Race: Science's Last Taboo

Race And Intellegence: Science's Last Taboo Directed and filmed by David Hickmen, presented and narrated by Rageh Omaar was a season of five British television programmes about race, broadcast on Channel 4 in 2009.[1] In promotion of the series, Channel 4 doctored images of famous individuals, such as Margaret Thatcher, The Beatles, Usain Bolt and Barack Obama, to change their racial appearances.[2]

Programmes

Race and Intelligence: Science’s Last Taboo
Journalist Rageh Omaar speaks with various scientists to discuss whether race and intelligence are linked. It is also vital to mention David Hickmen filmed and directed the film. The genre is predominantly documentary. However, the Rageh Omaar speaks directly to the audience and talks about his family. This essentially is more of a narrative. It is also foreseen as a text made by a seemingly objective and intelligent journalist. Again, this is a misconception. He has an agenda. To prove there is no correlation between race and intelligence. This is bias in reference to the scientific method. Ultimately, this film is sophisticated in how it is constructed. Mixing elements of adventure, narrative and an autobiographical approach into a single documentary. It is an absolute eye opener. As it makes the audience think about their perspective of genetics inheriting intelligence. Therefore this perspective actually proves, despite being bias, that it is the effect of environmental and behavioural elements that contribute to intelligence. It's in the mindset and the adequate supple of education, knowledge, resources and good role models. 'Intelligence is up to you to become' is the central theme of this documentary. On the contrary the agenda is 'The human race, is the only race' meaning we are one and capable of the same cognitive abilities. Therefore, to sum up this extensively long paragraph, the agenda is actually supported on a scientific level by the interviewed geneticist: Steve Jones.

Bleach, Nip, Tuck: The White Beauty Myth
A two-part episode that looks at the increasing trend for people to "de-racialise" their body through cosmetic surgery.

The Event: How Racist Are You?
A grade-school exercise called "Blue eyes/Brown eyes", devised by Jane Elliott in the 1960s, is recreated using members of the British public to draw attention to racism.[3]

The Human Zoo: Science's Dirty Secret
A history of human zoo, which were popular in the late 19th-early 20th centuries.[4]

Is It Better to Be Mixed Race?
Aarathi Prasad looks at whether this is a genetic advantage to being mixed race.

Controversy

"Race and Intelligence: Science’s Last Taboo", the first episode of the series, caused controversy when scientists such as Richard Lynn and J. Philippe Rushton claimed in interview that Africans were less intelligent than white people and East-Asians a little more, with a mean I.Q above the white mean.[5][6] The production of the programme had been inspired by similar comments made by the Nobel prize James Watson, who was advised not to participate.[7]

References

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