender, on the other hand, is still more controversial, and it's still slightly forbidden, or at least risky, to discuss cognitive differences.
[quote Black Landlord]There are also significant differences in our cultures, even in homogenous borg-like America; to suggest that (for example) black folks have the same influences as white because we all live in the same country, and thus that the influence on our development is the same is just not kosher, and I can't see how it would be possible to hold this perception without extremely limited exposure to black culture(s).
Also a good point. Culture and family has more influence on educational or learning development, it's a more credible case to make. Is it useful? It may be just a chapter in a longer discussion within the community, a topic with competing points of view.
Surrendering the floor, so others can stick their foot in!
There are plenty of undeniable differences in other physiology-- skin makeup, most obviously, but we're clearly affected differently by dietary differences, have markedly different risk factors for various diseases, do different things with body fat distribution, etc.
Good point, I don't completely rule it out, I think it a long time ago, racial differences, and differences in learning ability, etc, were so rife with bias, bigotry, and phony science (back when Asians and negroes were depicted in white people's science and medicine books as being mongoloid inferior mutants) that once those toxic myths were dispelled, the opposite reaction occurred, it became sort of forbidden to discuss racial characteristics or differences rationally, without arousing suspicion. Now it's an accepted area of objective study, which is good. Gender, on the other hand, is still more controversial, and it's still slightly forbidden, or at least risky, to discuss cognitive differences.
[quote Black Landlord]There are also significant differences in our cultures, even in homogenous borg-like America; to suggest that (for example) black folks have the same influences as white because we all live in the same country, and thus that the influence on our development is the same is just not kosher, and I can't see how it would be possible to hold this perception without extremely limited exposure to black culture(s).
Also a good point. Culture and family has more influence on educational or learning development, it's a more credible case to make. Is it useful? It may be just a chapter in a longer discussion within the community, a topic with competing points of view.
Surrendering the floor, so others can stick their foot in!