by David K.
Member since:
April 29, 2007

Dr. Watson to Retire after Racist Remarks

October 26, 2007 04:04 PM EDT
views: 106 | comments: 49

James D. Watson, who shared a 1962 Nobel prize for discovering the structure of DNA, announced his retirement Thursday after controversy erupted over comments he made suggesting that black people are less intelligent than whites.

"The passing on of my remaining vestiges of leadership is more than overdue," he wrote in a statement about his departure from Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory on Long Island, which he joined as director in 1968 and helped build into one of the world's leading genetics research institutes. "The circumstances in which this transfer is occurring, however, are not those which I could ever have anticipated or desired," he added.

So, did he do the right thing?

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Comments: 49

Vivian P. Oct 26, 2007, 4:08pm EDT
I don't know
I find it hard to believe an educated person would make such a stupid statement.
yikes, what a quandary!
Jaye S. Oct 26, 2007, 4:34pm EDT
yes.
paul w. Oct 26, 2007, 4:37pm EDT
Sure he did, but did he also apologize for or retract his remarks? Or, at least acknowledge their offensiveness?

(I'll be referencing this article over at "GATHER Discusses Tolerance", at nohate.gather.com. --Perhaps you can re-publish it there, David?)
Pepsie J. Oct 26, 2007, 4:38pm EDT
I think they misquoted him


What he actually said was" George W is less intelligent then most life forms especially blacks"
Stacie N. Oct 26, 2007, 4:42pm EDT
He did not "suggest" that black people are less intelligent, he said that it is scientifically proven. I don't believe this is simply racist, but unprofessional and immoral...especially when there has been a ton of scientific research in the last decade that claims the opposite of what he says.
Good riddance.
Tina Coruth Oct 26, 2007, 4:50pm EDT
This is difficult. Racist remarks are unacceptable. However, I don't know enough about him to determine if he should resign. Was this an off the cuff slip - one of those things that just comes out wrong? Or is he known to make comments like this? If it was a one time thing, a sincere apology should suffice. If he is a racist, he should go. Well, that's my opinion.
Juan J Martinez Oct 26, 2007, 4:52pm EDT
He should goe the way of the Doe Doe
Ghostly Ghoul Oct 26, 2007, 4:52pm EDT
I think this is a case of over reaction, rather than calling him wrong and making him quit. Make him prove it or YOU prove him wrong. Quiting anything is never really the answer.
Nancy S. Oct 26, 2007, 4:52pm EDT
Even smart people have hangups. I'm grateful for his contribution but I hate it when people keep prejudice going with ignorant comments.
Tina Coruth Oct 26, 2007, 4:53pm EDT
Posted mine and that is when I saw Stacie's comment above it. If Stacie is quoting him correctly, then I agree with her 100% -- good riddance.
Brian T. Oct 26, 2007, 5:00pm EDT
Yes.
Clarke M. Oct 26, 2007, 5:03pm EDT
Watson did not make "racist remarks," he just interpreted genetic studies in a certain way. He has always been an arrogant guy, but to label him "prejudiced" is wrong. There is no scientific definition of intelligence anyway. I don't think Watson has any more claim to be right than others who claim he's wrong. Historically and culturally taken as criteria, I don't there is any reason to say one race is more intelligent than another. The West, that is "whites," think their culture is more advanced than past civilizations : this is not supported by history.
qawsedrftgyh .. Oct 26, 2007, 5:08pm EDT
Who knows, maybe that just his way of going out so that he won't be forgotten, wrong yes, but many a person have done far worse, we will never understand why people do or say the things they do, but it is us to learn from their mistakes and not to repeat them.
Denise B. Oct 26, 2007, 6:19pm EDT
would have to know a lot more about what was actually said and not rumors and overreacting
David K. Oct 26, 2007, 6:34pm EDT
Clarke M.

To be clear, Watson was not interpreting scientific studies. He was speaking anecdotally from his personal biases.
David K. Oct 26, 2007, 6:34pm EDT
Nancy

True. Being smart and ignorant are not mutually exclusive.
vickey w Oct 26, 2007, 9:28pm EDT
I do not understand why, an intelligent man , with a successful career would make such remarks. He had to know that he would be in hot water over this. It just doesnt make sense to me.
David K. Oct 26, 2007, 9:36pm EDT
I suspect he's just always been somewhat racist but just never got quoted before. Or perhaps he's just getting old and memories are jumbled. Either way, it appears he had overstayed his welcome at the lab, and this just sealed the deal.
Emma L. Oct 26, 2007, 10:15pm EDT
That's a tough one- racism is horrible, but a lifetime of good deeds is wonderful. I think people just need to think before they speak
Nan G. Oct 27, 2007, 12:02am EDT
It is sad to lose his scientific mind but I can certainly see why he would withdraw. You could convince me that genetics plays a part in our abilities but I really believe that education is the key and that there is no race difference.
Terry A. Oct 27, 2007, 8:45am EDT
I thought he said everyone from NY is stupid - can not refute that
Juan J Martinez Oct 27, 2007, 9:35am EDT
Didn't Hitler and his evil circle have the same theory of the Jews? Didn't Dr. Mengela murder thousands of human beings trying to proof the superiority of the Aryan?
David K. Oct 27, 2007, 3:05pm EDT
People have always been biased....just these days there appear to be more people willing to stand up to them and not accept it.
Melinda ~choosing happiness~ S. Oct 27, 2007, 5:17pm EDT
Good riddance! What a dinosaur!
j - Frugal Mom - r. Oct 27, 2007, 8:27pm EDT
I think a lot of people should retire or withdraw from their public offices and positions, if we were to scrutinize all of their bahaviours and comments, but then again this is the U.S., and it seems to me that the once that get the media attention have no other choice than to step down.
Kieran W. Oct 27, 2007, 9:21pm EDT
Knowing only what you've relayed in your article, I think his reaction was gracious. I'd like to know more about the remark he made before drawing more conclusions. What was the remark he made?
PAY IT FORWARD
Joe T. Oct 27, 2007, 9:24pm EDT
He's Dr. Watson for pete's sake. We wouldn't have the great DNA research of today without his contributions.

He did the right thing by resigning. It is clear that he has allowed his individual prejudice (which lies within most of us) to get in the way.
Kimberly Ripley Oct 28, 2007, 4:16pm EDT
Prejudice can't be tolerated. He did the right thing.
Bundy P Oct 29, 2007, 6:25pm EDT
Would an apology have been enough?
donna h. Oct 29, 2007, 7:51pm EDT
I read something about this
David K. Oct 29, 2007, 8:23pm EDT
Perhaps we've reached the point where we aren't afraid to stand up to people's prejudices. Or perhaps he genuinely felt remorseful of his statements.
David K. Oct 30, 2007, 3:07pm EDT
In all fairness, his comments have been discussed outside of the context, which was during an interview to promote his new book. Here's a link to the original (London) Sunday Times article reporting the interview:

Sunday Times article

So, was the correct action taken?
A lot of great scientists had some bizarre ideas outside their specialties. Isaac Newton spent more than half of his life on alchemy. Linus Pauling had the vitamin C delusion.

It may or may not have been time for Watson to retire but the bad publicity he generated would have affected fund raising for sure. I don't think his being allowed to resign was entirely the result of his employers' distaste for what he said.
Newton didn't know about fission, fusion, and quantum mechanics. :) Come to think of it, the govt. ought to be underwriting transmutation research. It's at least as practical as financing the Star Wars missile defense system or abstinence as a birth control method.
David K. Oct 31, 2007, 1:40pm EDT
Darn, what am I going to do with all this lead I have? Maybe I can just make sinkers and go fishing!
David K. Oct 31, 2007, 3:51pm EDT
Darn again Melinda...this toxic chemical thing is starting to get old. Perhaps this is why the anti-chemical people get so passionate about "inherent hazard" and not just "risk."
David K. Oct 31, 2007, 4:08pm EDT
Yes, but you lowly grad students will be making the decisions that will change - or not change - the future!
David K. Nov 3, 2007, 9:05am EDT
Angela

Apparently he has a history of saying, er, let's call them "insensitive" things. I obviously don't know enough about him to pass judgment (and no one who has posted here has suggested they know him well enough either). I think we should take great care in painting someone's life with a broad brush because of something they said once. On the other hand, I believe we have an obligation not to tolerate, well, intolerance (if that isn't somehow paradoxical).

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