Rachel’s Tavern- Shakesville Comment on Whiteness and Racial Awareness
- Arrested for BAHWB (Being at Home While Black)
- John Hope Franklin Has Died
- Bottles, Breasts, and Mothering “Choices”
- NAACP Class Action Lawsuit on Subprime Loans
- We Have a Future Blogger
- I’m Afraid President Obama, Himself, is a Bit of Coward on the Race Issue
- Highly Skilled US Immigrants are Emigrating: What’s the deal?
- Troll Comments Galore
- Mark’s Spinach Face
Jan
31
Honda Pilot Troll Commercial and American Indian Mascots
Filed Under Blackface Parties, Media Praises and Critiques, Pop Culture, Race and Racism, Uncategorized | 18 Comments
While we are on the subject of minstrel shows and blackface, I thought it would be appropriate to discuss how widely accepted “redface” is in American culture. From the moment I saw this Honda Pilot commercial, I was struck by how similar the troll is to American Indian caricatures. In fact, I was watching the commercial when my partner came in and asked, “Is that supposed to be an Indian?” I said, no, but that’s what really bothers me about the commercial.
Below is a picture of the Honda pilot troll. Now I’m not passing judgement on this commercial by saying it is racist. Instead, I think it is useful to compare the troll to several American Indian mascots.
Here’s the Honda Pilot Troll…
Here’s an “Indian Chief” mascot costume that you can order from anytimecostumes.com
Here’s another costume, which is advertised in the “Animals and Mascots” section
Here are several random caricatures I found on the internet including the infamous Cleveland Indians “Chief Wahoo” mascot.
Jan
31
Martin Luther King Day for White People???
Filed Under Black/African American Issues, Blackface Parties, Education and Academia, Pop Culture, Race and Racism, Sociology, Uncategorized | 60 Comments
Yes folks seems like we can’t even go a day without college students hosting “racially themed” parties. Today, the Smokinggun.com featured some pictures from a Martin Luther King Day party at Clemson University. The theme of the party was “Living the Dream.” Yes folk this is what some ignorant people think about the dream of the Civil Rights Movement. They could care less about providing equal opportunities, stopping hate crimes, ending segregation, and several of the other noble themes of the Civil Rights movement. No they would rather celebrate d-rags, malt liquor, big booties, and blackface. To them this is what Martin Luther King Day is about. Their dream is making fun of African Americans, claiming that they are parodying “ghetto culture” and if they are part of the academy awards, voting for groups like 36 Mafia, since they allegedly represent “real” black life and hip hop.
A few months back I put up a post called “Halloween for White People,” which included a few pictures I found on the internet of whites in blackface; this post is an extension of that post. Here I’ll be posting pictures from facebook and these parties. As I have highlighted before, facebook is rampant with racism, but on the positive side a group of over 2,000 students is fighting back by having a group called “Students against Racially Themed Parties” (you can only access this if you have a facebook account). First let me post a few pictures from the Clemson party:
Students Against racially themed parties has collected several pages of photos documenting racist parties and racism on facebook. Here’s picture that one guy decided to put up as his profile.
I was particularly struck by the friend comment on this profile. The friend says, “i’m lovin the nig costume.”
Here are a few more
Unfortunately some of these are a little grainy, but this is some of what’s going on on college campuses. I waiting for the apologists to come out of the woodwork on the last photo with the “look her black friend thinks it’s OK.”
Jan
30
I’m Sick as a Dog
Filed Under Blogs Blogging Blogthropology, Uncategorized | 11 Comments
Update: Feeling much better today.? I lost like 6 pounds in 2 days;? I’m sure? it’s because I’m dehydrated.? I wanted to share an email from one of my students.
Hey Professor its K.D.
I just wanted to make sure you were feeling well and that everything was okay because you never cancel class.? Hope all is well!!
It’s true; I never cancel class, so I’m sure the students who have had me before were really surprised.? It’s so nice that he was thinking about me.
Oh wait, there’s more. LOL!! Another email:
hey i was just wondering if? everything was ok because class was cancelled and you NEVER cancel class . . hopefully ill see you thursday!!loven.f.
Jan
29
A Little More on the UConn Law School Situation (For Mike Nichols if You Are Reading)
Filed Under Black/African American Issues, Education and Academia, Original Essays and Analysis, Race and Racism, Uncategorized | 33 Comments
KJ, left the following comment on my site and over at Alas:
I would also like to comment on the Mike N. situation. I know Mike well and I am disheartened that he has been chosen to be the punching bag for this issue. First off Mike didnt even dress up in a ghetto outfit. Secondly, Mike was the only one who went to the party who has had the courage to stand up and put his name out there. The only one who has given a public apology. What more do people want from him. He made a mistake as did 70 other adults. Should we damage everyones reputation, publish all of their names online, maybe we should have everyone wear a Scarlett Letter. I am sure none of you calling for Mike;s resignation, have ever made a mistake that hurt others. I am sure you have never made a decision you thought was harmless and then later realized it hurt someone. The best way to deal with a split amongst cultures, is probably not for each side to get mad, point fingers, post nasty things and yell. It is probably a better idea for everyone to grow up, those who went to the party and those that are trying to ruin peoples reputations, and maybe we can all come together and try to understand and solve these issues.
I gave a long drawn out response to KJ over at Alas, but I wanted to repost it here.?
KJ, I wanted to respond to your comments about Mike Nichols. Sorry, I dont have much time, but I just wanted to focus on a few points.
You said, That being said, I would also like to comment on the Mike N. situation. I know Mike well and I am disheartened that he has been chosen to be the punching bag for this issue. First off Mike didnt even dress up in a ghetto outfit. Secondly, Mike was the only one who went to the party who has had the courage to stand up and put his name out there. The only one who has given a public apology.
I didnt call for his resignation, in part because I agree with some of your points. He had the courage to stand up and take responsibility. However, he is in the position of being an elected official. I knowI have voted for that position when I was a graduate student. As an elected official, he represents the entire graduate student population at UConn, not just the law school and not just whites. This has been a publicity nightmare for the school, and it simply doesnt look well for UConn grad students. How are the students who dont condone this behavior supposed to feel about having their representative partake in this party? Maybe if the students send him letters, he can take them back and share them with the people who were at the party, so they can get a sense of how this behavior affects the entire grad student population, especially the African American graduate students, who are overwhelmingly outnumbered on that campus.
KJ said, What more do people want from him. He made a mistake as did 70 other adults. Should we damage everyones reputation, publish all of their names online, maybe we should have everyone wear a Scarlett Letter.
If you know Mike and speak to him, I would ask you to tell him that this is his chance to be a real leader. Rather than feeling attacked and having self pity, he could use this as a chance to improve that status of race relations at the school. He could use this as an opportunity to talk about why African American students are so underrepresented in grad school at UConn (or to learn about why this is). He could help organize a forum that includes all campuses, not just the law school, to discuss this issue and how the school can move forward. Mike, should view this as an opportunity to make something good out of a bad situation.
KJ said , “I am sure none of you calling for Mike;s resignation, have ever made a mistake that hurt others. I am sure you have never made a decision you thought was harmless and then later realized it hurt someone. The best way to deal with a split amongst cultures, is probably not for each side to get mad, point fingers, post nasty things and yell. It is probably a better idea for everyone to grow up, those who went to the party and those that are trying to ruin peoples reputations, and maybe we can all come together and try to understand and solve these issues.”
First off, people have a right to be upset, and the idea that anybody who is upset is immature is condescending, and quite frankly, it is the last thing that people need to be saying to the students on campus who are offended. The people who put on the party need to show some responsibility for their behavior. Once they do this; then the dialogue can move on to a discussion of racism on campuswhat it is and how it can be challenged?
As for Mike, he could be one of the key leaders in this dialogue. He could arrange an open forum or a meeting along with the Black Graduate Student Association at the Storrs campus to discuss what happened and how the students can grow from this.
This is not about individual reputations. People are upset about what this kind of behavior symbolizes, how it affects the university, and what we can do to improve our society and the little microcosm that is UConn, so we really do have equal opportunities.
Personally, I think your friend Mike could really stand up and do some good.? Please pass that on to him.
PS–Another possibility is to talk with some of the people in the Office of Multicultural and International Affairs.? I think they could very easily help him to facilitate the kinds of programs I suggested.
Jan
29
Serious Question for everyone…..about Hip Hop, Minstrelsy, and White People
Filed Under Black/African American Issues, Blackface Parties, Original Essays and Analysis, Pop Culture, Race and Racism, Serious Questions, Uncategorized | 28 Comments
I’ve been out in full force this weekend debating with people over the UConn law students party. I am amazed at how many whites and even a few blacks try to defend these themed “costume” parties. One refrain I keep getting over and over again is the “rappers dress like this, so it is Ok for white people to do this.”
Which leads me to my question(s)….Do you think modern day hip hop has played a role in the recent revival of minstrelsy and the proliferation of these parties? Do you think the “we are just copying rappers” excuse is acceptable, why or why not? And last, if you think these parties are wrong, how would you explain this to a white person who thinks that it’s harmless and s/he is just copying rappers?
Here are a few quotes of my own, when I have been arguing over this issue…..
At Mirror on American I said,
While I think many rappers, record execs, and fans are culpable in some for their actions in promoting minstrelsy, I think whites anti-black attitudes predate this.
At Alas I said,
I think all of these whites who want to wear what they are calling ghetto or rap clothes should be required to go to a party where they are the only white person and wear those costumes.
It is an interesting point to note that what some black teenagers wear everyday as their normal attire is labeled as a costume. What is also funny is that if a Black person came to their party with a long white t-shirt, a pair of jeans and a Roca Wear jacket, they wouldnt label it a costume. It speaks volumes about what white Americans think. Its just like the Native American Mascot debate.
At a law student blog called Irish Trojan I engaged in a long drawn out debate. Here are a few quotes from me on the Irish Trojan blog,
I dont think that one could argue that there is a ghetto culture that exists beyond stereotypes promoted in mass media. Moreover, I dont think that you can disentangle the contemporary usage of the term ghetto from its racist connotations. A commenter above mentioned that Jews were concentrated into ghettos in Europe. This is the origin of the term ghetto, and I have yet to see ghetto applied to Jews in these parties, and I have yet to see any of these parties applied to stereotypes of whites. These parties specifically target African Americans. They reiterate some of the most racist ignorant stereotypes of African Americans, such as the young woman in Texas who wore an Aunt Jemima costume or the guy who had an I love chicken T-shirt.
People in the so called ghetto are diverse, and what you are defining as ghetto culture is really a sub-sample promoted by some hip hop artists and many media moguls who think this actually is how the vast majority of black people of all social classes live. Arguing that the typical working class or lower class Black person sits around all day eating fried chicken, drinking liquor, and shooting at people is absurd. The vast majority of white people spend no time living or working in low income black neighborhoods, and thus, we are generally unqualified to make judgments about what African American life is like. Anybody who believes that this reflects the everyday lives of people in the ghetto is being hoodwinked (pun intended).
Another Rachel quote from Irish Trojan,
Rap is also diverse, and we cant make blanket statements about hip hop. There are some groups out there who seem to promote the most pernicious stereotypes of African Americans, but in addition to rappers, we also need to hold record companies and consumers responsible for promoting and consuming this. There are plenty of rappers/rap groups like Common, Talib Kweli, or Little Brother, who dont promote these stereotypes, and the typical white American doesnt identify with their messages; no, these consumers prefer 50 Cent and studio gangsters like Dr. Dre. So as you implied above, white America is largely responsible for disseminating and promoting this imagery. They sign these artists, hire a black producer to put some crazy minstrel show together, and then whites buy up these albums like crazy. This image of so called ghetto/rap culture is largely a product of mass media, not the real life experiences of low income Black people.
Rachel at Irish Trojan Again…
On another note, why not respect the opinions of the vast majority of African Americans, who find this behavior offensive. Terrence is saying he finds this behavior offensive, and some commenters just dismiss him as if his view isnt valuable. Then, people wonder why African Americans get upset about these parties. Why not listen? Why not respect the people are are being lampooned, who are saying this behavior is harmful to them?
Moreover, there is a long history of blackface minstrelsy in this country that belittles African Americans, and it continues today with shows like Flavor of Love. If young white people understood this history and realized how remarkably similar their behavior is to the minstrel shows of the 1800s, then maybe they would have a better chance at understanding why it is so offensive.
More of my Irish Trojan comments,
I dont disagree with you that a persons intent matters, but I also think outcomes matter. For example, someone who drinks and drives, and subsequently gets into a fatal car wreck is held accountable for her/his actions. The results of her/his behavior. A similar standard should also be applied when it comes to racism. The I didnt mean to offend argument has become such a knee jerk reaction among many white Americans that it happens damn near every time this kind of behavior is exposed. Why not think about the outcomes of our behavior? I think many whites are so caught up in our position as whites that we just cant imagine how these types of parties affect African Americans.
One last quote from me on the Irish Trojan blog,
Brendan said Your contention, I think, is that any satire of rap culture is inherently offensive.
No, but I think satire requires a degree of insider knowledge. It is not easy to pull off, and quite frankly, the vast majority of satire has some sort of message about socially conscious message. I dont really think the young people in these photos are trying to raise social consciousness.As far as the idea of rap culture, I stand behind my statement that rap is diverse and always has been. There are some elements that have degenerated into a modern day minstrel show, and those happen to be the elements that are most loved by the stereotypical white American. Moreover, if you read my comments I dont excuse this behavior on the part of the artists, but I note how record execs and consumers (mostly white) love this stuff.
Unfortunately, I dont have a ton of time to debate this with you guys (I need to revise a journal article.), but Ill leave with two comments. I am not at all convinced that these young whites holding these parties are compartmentalizing their stereotypes to just hip hop, which in the minds of many young people represents African American youth culture. I think when the typical American discusses hip hop, they are discussing an art form that is performed primarily by African Americans. Moreover, Im also not convinced that these parties are about social commentary, critical of minstrelsy. They are about a bunch of young whites who think this is somehow funny and entertaining to get drunk and make fun of African Americans.
And one final point, on your statement about professionalism. Yeah, I think we can all agree that this was stupid and unprofessional.
I spent so much time doing all of this debating that I figured I needed to make this into a full blown post. Feel free to respond to my arguments or just the questions above.
Jan
28
Another Winner of a Comment–White Supremacists Love Me
Filed Under Blogs Blogging Blogthropology, Race and Racism, Uncategorized | 13 Comments
Well folks in case you haven’t noticed I have been inundated with hateful bigoted, racist comments lately.? Most of them don’t make it through comment moderation.? ? According to these White supremacits:? I’m a part of some Jewish conspiracy, and I’m an idiot, and whatever the hell else they say.? I don’t know about anyone else who blogs about race, but unfortunately I have accepted that this is part the deal when you blog about race.? It does wear on? me after a while, but I just remind myself that I must being doing something right if white supremacists are mad at me.
Last night I had the pleasure of reading the two lovely comments below from a? guy named Stephen Thomas, who was so unashamed of his bigotry that he left a link to his site.? Check out the vitriol.?
Here’s his response to my post on the UConn “Bullets and Bubbly” Party:
Rachel, you really need to find something to do with your time.
The most racist people Ive ever met are blacks.
Blacks are responsible for their own problems.
You dont know what you are talking about. That halo youre wearing is really your asshole and youve shoved your head straight up
Blacks arent failing and in prison because of racism. Blacks are failing and in prison because of poor moral habit, because they commit so much crime, and because of an illegitimacy rate of 70%.
I suggest you close down these stupid blog. You are a raving moron.
And in response to my post on the Long Beach Hate Crime Trial.? Stephen says, ?
PSYou forgot rule #1 of white supremacist criminal justice: White guys and their lawyers never lie or distort the truth, and Black people never tell the truth.
Where is this written?
Obviously, you just made it up.
Black men are in jail in such large numbers because they earned it. Ive lived in black communities in Chicago, San Francisco and Brooklyn.
Blacks are not being railroaded by the criminal justice system. Black men are commiting the crimes particularly rape of white women.
In short, you are simply a liar. A malicious, conniving, evil liar.
And people try to tell me racism is over……….
Jan
27
UCONN Law Students Hold Racially Offensive Party
Filed Under Black/African American Issues, Blackface Parties, Education and Academia, Original Essays and Analysis, Race and Racism, Sociology, Uncategorized | 20 Comments
Update: If you want to see the video and hear a Tarleton State administrator talk about the party at Tarleton you can click on this MSNBC link. P. Moore also has a good local newscast up. I have to say I am impressed with the young man who hosted the party at Tarleton. He actually gave a real apology, not those half baked ones we have been seeing lately. I’m also impressed with the administrative responses at the two schools. it also struck me that the young man who hosted the party at Tarleton had a Black roommate for two years, so much for the contact hypothesis although it could account for his seemingly genuine apology.
Editor’s Note: P. Moore over at The Think has some of the pictures from two recent “ghetto” parties–you know the parties where whites dress up in costumes and try to imitate African Americans. The pictures include one that was supposed to be a Martin Luther King party at Tarleton State in Texas and another one thrown by University of Connecticut law school students called “Bullets and Bubbly.”
I figured I would focus my attention on UConn case (You can check out the photos here on the Smokinggun.). For those of you who don’t know, I graduated from UConn. I was a graduate student there, not at the law school but at the main campus in Storrs. Since I am a UConn grad and I know that several UConn grad students read this blog, I thought this would also be a good time to note that the graduate student representative to the Board of Trustees was at the party. Here’s a quote of from him in the Hartford Courant:
Michael Nichols, a graduate student member of the UConn board of trustees, attended the party along with several other student leaders. He wore a tuxedo, he said.
“At the time we felt that nothing was wrong or mean-spirited. Since then we have learned that many of our friends and fellow students were hurt. For this I am truly sorry,” he said, adding that he hoped the discussion would raise sensitivity to other students’ feelings.
I’m not going to call for Nichols to step down from his position because I’m not a student anymore and because he didn’t dress up like this. However, he was at the party, and I do find it troubling that he would participate in this kind of behavior. At the very least, people should write him a letter letting him know that his behavior does not reflect the concerns of graduate students at UConn. If you are a UConn student, you can send Nichols a letter letting him know that this behavior is unacceptable. Here is his trustee office address:
Mr. Michael J. Nichols (Student Trustee)
c/o 352 Mansfield Road
Storrs, CT 06269-2048
Mr Nichols is an elected representative; thus, he needs his constituents to hold him accountable for his behavior.
It may also be time to revisit the fact that the law school has had a virtual lock down on the graduate student trustee position over the years. I remember this being a big controversy when I was at UConn. In either 2002 or 2003, the main campus fielded a candidate for student trustee who was trying to challenge the law school grad students, who are usually preparing for their political careers and don’t have the interest of the vast majority of graduate students in mind. It may be time to revisit this, and see if the Graduate Student Senate can find a good candidate from the Storrs campus. (For my friends, who are reading–Mary, Bill, Steve, Andy, or Angie may remember this controversy. Tom may have been an undergrad at that time. It’s been a few years, but you can ask them.) There were somewhere around 70 law students at this party, so this is not an isolated handful of people, and it may be a symptom of a need for change in that position.
It is not easy to get into law school these days, and UConn is fairly good law school, so we are talking about some well educated people, which leads me to ask–do these people really not know that this is offensive? Haven’t they learned about this? One side of me says, I’ll take their claims at face value. Maybe they genuinely don’t know. On the other hand, another part of me says, they have to be lying because anybody who has come of age in this country should be aware of the offensive nature of blackface and general mockery of African Americans.
I remember being taught that it wasn’t right to say “bad things about black people” when I was a kid. In fact, I distinctly remember one incident, when my brother was in his early elementary school years, and we were sitting at the dinner table. My brother hauled out with the n-word. He must have picked it up at school. My Dad said, “What did you say?” My brother was acting like a little smart alec and came out with the n-word again, like it was funny. (He knew what he was saying was wrong, but he seemed to think this was a funny thing to say.) At this point, my Dad whooped his butt. Yeah, my parents taught me this was wrong. And it was wrong enough to result in an “ass whoopin’” to use my Dad’s terminology. Now, I couldn’t figure out why nobody said anything when my parents went to visit our relatives, and a few of them liberally used the n-word and made disparaging remarks about black people. I tried to ask my parents about this a few times, but never really got an answer that made sense to me. I supposed that is fairly typical of the hypocrisy of growing up white in the US. However, when I was younger it seemed fairly clear to me that blackface and the n-word are wrong. I pretty much knew that was bad.
Which leads me back to those UConn students, I don’t really know what kind of messages they grew up with, but I am glad to see that the University is using this as an opportunity to let them know that this behavior is offensive, inappropriate, unbecoming, and unprofessional. The
It is truly sad to see that these folks are our future lawyers. The criminal justice system is arguably the most racially biased institution in the US, and these students represent the future.
Jan
27
The Long Beach Halloween Hate Crime Trial Verdict is In
Filed Under Black/African American Issues, Race and Racism, Sociology, Uncategorized | 28 Comments
LONG BEACH, Calif. – Nine black youths were convicted Friday in juvenile court of beating three white women in a racially charged attack on Halloween night.
The youths, ranging from 12 to 18 years old, could receive sentences from probation to confinement in juvenile prison until age 25. All were charged with felony assault. The judge found eight of them guilty of hate crimes.
The attack occurred in an upscale area of the city known for its elaborate Halloween decorations.
Prosecutors said the confrontation began when a crowd of black youths threw objects at the three young white women. Some hurled racial insults and one was heard shouting “I hate whites,” authorities said.
The group then attacked the victims, knocking them to the ground. The beating stopped when a black man driving by pulled the assailants away and shielded the women with his body, prosecutors said.
A 12-year-old girl was acquitted. And two 15-year-old boys face trial later on felony assault charges.
Thanks to Donald? for letting me know about? this.
Jan
25
Racism Round-Up 1/25/07 (Mostly Education Related Incidents)
Filed Under Racism Round-Up, Uncategorized | 51 Comments
1. An essay on the culture of racism in American politics.
2. I’m Not Just Your Token Black Guy? (great article by a college student challenging the “my black friend” argument)
3. Cornell student goes to prison for racist? hate crime.? The most pathetic part of the story is the non-apology, apology at the end.? Here’s an excerpt:
Let me assure you, your injury is not due to who you are, but who I had become due to my emotional state, Joch recited from the letter. Im anything but a racist, but I acted like one that night.
In the letter, Poffenbarger said he wasnt aware he stabbed Holiday, and ran away because he saw blood on his knife.
You were not a target of racism that night, the letter said. Poffenbarger confesses to personal turmoil, writing that his world was spinning out of control. My actions came from a blind urge to lash out at my own demons. I wish you a full recovery and a restored faith in the goodness of all people.
There were at least 50 people in attendance the hearing, including Poffenbargers mother, uncle and Cornell students. Most of the courtroom spectators were people of color, and their solemnity and silence was palpable during the proceedings.
Joch appealed to the court for Poffenbargers safety in prison, saying that he would have to keep his conviction a secret and would need protective custody.That means my client would have to be locked in a cage for 23 out of 24 hours per day for the duration of his sentence, Joch said.
4. A parent wants to ban Huckleberry Finn from a high school’s reading list.? This is an old argument; in fact, this book has been on the most banned list for years because it has the n-word.? Personally, I’m against banning the book because the book itself has an anti-racist message, and it reflects an realistic portrait of that era.? I think when evaluating this book people need to get beyond the n-word and analyze the message.? The same arguments could be made for other racially themed anti-racist movies, books, etc.
5. Earl Ofari Hutchinson says there is not sufficient evidence to convict the Black teens accuse in the Long Beach racially motivated beating case.
6. Ann sent me this story. A mayor in Texas wants to ban the n-word by imposing fines for offensive uses of the n-word.
Brazoria Mayor Ken Corley wants offensive use of the “n-word” to be punishable by a fine of up to $500 in his town.
“It’s not a particular problem in Brazoria,” Corley said, “but it’s a national problem.”
Corley said he got the idea while watching two black ministers talking on television about how offensive that word is. “I just think it would be great if this little town of Brazoria, with 2,800 people, leads the way in fighting against this offensive language,” said Corley.
7. A group of college student athletes attacked several Palestinian students at Guilford College.? I received an email from a reader about this one–Thanks James!
Jan
25
Presidential IQ Report
Filed Under Politics, Uncategorized | 12 Comments
Editor’s Note: Apparently, this is an urban legend.? I thought it was funny, but on a serious note I don’t think you could measure IQ purely based on writings and speaking.? Moreover, as much as I think GWB is not the best president, I don’t think IQ is necessarily related to job performance.? I wanted to have a debate about that in the comments section, but it’s pointless to debate a hoax.
From the Lovenstein Institute:
According to statements in the report, there have been twelve presidents over the past 60 years, from F. D. Roosevelt to G. W. Bush who were all rated based on scholarly achievements, writings that they alone produced without aid of staff, their ability to speak with clarity, and several other psychological factors which were then scored in the Swanson/Crain system of intelligence ranking. The study determined the following IQs of each president as accurate to within five percentage points:
147 Franklin D. Roosevelt (D) 132 Harry Truman (D) 122 Dwight D. Eisenhower (R) 174 John F. Kennedy (D) 126 Lyndon B. Johnson (D) 155 Richard M. Nixon (R) 121 Gerald R. Ford (R) 176 James E. Carter (D) 105 Ronald W. Reagan (R) 98 George H. W. Bush (R) 182 William J. Clinton (D) 91 George W. Bush (R) The six Republican presidents of the past 60 years had an average IQ of 115.5, with President Nixon having the highest IQ, at 155. President G. W. Bush was rated the lowest of all the Republicans with an IQ of 91.
The six Democrat presidents had IQs with an average of 156, with President Clinton having the highest IQ, at 182. President Lyndon B. Johnson was rated the lowest of all the Democrats with an IQ of 126.
No president other than Carter (D) has released his actual IQ, 176. Among comments made concerning the specific testing of President GW Bush, his low ratings were due to his apparent difficulty to command the English language in public statements, his limited use of vocabulary (6,500 words for Bush versus an average of 11,000 words for other presidents), his lack of scholarly achievements other than a basic MBA, and an absence of any body of work which could be studied on an intellectual basis.
The complete report documents the methods and procedures used to arrive at these ratings, including depth of sentence structure and voice stress confidence analysis. “All the Presidents prior to George W. Bush had a least one book under their belt, and most had written several white papers during their education or early careers.
Not so with President Bush,” Dr. Lovenstein said. “He has no published works or writings, so in many ways that made it more difficult to arrive at an assessment. We had to rely more heavily on transcripts of his unscripted public speaking.”