Bethany BrookshireDec 14, 2022

This is an important and thoughtful piece in UnDark on confronting the ghosts of race science past, especially in our heroes. https://race.undark.org/articles/ghosts-of-science-past-still-haunt-us-we-can-put-them-to-rest

One of the things I always end up thinking about is how often people want to go to the mat for their heroes. It...mystifies me.

Because like, most of the time you've never met them! They will not go to the mat for you! Why are you so invested in someone who doesn't know or care in return?

Confronting the Ghosts of Science Past

Heated debates about famed scientists who held disturbing views on race often fade away without resolution. An evolutionary biologist says we can do better.

Show threadQuezovercoatl quietly

@beebrookshire I think there's a tendency for some people to leap to the defense of a "hero" not just because of what they represent, but also because they fear being judged themselves. Like they're thinking "I love this person because I love science; if people say that this person is bad, then they're saying that I'm bad too (and maybe they're also saying that science is bad)".

I appreciate the article's focus on the actual harm a person causes rather than emotional appeal.

Dec 14, 2022 at 6:27pmWeb