The "retardation" of Africa:Colonialism and white supremacy to blame for poverty in Africa, not low IQ says race professor

A Liverpool-born associate professor from Miami University in the USA has hit back at an LSE researcher who claims that low IQ is to blame for poverty in Africa, citing colonialism and white supremacy for its under-development.

Scientific racism reached its peak during European chattel enslavement

A Liverpool-born associate professor from Miami University in the USA has hit back at an LSE researcher who claims that low IQ is to blame for poverty in Africa, citing colonialism and white supremacy for its under-development.

The row erupted after Asian lecturer Satoshi Kanazawa recently published research in the British Journal of Health Psychology claiming that low intelligence is the cause of poverty, disease, low life expectancy and high infant mortality on the African continent.

Kanazawa’s research compared the IQ scores with indicators of poor health in 126 countries and claimed that the countries with the poorest health have the lowest IQ ratings. The findings already attracted criticism from development NGO War on Want, who said that similar theories had already been disapproved and accused Kanazawa of rekindling “racist stereotypes.”

But an LSE spokesperson defended Kanazawa’s right to publish the research on the grounds of academic freedom, saying that his evidence was based on empirical data. But theories denigrating African people are nothing new. Dr Mark Christian, Associate Professor at Miami University who was born in Liverpool told Black Britain:

“There will always, I'm sorry to say, be views from people of colour who've been educated in the West and from a Western point of view that will fall prey to pseudo-scientific theories that consider Africans or Asians as not as intelligent as those persons considered "White" of European origin.”

Read the rest on Black Britain!

Commentary of the week: For all the defeated Black Republicans......

Well, Michael Steele here in Maryland never had a chance at winning the Senate race, despite taking those cute pictures with a dog he doesnt even own and looking like a big smiley b--ch all the time, but this article on BAW has some good tips for other Black Republicans who need to up their ante with the black community.....

They need to stop with the condescension and cheap psychology -- like claiming that that black people are stuck on the “Democratic plantation.” What that implies is that black Democrats have a slave mentality. It’s offensive in that it implies that most of us vote Democratic because white Democrats tell us to do so; that we’re too passive or stupid to compare the records and the facts for ourselves.

I choose to remove myself from that Republicrap foolishness and be an independent. But its funny watching you all go back and forth at each other; kinda like Jim Jones vs. Jay Z; an entertaining and sad spectacle.

Harsh Times....my review....

Harsh Times on IMDB What I expected this movie to be about when I saw the preview weeks ago was a Mexican thug who becomes a cop and ends up in a tug of war mentally between the streets and his role as a cop. Instead what I saw was something of a cross between Training Day and Friday. It was a story about the lives of 2 Latinos in the barrio of Echo Park in LA. Like most kids who done dirt in the hood and the main character did dirt in Iraq, they got issues but their lives have come to a point where they are going to leave the past behind, get real jobs and go straight. However, the hood is still in them; they are into drugs, cheap liquor, scuffling with the local gangs and traffiking dope. All this drama leads to a vague but disturbing climax as the hood takes these guys under.

What I liked about this movie:

The setting....there hasn't been any movies lately that capture that East LA flava; I think this caught that in the best way ever since Mi Vida Loca back in 1993.

The women...Or should I say "Firme Hienas"(thats Latin Lingo there for ya)?All the ladies in this flick were hella tight! The main character had a girl he was going to marry who lived in Mexico; and she was the bomb. You dont see many hot Latinas in the movies these days, but there were plenty in this movie.

The Latino street culture...This movie portrayed it well, at least as good as it gets in the movies.

The message.....I thought that despite all the flaws this movie had, there was a positive message for all the youngsters out there who are attracted to the "thug life", and this movie addressed the affects of war on peoples psyche, and the sacredness of human life.

What I Didn't Like......

The soundtrack....Im not talking about what they will put out in the stores, but what I heard in the movie. Instead of some LA gangsta rap, reggeaton, or even salsa, I heard alot of old stuff I havent heard in like 12 years, like the 2 Live Crew, MC Breed, and the song "Dazzey Dukes". West Coast Latino rap is getting popular, and there are plenty of artists out like Mr Shadow, Mr Sancho, Lil' Rob, NB Ridaz, Mr Capone-E, and the list goes on. Also, why no special appearences of these rappers, or maybe even B-Real, Sen Dog, Frost, Chino XL, T-Bone, etc could have had guest appearences or cameos in the movie.

Christian Bale....he was so annoying. I think he was good for the part, but why all the serious overacting?

Uneccesary drama...In one scene, they are sitting in a bar, and some guy they are doing "bizness" with gets murdered, and hes all on the ground, bleeding and blood is all over the ground. That was one scene that didnt add or take away from the story, really. This and some other scenes were too over the top and excessive.

The ending...On the one hand, you can take the ending and read too much into the symbolism and hidden meanings of the movie. On the other hand, you can just come to the conclusion that this movie was going nowhere and needed to end in any way possible because people's patience generally runs out after two hours.

If you havent seen it yet....I suggest, wait for it to come out on DVD! That should be next month. Check out the review on PopMatters

INTERVIEW WITH RAP GROUP RHYTHM RUCKUS -VERMONT HOMEGROWN IS BACK!

Dr. Caucasian and Scribe1 are Rhythm Ruckus. Since their live debut, opening for Ol' Dirty Bastard in 2004, they have been the go-to supporting act for national rap artists touring in New England. Now located in NYC and Boston respectively, Doc and Scribe are working toward breaking Rhythm Ruckus on a major scale. In the past two years, they've recorded the “Narcotico Spectre Trilogy” of EPs and played shows with C-Rayz Walz, Immortal Technique, Gift of Gab (of Blackalicious), Breez Evahflowin', Mike Relm (of Invisibl Skratch Piklz), Zion I, Jedi Mind Tricks, Sabac Red (of Non Phixion), LIFE Long, and Q-Unique. Rhythm Ruckus has also headlined shows at Galapagos, Bowery Poetry Club, Skidmore College, Tufts University, Marymount Manhattan College, Hampshire College, Pearl Street and the Iron Horse (Northampton, MA). Rhythm Ruckus' latest industry demo was produced by the legendary Nonezeo (Notorious B.I.G., Vast Aire, Black Rob) and recorded at the Dojo in Brooklyn. They've recently collaborated on tracks with Breez Evahflowin' and Chris Ballew of the Presidents of the United States of America. Dr. Caucasian’s solo LP “Fucking Try Me” was released in the Fall of 2005. The next Rhythm Ruckus LP "We Blow Minds For A Living" will be released in Winter 2006. Check out my interview with the controversial, thought provoking lyricists Rhythmn Ruckus!

1) For the people who don't know, tell us your group name, your names, and what city are your repping? That’s Rhythm Ruckus out of Saxtons River, VT. Scribe1 is now located in Boston; Dr. Caucasian is now located in New York City.

2) What group or MC was the most influential in getting you to rap and in your rhyme style? We grew up on NWA, Biggie, Busta Rhymes, Cypress Hill, cats like that. As far as the style, that’s an amalgamation of everything under the sun. No genre limitations, no concern for image or what’s considered cool, we don’t care.

3) Collaborating with Chris Ballew of the Presidents of the USA must have been interesting. What came out of that? Nothing really came out of it per say except we got to work with one of our all-time heroes and idols as kids and PUSA is still killing shit. We might do something again in the future.

4) Tell me about your upcoming album, “We Blow Minds For A Living.” We Blow Minds For A Living represents the death and re-birth of hip-hop on our own terms. It ain’t even a rap record, it’s a cataclysmic event.

5) Do you think that in this day and age, hip hop and politics can co-exist? Of course. Rap music is a commentary on society and politics are always going to be inflammatory to the point that lots of motherfuckers have to speak on the subject.

6) You've played shows with a ton of artists. My favorite of your list was Immortal Technique. What do you think was your best show or the show that was the best experience of all the shows you ever played? Every show is our favorite; we especially enjoy playing with cats that we respect immensely and finding that they’re actually cool people.

7) What audience are you trying to get to and reach with your music? Also, where can I or anybody else get your music? Rhythm Ruckus is for everybody that’s mad as hell and not going to take it anymore. A lot of stuff is available at http://www.ruckusnet.com/– go get it! We Blow Minds For A Living will be in a store near you when it surfaces.

8) Any shout outs or anything else you want to tell the people? The only difference between now and the Holocaust is there wasn’t advertising on the box cars.

This should be interersting; the BET Hip-Hop Awards is coming along......

LOS ANGELES, Nov. 3 (UPI) -- Black Entertainment Television Friday announced a stellar lineup for the 2006 BET Hip-Hop Awards in Atlanta.

On the roster for the Nov. 15 awards ceremony are Snoop Dogg, Ludacris, Young Jeezy, The Game and others, BET said. The BET Hip-Hop Awards were created to celebrate the history and culture of hip-hop.

Hosting the awards will be comedian and actor Katt Williams. Joining Williams will be Grandmaster Flash, who received the I Am Hip-Hop Icon Award, BET said. Flash is credited with helping to make hip-hop into a musical genre.

BET will also feature the unveiling of the Best United Kingdom Hip-Hop Act as part of the awards show, a news release said.

Source:UPI