The New York Times has a cut a 'racist' study from a widely-condemned column by Brett Stephens on 'The Secrets of Jewish Genius.'Stephens was accused of reinforcing anti-Semitic tropes in Friday's op-ed claiming 'Ashkenazi Jews have the highest average I.Q. of any ethnic group'. Friday's piece was quickly denounced for citing a study co-authored by 'eugenicist' and 'white nationalist' Henry Harpending.A note issued by the paper said: 'Mr. Stephens was not endorsing the study or its authors' views, but it was a mistake to cite it uncritically. The effect was to leave an impression with many readers that Mr. Stephens was arguing that Jews are genetically superior. That was not his intent.'It also added that Stephens 'went on instead to argue that culture and history are crucial factors in Jewish achievements.' Stephens wrote in his column, 'Jews are, or tend to be, smart,' before referencing Harpending's 2005 paper to back up the claim. Stephens quoted an excerpt of the study, which read: 'Ashkenazi Jews have the highest average I.Q. of any ethnic group for which there are reliable data. During the 20th century, they made up about 3 percent of the U.S. population but won 27 percent of the U.S. Nobel science prizes.'According to the Southern Poverty Law Center, Harpending - who died in 2016- believed that 'accelerated evolution is most visible in differences between racial groups'. The Law Center further claims that the 2005 study referenced by Stephens in his column 'traffics in centuries-old anti-Semitic tropes'. Elsewhere, in his column, Stephens - who is himself an Ashkenazi Jew - claimed that the ethnic group 'might have a marginal advantage over their gentile peers when it comes to thinking better.' The op-ed was immediately condemned following its publication on Friday, with one Twitter user writing: 'I don't know who needs to hear this, but Jews are normal people. Some are smart, some are dumb, and most are somewhere in between. 'You should be suspicious of anyone who thinks Jews are special - that's a big part of antisemitic thinking'. NARAL Pro-Choice America president Ilyse Hogue issued a similar sentiment, stating: 'I can assure you as someone who comes from a family full of Ashkenazi Jews that we are absolutely as doltish as the next family over. This is not a good column. It is not a good look. It should stop'.Meanwhile, Hawaiian senator Brian Schatz- who is also Jewish - claimed that the piece 'crossed an important line'. New York Daily News columnist Brandon Friedman stated: 'The NYT needs to delete and retract this racist nonsense from, of course, Bret Stephens'.He added: '70 years of eugenicist writing like this ultimately led to extermination camps. Only it was targeting Jews, not praising them. This is no better.' Meanwhile, writer Jody Rosen blasted: 'Speaking as both an Ashkenazi Jew and a NYT contributor, I don't think eugenicists should be op-ed columnists.' Share this article Share Ironically, Stephens ac
NYT cuts 'racist' study from widely-condemned Brett Stephens op-ed
The New York Times has a cut a 'racist' study from a widely-condemned column by Brett Stephens on 'The Secrets of Jewish Genius.'Stephens was accused of reinforcing anti-Semitic tropes in Friday's op-ed claiming 'Ashkenazi Jews have the highest average I.Q. of any ethnic group'. Friday's piece was quickly denounced for citing a study co-authored by 'eugenicist' and 'white nationalist' Henry Harpending.A note issued by the paper said: 'Mr. Stephens was not endorsing the study or its authors' views, but it was a mistake to cite it uncritically. The effect was to leave an impression with many readers that Mr. Stephens was arguing that Jews are genetically superior. That was not his intent.'It also added that Stephens 'went on instead to argue that culture and history are crucial factors in Jewish achievements.' Stephens wrote in his column, 'Jews are, or tend to be, smart,' before referencing Harpending's 2005 paper to back up the claim. Stephens quoted an excerpt of the study, which read: 'Ashkenazi Jews have the highest average I.Q. of any ethnic group for which there are reliable data. During the 20th century, they made up about 3 percent of the U.S. population but won 27 percent of the U.S. Nobel science prizes.'According to the Southern Poverty Law Center, Harpending - who died in 2016- believed that 'accelerated evolution is most visible in differences between racial groups'. The Law Center further claims that the 2005 study referenced by Stephens in his column 'traffics in centuries-old anti-Semitic tropes'. Elsewhere, in his column, Stephens - who is himself an Ashkenazi Jew - claimed that the ethnic group 'might have a marginal advantage over their gentile peers when it comes to thinking better.' The op-ed was immediately condemned following its publication on Friday, with one Twitter user writing: 'I don't know who needs to hear this, but Jews are normal people. Some are smart, some are dumb, and most are somewhere in between. 'You should be suspicious of anyone who thinks Jews are special - that's a big part of antisemitic thinking'. NARAL Pro-Choice America president Ilyse Hogue issued a similar sentiment, stating: 'I can assure you as someone who comes from a family full of Ashkenazi Jews that we are absolutely as doltish as the next family over. This is not a good column. It is not a good look. It should stop'.Meanwhile, Hawaiian senator Brian Schatz- who is also Jewish - claimed that the piece 'crossed an important line'. New York Daily News columnist Brandon Friedman stated: 'The NYT needs to delete and retract this racist nonsense from, of course, Bret Stephens'.He added: '70 years of eugenicist writing like this ultimately led to extermination camps. Only it was targeting Jews, not praising them. This is no better.' Meanwhile, writer Jody Rosen blasted: 'Speaking as both an Ashkenazi Jew and a NYT contributor, I don't think eugenicists should be op-ed columnists.' Share this article Share Ironically, Stephens ac
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