Michael Johnson: Descendants of Slaves are Better Athletes
Retired Olympian, Michael Johnson, has raised considerable controversy over a recent statement that the descendants of slaves have special genes that make them superior athletes.
According to the Daily Mail, the decorated sprinter stated, on a Channel 4 documentary entitled ‘Michael Johnson: Survival of the Fastest,’ that “it’s impossible to think that being descended from slaves hasn’t left an imprint through the generations.” While acknowledging that he began his athletic career “through my own determination,” Johnson believes a “superior athletic gene” is that imprint.
It is a fact that track and field events have a disproportionate number of black athletes at the top of the sport. Current Olympic 100 meter champion, Usain Bolt, was born in Jamaica, and the eight finalists from 2008 are all likely to have slaves as ancestors: three Jamaicans, two from Trinidad & Tobago, two black Americans, and one from the island of Curacao, part of the Dutch Caribbean.
The Daily Mail reports that some scientists believe and are currently researching this theory—specifically that selective breeding and collection by owners and harsh living conditions created a group of human beings naturally inclined toward high, even record-shattering athletic prowess.
Johnson, who won a total of four Olympic gold medals and eight world championships prior to his retirement, had a DNA test for the documentary. It confirmed the athlete, who was born in Dallas, Texas, is of West African descent.
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Wow, so now we will become haters of one of the great sprinters of our time. take what he said and build on it; that’s what leaders do. Followers usually hate and don’t learn, and there are too many haters out there now. Nobody is always right: “Way to go Michael, way to Farrakhan, way to go all black folks who are still learning.
Oh,oh I just open a door, for all those who believe it is not about race.
Here is the problem… The discussion has to go deeper than this. The foundational genetic makeup goes back further than American history to Thousands of years of African genetic material. Origin in the Motherland and cultivation of those genes has a lot more to do with it than a mere 200+ years of slavery! Yes genetic contributions based on engineering may have contributed to the athletic makeup but it is a slippery slope you travel down to give this too much credence. It is folly to open this door and allow American history too much validation. I could only give slavery and same amount of credit that I would give a single shot in the arm of a performance enhancing drug to an athlete. Social climate, economic circumstances, and Pre-American genetics have the largest part of my vote for athletic superiority. No hating is present at all in my points… Just anthropological studies.
wow. you stated exactly whaat I was thinking. but you have put it in words much better than I could have!
You are more than on point! Well put too.
Thanks for putting the emphasis on the real issue. So many people, including my Black brothers and sisters, have been brainwashed to believe that our identity on this planet started with slavery. If there are genetic reasons for our advancements and survival–and I believe there is– then the seeds for our greatness were planted long before we were forced to live in America. Peace2U!
You make a great point
HIV is synthetic. It has been developed over a number of years and it has an affinity for people of color. What the science and medical evidence concludes is that the HIV enzyme seeks out a receptor site in the blood of the Black genome. The receptor site is the CCR5 Delta 32+ (positive) gene that all people of color have. In the same sense, on the other end of the spectrum, is the 15 percent Caucasian population of the world, which is CCR5 Delta 32-(negative) gene. That means that under no circumstances, whether HIV came through the air, intravenous drug usage or any form of s****l activity, would the virus be transferable in Caucasian sector of the world’s population, which is basically of northern European descent.
It is speculated by some experts that, in a worse case scenario, 85 percent of the world’s population could potentially perish under these designer viruses and designer synthetic biological agents. What we’re looking at here—because of this identified gene of the Black genome, this CCR5 Delta32+ (positive)—we are potentially looking at the eradication of all people of color.The bible states “My people perish for lack of knowledge. The true devil doesn’t wear red tights, a cape with horns protruding from his forehead instead, the devil incarnate are diabolical Caucasian scientist (men and women) in white lab coats.
The truth of the matter is that Robert Gallo falsified his 1984 research papers which connected HIV to AIDS. To date, there is not a test which detects HIV and no proof that HIV causes AIDS. Additionally, the “S” in AIDS stands for “syndrome” or a collection of more than twenty-five diseases which predate AIDS by a couple hundred years. The tragic truth about the whole affair is that many of the so-called HAART drugs create and mimic symtoms for AIDS, and they have deadly side effects!
And moreover, the ORIGINAL name of the syndrome we now call AIDS was GRIDS — Gay Related Immune Deficiency Syndrome. The name was changed to be politically correct. This is the first “disease” to ever become a political issue.
@Big Will
Thanks for the info.
Conditions were horrid on slave ships.
1/3 did not survive the trip across the Atlantic.
Having said that one has to ask why do East Africans dominate distance events.
The one must ask why is that out of the millions of African Americans and Africans, why do only a very few make it to the Olympics. What separates Olympians from non Olympians. What separates a gold medal winner from other Olympians. I believe the answer is between the ears.
I too choose to Believe as you do ,, Having the ‘tools ‘ without the ‘proper attitude & dedication , is potential wasted .If proven wrong I can accept it .
A lot of what separates those distance runners from East Africans is the fact that as kids they run sprints to school and back. Not a leisure jog, SPRINTS!!! They’ve been conditioning their hearts, lungs and arm and leg muscles for decades by the time they hit the cinder.
If a Russian or an Asian or even an American kid does that they could compete. I don’t think that’s genetics as much as hard work and discipline. An American kid isn’t going to do it because we have cars and buses and bicycles, and we’re just too lazy for the most part. I find it unreal that we can compete in any distance running event longer than the 800 meters, which I realize is a sprint, LOL. These non-Africans that do well in the 1,500 on up should be given a medal, LOL.
you are in denial. blacks are generally more built and stronger than other races. it is what it is.
Would you say “you are in denial” if the article was about how Africans and/or African descent people were generally less intelligent that other races? Would you then go on to say “it is what it is”?
@me112233…but,the article is not about intelligence. she’s not connecting intelligence to ones physicality. this is the problem when talking about the apparent physical prowess black athletes have over white athletes. we immediately assume that intelligence somehow comes into question. we can all agree there were atrocities committed during slavery and these can suggest stereotypes of lesser intelligence when the only “intended consequence” is a stronger more worthy athlete, of course, it’s not absolute….there are Kenyans who run long distances in Olympic event and always seem to win. where there was no slavery i’d have to think it’s environment or Darwinism…a survival of the fittest!
well, because those are falses allegations no i would not say ‘it is what it is’. but because it is true that blacks are the better atheletes, I will say it again for you, this time a little slower: ‘it-is-what-it-is’. Happy?
There once was an American kid that did that — Jim Thorpe.
Jim Thorpe was American Indian not an “American kid.” and also, when is the word “kid” no longer appropriate when talking about a full grown adult?
My prior comment was in response to “Stabmaster Arson” . . . and the context was in line with the context of Stabmaster Arson’s comments. Jim Thorpe grew up running (as in, when he was a kid, he was very active in a way that would tend to help in training for the Olympics, except back in those days, athletes either had it or they didn’t, there wasn’t anything like our modern-day training systems for athletes).
no one is saying that only blacks are good in sports. that would be stupid to say. we are merely saying that overall, blacks in general are stronger than other races.
Don’t you think that blacks were denied entry into so many other occupations for so long that sports were the more likely choice? Doesn’t it have anything to do with this? Also, would you choose to deny all of the practice it requires for sports? What happens to someone who believes it is nothing but talent? You are not giving people credit for the intelligence required to improve in any endeavor. I don’t like that. Why strive? We learn who we are when we strive.
track and field events are dominated by blacks…long distance track is dominated by Africans. running needs no other facility but the ground beneath your feet. it doesn’t cost like maybe, a pole or a disc or a swimming pool.
Yes, there’s some truth to this, however take into account the shear knowledge of events that lead up to this statement. Johnson is of African decent as well as “Native American”, and “other”. It is a compellation if you will, of many ancestors once our African ancestor was brought here. The African and Native American lineage at times, is not considered, but should very well be.
no offense, but it is highly probable that although we are mixed with the Native American blood & African, that the African blood is what makes the better, stronger athlete.
There’s absolutely NO proof in that. It’s well known that dogs and horses that are not pure breeds are often stronger and smarter and not as susceptible to disease.
Competition has a LOT to do with black athletes in the US being elite and Africans doing well in distance running. Competition makes you work harder in order to be elite…or even good at what you do no matter what the sport.
i don’t give a rat’s arce about dogs and horses. are you comparing black people to dogs and horses? i said that the African blood is likely stronger than the Native American blood. you say that dogs and horses with different bloodlines are stronger because they aren’t purebreed. what’s your point? are we dogs & horses that you would make such a comparison?
thank you, Tawanda for setting Mr.nutcracker arson back in line. were discussing humans not dogs and horses.
there is some truth to what you say…just have to be careful about how its expressed. people are very sensitive to its connotations. not, that you should care, but to sharpen your point you can better deal with it.
Tawanda: My good sister you sound a little bit like those creeps in the Third Reich.
Race has no genetic basis. There is no special gene for running sprints or long distances. To follow your logic if Blacks were stronger how come they dominate the the World’ Strong Man Competition.
Tawanda: Explain how the white boy Jeremy Wariner dominated most Blacks in the 400 Meter Sprints from 2004 to 2008? Was he a descendant of slave ancestry?
For the record the correct term when describing or talking about America’s indigenous people is First American.
Some tribes purport they were always here in the America’s at the time of creation.
Most scholars agree with the Bering Land Bridge Theory as the route that most of the ancestors of today’s First Americans took out of Asia.
There is some scholarship that supports the contention of the Pacific Coastal Route out of Asia.
Black African seafaring explorers and maybe Phoenicians landed on America in Mexico at least 1,000 years before the questioned arrivals of white explorers including Eric The Red, his son Leif Ericson, and the late arriving Christopher Columbus.
Wheres the proof of this?
All legal residents born on US soil are Native Americans.They’re place of birth or origin is on US soil thus making them Native American.
For an example a person from India who migrates to the US and becomes a US citizens is not a Native American because he or she was born on Indian soil on the subcontinent of Asia.
The correct term for the more politically enlighten for arguably America’s first indigenous immigrants is First American and not Native American. All legal residents born on US soil are in fact Native American.
I agree with much of Makar72′s critique of Michael Johnson’s asinine un-substantiated comments. However expanded commentary is necessary. One has to be cognizant of the fact there is no special gene for running the sprints nor long distances.
Michael Johnson is not qualified in the least bit to talk about the subject of genetics. No creditable Genetic Scientist in the world has suggested through their research that there is special gene in the African Geno trait that makes them sprint faster and run long distances better than any others of subject populations of the world.
There is no special gene for music or dance etc. Michael Johnson’s comments relative to the above subject are bordering on the absurd.
Mr. Michael Johnson, a white boy named Remigino won the 100 Meter Dash at the 1952 Olympic Games. Did Remigino win the 100 Meters over all Blacks throughout the Diaspora because his ancestors were slaves?
Mr. Michael Johnson: A white boy named Bobby Morrow from Abilene Christian College won both the 100 Meter Dash and 200 Meter Dash at the 1956 Summer Olympics. Did Bobby Morrow win because his ancestors were enslaved?
Mr Michael Johnson: A white German from West Germany Arrmin Hary won the 100 Meter dash at the Rome Olympics in 1960. Did he win that race because his ancestors were formerly SERFS and Peasants?
A white boy from Italy, Mr Johnson won the 200 Meters at the Rome Olympics his name was Livio Berruti. Did Mr. Berruti, have slave ancestry, Mr. Johnson?
Mr Johnson: The white boy, Pietro Mennea won the 100 Meter at the 1980 Olympic Games. Did he have serfs or slaves in his ancestry?
Mr. Michael Johnson: The pure white Russian Valeriy Borzov, won both the 100 and 200 Meter Dashes at the 1972 Olympics at Munich, Germany. Did Borzov beat all of the top Black sprinter’s in the world because his ancestors were formerly SERFS and SLAVES?
Note, Mr. Johnson none of the previous named White Sprinters were ever accused of doping including the great Borzov.
To follow your logic Mr. Johnson could you please explain why Africans in the Diaspora haven’t dominated the “World’s Strongest Man Competition? Since all of our ancestors were enslaved shouldn’t they dominate all sports competition including swimming and diving?
Various Slavic people were in enslaved for thousands of years to said Germanic tribes did that make them run faster and longer?
Whites were enslaved in Europe for at least 2,500 years. Records show their slavery began in Ancient Greece before Christ and continued in various forms throughout Europe from then until about 100 years ago in Eastern Europe. Mr. Johnson did that slavery of whites in Europe make them dominate the Olympic Games in Greece? Show us the proof?
Mr. Johnson you appear to suffer from the “Jimmy The Greek Syndrome” and you need to stick to running and coaching track. Further, Mr Johnson you need to refrain from attempting to reintroduce or repackage a new brand of scientific racism, masked with a Black face.
you try to say that whites were slaves. no, they were INDENTURED SERVANTS. you seem like a smart guy, don’t you know the difference? They were free to go and come as they please, free to choose whom and what they would marry and have s*x with, free to sleep late or rise late if they wanted;etc. They didn’t have to watch their children being taken away from them and sold. they didn’t get the blood whipped out of them. their women weren’t raped and bred like cattel, it wasn’t illegal to teach them the Bible, it wasn’t illegal for them to go to school and learn how to read and write and do math. so before you ever try to compare what African Americans went through in America’s system of slavery with any other form of ‘white slavery’ you’d better do your math buddy.
Tawanda: I will attempt to enlighten you. The Indentured Servant term started about the same time with the introduction of American/British System of Chattel Slavery in the America’s.
No where in my critique did I mention the word Indentured Servant nor did I say that Indentured were enslaved people. Did you comprehend what I said in the above critique? It makes me believe that you didn’t grasp what I was trying to convey with the above critique.
Miscegenation became such a problem in the Colony of Virginia that they passed a law in 1670 saying whites/Indentured shall not marry any African or it would be considered a criminal offense.
Indentured Servants and other whites mixed freely with enslaved Blacks and free Blacks. That’s why they passed the first miscegenation law which was directed at folks having s*x and in the institution of marriage.
More importantly the Colony of Virginia also passed a law saying that Black Africans could not purchase or buy a White person or Indentured Servants.
There were Black slave holder in the state of Virginia and throughout the Antebellum south.
The great Black scholar John Hope Franklin has written a ton about Black Slave Masters. There are numerous cases of whites being held as slaves not Indentured Servants throughout the South.
The great Black historian the late J.A. Rodgers has done exemplary scholarship in the whole area of Antebellum relationships between Blacks, Whites, Indentured Servants and First Americans.
tawanda: Slavery predates race. Throughout much of human history, societies have enslaved others, often as a result of conquest or war, even debt, but not because of physical characteristics or or belief in natural inferiority. Due to a unique set of historical circumstances, ours was the FIRST slave system where all slaves shared similar physical characteristics.
Is that clear tawanda? Both Homer and Plato write about slavery in Greece.
Tawanda: Did you know that the Hebrews were held in bondage/slavery for over 430 plus years to the Black Egyptians/Kemetians? It was a harsh brutal slavery. The Egyptian didn’t give a d**n about who you where or the color of your skin they enslaved everybody they could find and capture.
The skin texture of the Israelites and Caanities at the time of time of Joshua’s invasion was probably very similar. They were Black skin peoples.
Michael Johnson is not a scholar of ancient Europe or Europa history and neither are you.
American school textbooks dwell on Black slavery but do not mention the continued enslavement of whites after Greece and Rome.
Tawanda: The vast majority of white Americans have slave, serf and peasant backgrounds.
Read closely what I said in the above previous critique about Whites being enslaved for at least 2,500 years in Europa. I am not talking about the America’s or Indentured Servants.
White Americans must come to grips with their slave history past and both Black and whites need to be more learned about the history of slavery in Europa.
NOT TO MENTION. THE WHITE ‘SLAVES’ RECEIVED WAGES FOR THEIR LABOR. SO HOW AND WHY WOULD YOU CALL THEM SLAVES???
Ms Twanda, I do not beleive Mr. Saunders is limiting his observations of slavery as it existed for Africans on this continent. He is presenting the broader view of the institution from a worldwide historical perspective.
But even if it is limited to this continent, Africans were not the only group of people that suffered the most harshness of indefinite slavery. Native Americans during the early perionds of colonization of North, Central and South Americans suffered the same if not worse conditions as the Africans. I say worse because this was their homeland.
As a matter of fact there were some colonies that exported Native Americans to West Indian colonies to exist in the same capacity. It is estimated the colony of South Carolina exported over 24,000 Native North Americans to Barbados as slaves. The only reason the Natives got out of the yoke was the Europeans determined the Africans made better slaves.
That same above resoning applied to the discontinuance of indentured servitude.
From an historical point of view African Americans do not hold a monoply on being the victims of harsh and cruel slavery.
I would even daresay that from an historical point of view there probably is not an ethic/racial group on the planet that did not suffer as victims of harsh and cruel slavery at one point or another.
But getting back to Mr. Johnson’s comments – I do not feel that genetic engineering that occured during the domestic slave trade did much of anything to make African Americans natually equipped to excel in sports. If that was so the NHL would be a mirror reflection of the NBA. Major league baseball would still be dominated by African Americans. We excel at those thing we have an interest in. An interest so deep so as to greatly sacrifice our interest in other endeavors.If African American kids had as much interest in educational activities as Asian kids their test scores and achviements would also hit the roof. Lets be factual about this, the results would extend into their adulthood.
Of course now their would be fewer, Mr, Johnsons, Mr. Sayers, Mr. Simpsons, Mr. Jordons, Mr. Mays, etc.
your definition that all legal residence born on US soil are Native Americans, sounds like Anglo Saxon language. if you ask the American Indian there may be some disagrement with that. that being said, your comments are poignant and raise many questions and comments.
Michael Johnson offers no evidence for making this statement. other than what he has observed, his comments are un-substantiated but, i will not doubt that slavery has to be factored in when explaining the prowess of the black athlete.
it’s difficult not to notice that everyone who medals in 100m 200m is from a country which practiced slavery. the descendants of slavery are stronger and faster than that of his African counterpart who is slight in build but endures over long distance with lungs the size of balloons they sweep the medals. Environment, training, diet and opportunity are some other factors to consider.
there may be no special gene for this apparent show of athleticism. as you say, there is no special gene for dance or music, but, i will almost guarantee that if someone 6′ tall marries another tall person, their children will more than likely be tall or taller. it seems to follow, also, with those born of parents with talent. this is not absolute, of course…Elvis Presely’s daughter had none of her father’s talent.
In 1952, blacks were not given much opportunity to compete on the Olympic stage which is probably why a white boy named Remigino won the 100m gold. In comparison Jesse Owens won gold in 1936. i won’t disparage the other pure white athletes you mention, however, just because there was no performance enhancing drugs found can also mean there were ways of masking it??
no. those you have mentioned were not victims of slavery, but they were playing on an field without a full representation of other world qualified, but denied athletes…lets call it American selectivism? kinda like… when the US boycotted the 1980 Olympics the Russians won everything because the biggest and best were not on the field.
yes, where was Jamacia and the rest of ‘em? like i said, opportunity, training, proper diet and all not so available as it was for the white athlete. sorry, it was part of life’s harsh realities.
One last thing, because i’ve already said more than i intended, i think, blacks do not dominate the worlds strong man contest for reasons that may be peer driven. the athlete, on the field of play, on the court or on the track, tends to excell in the sport they prefer, and it is on the track where some see a mighty evidence that the black athlete does it with speed!
mannyjones: Great comments my good brother. Note Manny the term Native American was first coined by White Americans.
The white academic community in the 1970′s came up with the term Native American to relieve them of 500+ years of white guilt. As usual Blacks fell in line using the term after white people started this non-sense about Native American to be politically correct.
Black people start using the term Native American after white people gave it validation without using any semblance of critical thinking skills.
Some of us say that’s having a slave mentality.
I sat down with the Pawmunkey’s, and Chickahominy elders and they preferred to be called First Americans. Dr. Adkins of the Chickahominy tribe states what I have stated above in reference to Native American. Dr. Adkins is a full blood Chickahominy. Dr. Adkins states they are the First Americans and they should be called First American.
My dad was a member of the Lakota tribe of the Council of Three Rivers American Indian Center in Oakmont PA.
The correct term would be America’s First Indigenous People but that’s too long.
There are some indigenous people who prefer to be called Indian, Native American but the correct short term would be First American.
When a group of First Americans filed a law suit against the Redskins there were some indigenous people who protested against the lawsuit saying they like being called Redskins and Indians. I believe they were sell outs or not enlighten. The SP throughout the law suit on a technicality because they didn’t want to deal with the merits of the lawsuit.
Did Blacks have the opportunity to compete in the 1936 Olympics in Berlin Germany? The answer is yes and they also had the opportunity to compete in the 1952 Olympics. When Bobby Morrow beat all the Black sprinters in the world in 1956 in 100 and 200 meters did Blacks have a chance to compete? I must say that they didn’t have as much opportunity to compete in 1952 or 1956 but h**l what year did Jesse win four goal medals? If there was brother out there in 1956 who was great he would have emerged to compete against Bobby Morrow.
In 1972, Borzov beat all the great Black sprinters in the world in 100 and 200 Meters dash. Are you going to make the argument that Blacks didn’t have equality of opportunity in 1972 when Borzov kicked all their behinds?
Wherein the white boy Jeremy Wariner dominated the 400 Meter Sprint from 2003 to 2008 and he beat the best Black sprinter’s in the world during this period. So are you going to tell me that Blacks did not have the opportunity to compete in the 400 Meters in the last 9 years? Yes he lost in 2008 in China to a Black man.
But the point is Michael Johnson’s bogus argument doesn’t hold water.
Most traits are inherited independently from one another. The genes influencing skin color have nothing to do with the genes influencing hair form, eye shape, blood type, musical talent, athletic ability or forms of intelligence. Knowing someone’s skin color doesn’t necessarily tell you anything else about him or her.
I ran in 78 races in the 100 and 220 yard dash and I won 74 out of 78 races. I never lost a race to a white boy.
I swam in 119 competitive races and I lost 7. I beat white boys in all of those races except for six. I beat Robert Coy a Black man in the 50 Meter Freestyle and I beat a Black guy from Oliver in the 100 Meter Freestyle. The last Black guy to beat me was the first African American to score in a NCAA Championship in Swimming and his name is Nate Clark. Nate Clark my swimming buddy is in the International Swimming Hall Of Fame. He made All American at Ohio State in 1961, 1962, 1963 and All Big Ten in subject years. Ohio State was the premier school in swimming.
I dominated in swimming and track because of a superior diet, a harder training regimen and a fierce work ethic. I knew that when I stepped into the Blocks I knew that I had the better diet, worked harder in training and had better coaches than most.
My mother always said in order to be a champion you had the eat like a champion, train like a champion and act like a champion both on and off the field or pool. That was good advice and it didn’t have a d**n thing to do with some of my ancestors being enslaved Africans.
i appreciate your comments, Ronald. well said.
This is an opportunity for Black America to have this discussion. In my opinion Blacks’ genetic make up theoretically should make us the best of all humans. Our muscles are different, our motor nerves are the best human can offer, we are the most creative and our color helps protect us from the harsh environment. I am not being a person with superiority complexes, just stating a scientific truth. Prove me wrong scientifically!
This is a topic that the white race do not want to discuss because the truth will be revealed about their genetic make up which is different. Even though it is very obvious that we are different, but he does not want to discuss this topic. Jimmy the Greek made similar comments decades ago about African American Athletes in my opinion was truthful, but he was fired by the network for telling the truth. (There goes freedom of speech out the window.)
It stands to reason that the best of the slaves from Africa survived the passage, and the best survived the American Slavery culture that culminated in a superior being. We need to be cognizant of this.
However we are letting it slip away by not being aware of our past, and using the past to better our future. It starts with the family structure, our educational system, our religion and behaviors. If we do not take the proper grip of these we will divert to a lesser person than our capabilities.
Oh Floyd I love it!! I agree with you 100%.
floyd, we are the descendents of the Egyptians, for better or for worse. we are indeed the descendents of pharoahs and kings. for better or for worse. we are them.
and queens. we are the descendents of the queens of Egypt. sorry I forgot to add the queens.
Ms Tawanda I beg to differ with your comments about us being descendants of Egyptians. No way in h**l can you make a connection with West Africans and Egyptians.
THIS is good stuff, Floyd!
Virtually all people living on earth today have ancestors that lived in various forms of involuntary servitude (slavery). Plato writes about how a master should deal with his slaves and in Plato’s time (many thousands of years ago) the slaves were Caucasians. Slave owners in African empires required that all male Caucasian slaves be castrated before being shipped across the Mediterranean (Read The Quest for El Cid, by Richard Fletcher). There’s nothing special about black people. They are just regular people whose ancestors lived close to the equator were the sun shines directly down on the earth. Caucasians’ ancestors lived far from the equator where the sun shines less directly onto the earth. Otherwise there is nothing special about any of us from a biology point of view. Joseph L. Bass, Ed.D. http://www.abettersociety.info
It is wonderful that you allow a brief knowledge of history to creep into your awareness. However your reasoning is void. If for nothing else the shear nature of the daily activities of the generations of black slavery victims during that time dictated that the body adapt to the amount of labor required to survive. Now if the black man had been left I undisturbed in Africa, the daily activities STILL dictated more of a demand on the physical body than the lifestyle of those living in the traditional east European culture. To say that the black man has no special genes is wishful thinking on your part and ignorance of the bare statistics that show themselves everyday. I doubt that you would be so quick to deny the obvious if you had an opportunity to profit or lose directly from an athletic team. I am sure your choices of whom should and shouldn’t be allowed to make or lose you money wouldn’t sound the same as what you have previously stated.
Think..You talk about enduring climatic conditions while performing daily activites – well doubt very seriously if many Africans or their descendents ever had to face the rigors of a Russian winter. Living in a thatch and stone or wood hut and keeping warm with only a hearth fire.Now you talk about physicality!
No matter the location of any specific race, there is a generational history of manual labor under adverse climatic conditions, that had to be taken to survive.
I think that we all forget the fact the work slaves(African and Native) did were intially being done by Europeans.It was only after the percieved need for expansion did slavery come into being.
In no way do my comments in anyway downgrade the physical suffering and the human degradation of the African in the New World or anywhere else for that matter. I am merely pointing out that we are not the only ones that went through a cycle of continous manual labor.. Therefore in my opinion, slavery being a breeding ground for todays African American athlete excelling is not true. We simply focus more and train harder than others.
@ joseph: you say there is nothing special about black people! not sure why an educated person would make that statement.
if you know anything about anthropology, you would know civilization started in africa and all racial groups on earth trace their ancestors back to africa to a black women…who is the mother of civilization!
that sir…is special!
‘various forms of slavery’? yes, but the white european ‘slaves’ you speak of usually received wages for their work. they were indentured servants, so don’t you ever compare that to what blacks endured. you got paid to pick cotton, we didn’t. you got paid for whatever you did, we didnt’. we got raped, whipped, bred like cattle, hung, lynched, burned, don’t you compare others with us.
we built the pyramids. you lived in caves.
Wow…what a d**n fool he is. We continue to alloow white folks thinkhey should get credit for everything we achieve somehow. No black peoople are superior human bodies becuase we are the FIRST PEOPLE to populate this planet we had to accomplish by using intelliigent suurvival instincts and being physicaly capable to nomad through out the rough terrains of Africa, and populate the rest of the continets. This required sometime speed (animals) or endurance long journeys. This is why some black people of west africa have large buttocks for speed and jumping,and blacks of east Africa are long and lean for long travels of endurance….Babies all our genetic blessings was already in us way before we got here. Thats why we even MADE IT HERE.Btw, all of our prehistoric ancestors was already here. Native amerricans,our appearence changed with our enviorment…includiing them white folks they came to be
bcause black africans first. humans , made it possible.
. humans made it possible. If u have any melanin and any of your
…continued) if u have to melanin and both or either of your immedddiate parents are decandants of sub Sahara Africa b e proud cause u are the living eviddence of these Great first humans to populate and negotiate with bad a*s planet of ouurs calleed earth in oder to survive her.
I just think it is a reckless comment.
That is because some people have the audacity to speak what they feel rather than confirm to what accepted by the masses. I am sure anyone that would make a statement such as this has more to say that they have chosen to remain somewhat safe by refraining from discussing what is not not popular. We often consider celebrities to be subjected to our opinions rather than realize they have their own opinions as well as feelings. This man chose to speak on something that has been in discussion in the scientific community long before now. He is only being chastised because unfortunately society as a whole is taught to have a closed mind with little to know knowledge or even contemplation of things that could be considered controversial in the least. I in no way justify the slave trade our black ancestors endured. Those that benefited from it only preyed on the already evident inherit strength an entire race of people had before the atrocities began.
Just want to say sorry for bad spelling and puunctuation errors. Im typing from my little tiny keys on my mobile at work.but just had to respond now cause this artiicle made me mad. Hope yall understood jist of what im trying to say. May resubmit later properly edited.
this is juststupid and no black people was not the first to pipulate the planet no one knows who was the first asia and africa are the ooldest continents in the world
Thankfully, in our current information age ‘YOU’ don’t have to remain ignorant. I suggest taking some time away from your computer/video games and do some research on this very important issue- Peace
@diablo
d**n this is 2012…take an anthropology class or google where did civilization start to ensure you don’t show your ignorance! stupid should hurt!
my apology to you if you live in a cave.
when europeon jews dominated basketball, it was said that they had an unfair advantage because they were smarter. the game is more complicated today as blacks dominate but they now say it is the athleticism that is the key.
for enslaved Africans, the trip from the interior of Africa to the coast, the stay in the dungeons, the middle passage,and then finally the survival of the sick institution of US slavery produced a human with superior mental and physical skills.
those in power know this. every country from germany, to china, to russia have examined the dna of blacks to find out why they are special. it is the survival of slavery combined with the gift of melanin (that the ignorant hate) that give Blacks the edge.
oh yes, as African American become lighter and lighter, they will become less and less of a factor in sports.
you fool. you forgeet that it is the blood of pharoahs and queens that run through our veins. i would like to think that accounts for something!
Nothing to do with slavery black folks have naturally better genetics to begin with.
@Joseph L. Bass, EdD, For you to make that statement it appears you have issue with the original opinion being, athletes of African American decendent are superior. Have a problem with that, or you can’t handle the truth?
I’ve been wanting to say this for a long time: Generally speaking, people of African descent are blessed with a bone structure and physique, as well as general capabilities that are superior to any other race on earth. The result is not only great strength but also supreme beauty. This is one of the major reasons why some white people seek to keep black people down. They know, that given the opportunities, the average black person will excel to greater heights than the average white person and racists are afraid of that fact. I’m a white person who cherishes and celebrates the greatness in others, whoever they are and wherever they come from. I also recognize the outstanding beauty I see in people of African descent.
thank you baby.
I’m European and very tall, but I still think black people have a stronger bone structure than I do, especially in the face. Black people also usually have long arms, fingers, and long legs. I don’t want to sound racist, but in the 19th century people thought this was because black people were closer to their evolutionary ancestors in facial and bone structure. I don’t know if this is a fact, and I don’t really believe in evolution, but that’s just one theory. Or there may be something about living closer to the equator and getting all that heat that toughened a black persons physique and bone structure in a way that didn’t happen for Europeans. As to Johnson’s comment, all humans were at one point slaves in the ancient world so I don’t think slavery had much or anything to do with it. I am still tough as a European, and I can easily weigh 250 lbs and still look normal (not fat at all, nor skinny) because of my large bone structure, but I still have to give a little bit of the advantage bodily to Africans. It’s just the way God made them. That being said, I am stronger than a lot of black people, just probably not as strong as a black person with equal height and muscle structure as me.
@Dan I completely respect you for speaking so unselfishly toward what you believe. I hope that in the future I can take as objective of a stance of things that would require me to be more knowledgable than biased. You have just further perpetuated my motivation for today.
so let me get this straight, there is a probability that blacks are stronger and longer because they are related to animals? i know you aren’t saying this, but you insist that others say this. wow. talk about sour grapes. if our long arms and legs comes because we are related to animals, where does yours come from? that’s a d**n shame the white folks will use any thing to compensate for their weakness. even suggest that we are animals, not human. they made jesse owens race against horses to feed his family. this man out ran Hitler’s runners and won medals, but when he came back to America because of racism he couldnt find a job, and the white folks thought it would be a good idea to pay him to race horses. and he did it! the fool allowed them to compare him to a beast and he raced horses. i know he just wanted to feed his family but as a woman i’d rather my husband let us starve rather than do that. sorry.
Black, white, yellow, or whatever, I cannot stsnd ignorate-a$$ comments when it comes to our race! I cannot remember that last remarkable thing Mr. Johnson said, I still cannot! There has never been a European institution that can take credit for what God has given us the ability to do. I am not entertaining the thoughts of this man, to even to the very depths of those who died during the middle passage.
Drs Dana Brooks and Ron Althouse have written a book entitled “Racism in College Athletics” and they pay particular attention to this issue in the chapter; Myths and Stereotypes of the black athlete. This may settle this dispute and they both say..”no scientist or researchers are willing to present any factual evidence to support this “myth”….and, why are out numbers so great in 2 maybe 3 sports? If we are superior athletics (and its genetics) why don’t you see these same numbers in soccer, swimming, diving, gymnastics etc.? Mike, you are a scientist and should know better.
thank you, if genetics was true, black people would dominate the medal count in the olympics..and we do not!
the white man brainwashed us to believe we are only gifted in the areas sports and entertainment. look at how many of this site are buing into that bull c**p. and we wonder why so many of our kids want to be athletes and entertainers.
if i’m wrong, check out how many times a white man won the high jump in the olympics. the high jump champion last week at the olympic trials is white.
also, they said the same thing about the italians when they dominated boxing. all of this anedotal evidence leads to us acting like the racist white supremist who wrote the bell curve.
come on, like the man said no scientist or researcher will support this theory.
Thanks for that DB, RA, shout-out I worked with them at the great WVU Mountaineers home in Morgantown, WV. Also a white guy that was quoted in some of the writngs is Stanley Eitzen, (RET) CO State U. And Harry Edwards and Bill Rhodden (“Million Dollar Slaves”) and more that I listed in my thesis. The data is definitely out there. Its not good territory to be on because we get compared to gazzelles and gorillas as it is, so the faster was are seen as a group the more asssociation with the primates we become, which is cool with me, (we lived among them in Africa) but in America, we are then given low IQ potentiality that I cannot tolerate. Its the body and the brain dichotmy Harry Edwards talks about. The white man is the agent (brains) and we are the body that generates $$$ long after the brotha’s career is over! He likes that we want to be the body and not the brain. Put his harvard education to work. LOL
Salaam
you know d**n well that white folks are sea animals! they must be born with scales and finns because even they little babies are in the water swimming like it aint no joke. i’m 32 and i can’t swim. i have tried. but i can’t. i look over and i see some 4 yr old white kids diving in the water. wtf?!
I bet if you started at four you might have overcame your fear of water millions of black swim like fish
I am concerned about going down this path of reasoning because it gives ammunition to those who might say that DNA and genetics is linked to greater brain power among Asians and Europeans, when compared to people of African descent. They will use the ‘Africans are physically superior’ argument to promote the claim of intellectual supremacy among Asians and Europeans, based on genetics. Be careful, we might be going down a slippery slope. The theories promoted by Jean Philippe Rushton in his book “Race, Evolution, and Behavior” come to mind.
I have always been curious as to why Black Americans have dominated the sprints and do very well in the long jump,basketball and boxing but are almost invisable in most other Olympic sports.Where are our winter Olympians?Where are our skiers and ice skaters?We can’t say we don’t live in cold places because we live in all 50 states.To me it’s all about interest.We are not as interested in other sporting arenas and so seldom show up there.That makes me inclined to believe that we aren’t genetically superior athletes overall,but may have physical traits that make us good in certain sports.
what a idiotic thing to say. some people need a muzzle over their mouth. you silly, ignorant man.
lol
Slavery affected Black people in a number of ways and it’s quite possible that it contributed in some small way to Blacks being superior athletes. Blacks were superior physical specimens long before slavery. Slavery was born out of the desire by the slave owners to find and enslave superior human specimens to do their labor. This argument could be applied to everything pertaining to Black people post slavery and if we spend our time talking about it or dwelling on it only adds to the dependency and justification some of us have for our present social and economic situation.
As a few of you have already mentioned his non-intellectual hypothesis does not take into account of Africans who were never in bondage in the first place. Granted, genetics has a great deal to do with our ability to sprint like nobody’s business but that is as far as it goes. Some folks have to give the whiteman credit for every part of our success and give them a pass on our failures.
I guess back in the 1800′s the slave masters had there own n****r olympics and bred their “property” accordingly
Sorry, you made me chuckle. The obsurdity of the notion of the “n****r olympics” hit a cord for some reason. I think the next time “they” revise the history books for school children, it should be added. (I mean, the history books are virutally works of fiction already, when one considers the things that are intentionally left out and the the obscure things that get included, and the occasional outright lie woven in.)
We are superior, in whatever field we choose, sports was the means for some blacks to achieve the American Dream without an Education. Just because you have a PHD, MBA or work for the IRS don’t mean you’re going to make as much money as your white conterparts. We came to this country in the belly of Slave ships all of us speaking different African languages, we all learned 1 language english, and were taught by people who couldn’t speak the queens english themselves. Every hurdle put in front of us we made it over, but when you think the race is nearing and end, up pops another hurdle. What other race has had to forget their language and learn English to live in this country? Jews got Reparations for the holocoust just like the Jappanese got Reparations after the U.S droped the Atom Bumb on Japan, We are the strongiest race of people . Mind, body and soul. Divid us as a race and allowing 1 black have to speak for the black have-nots. Has gotten us know-where fast. How many elections have we had with at least 1 black to choose from, now Presidency? We’ve had to be twice as good and had to pay twice as much. So yeah we badass
Really, whatever the field? Sounds a bit like what Hitler espoused. Good luck getting the masses to believe that nonsense and thanks to Jesse Owens we saw where that sort of thinking can lead! ; )
Hello! A few conditions have come together to make us great athletes, singers and musicians. We were first Africans but not all Egyptians or Ethiopians. Most of our foreparents came from West Africa, that part of the continent closer and more accessible to slave ships sailing from Europe and the New World. We brought music with us and that could not be beaten out of us. Our languages were stamped out and our cultures largely diluted but we’ve managed to hold onto some of both to this day. The middle passage was horrible and the strongest survived, a well known fact. But with relatively few exceptions (yes, I know about them also, )what have those who came out of slavery been allowed to do? To sing, to run and to dance. And, yes, many of us have excelled at hese activities. Do I need to say this excellence is the result of racial oppression? Without that condition, and given equality in education and academic opportunity, would we have the show of athletic excellence we have today among African Americans? I doubt it. Making it to the Olympics is another question, more modern, but I would bet the dearth of Black competitors in sports other than track and pole vaulting has something more to do with racial discrimination than with superior or inferior genes.
Cool heads will perceive more. There was some selective breeding (Mandingo) during slavery. Only the strongest survived the trip from Africa. Slaves were bred for strength, endurance and speed, not on academic prowess. We should not read too much into genetics because it can lead to racism (the belief that one’s race is superior to all others). That will avail nothing as far as solving the problems at hand.
john ‘slaves were not bred for on academic prowess’… and your point is what? it is a fair wager to say they weren’t bred for stupidity prowess as well. did the slaveholders measure their intelligence before breeding? if not, how do you know how intelligent or unintelligent slaves were?
Dear runner,
Read up on your history before making such uninformed statements. As mentioned above, your African
genes go back much further than American slavery. Don’t you realize that by such a statement you have
given validation to a most brutal and inhumane part of our history? Remember this, It was your African genes that made you appear so suitable for slavery in the first place. Your superior physicality, you stature, your obvious strength, so don’t give slavery credit for this, that’s just plain uneducated.
Mr. Johnson is definitely on the “FAST TRACK”!. However, one must turn to the precursor of SLAVERY, the AFRICAN SLAVE TRADE. This six month passaqge across the savage Alantic weeded out all but the best. Only the fittest survived the trip. And, from that lot arose those who populated the planatations in the Carribbean, where the “SEASONING PROCESS” ocurred to weed out further other undesireables and weaklings. So, before Africans arrived in the British North American Colonies, they had to survive two stern tests.
From 1660 through the end of the importation of slaves from Africa to the U. S. in 1808, it was “survival of the fittest”. With the end of the importation came the development of the “Interstate Slave Trade”, for which the brawniest males and choiciest females were specifically targeted for breeding purposes.
Need more be said?
Interesting. There are a lot of theories about this, but I believe slavery did one thing above all else: it made us better slaves. Our communities are a wreck from California to New York, and our kids are gunning each other down on the streets of Chicago, but we’re focused on why black people run so fast. What we should be focused on his why it’s so easy for us to kill each other. Slavery made it easier for us to kill our brothers.
Finally Jimmydeanbakker brings some common sense to this discussion!!
as a black man I want to say that this assertion by Johnson is absolutely rediculous.It all has to do with natural genes and not slavery.I remember when Jimmy the Greek once made this stupid assertion about 20 years ago,I never knew a Black person evr would. There was absolutely positively nothing advantageous about slavery.
It ALL has to do w/ genes? Got any proof? That’s what I thought…..
There’s a lot of truth in MJ’s belief. Another one is how the church humbles the Black man throughout slavery. Hence we dare rebel in earnest yet seek comfort in that which isn’t there. Perhaps Malcolm X would have succeeded in uniting Afro Americans and totally overturned the system were it not for the Church.We cry the minuet we take to the streets in droves but not when we wana gun down each other on the side walk. Repetition becomes culture, culture invade our learning, which become GENES. Rhythm & Soul is genetic and I ain’t need no scientist to tell me that
Fact: We know there was an extensive selective program during the bondage years 1690-1865 for Black people. This program found it’s beginning in Africa with the slave merchant’s selective examination of their Human cargo. They choose only those Africans who they deemed able body enough to make the long journey to America with minimum accommodations and provisions. The journey itself was a survival of the fittest experience given the horrible conditions placed on the slaves during the African Holocaust commonly known as the Great Crossing. We know this Crossing of the Atlantic by the Slave ships killed thousands of Slaves. Then there was the selective breeding program instituted by the plantation owners to increase the vitality of their human stock. All of these evolutionary operations must have impacted the larger population of Black people significantly given the level of knowledge we now possess about such influence on heredity.
It is also the case that we are more than somewhat aware of genetic physiology’s impact on psychology and the fact that any traits enhanced or breed into an organism removes or diminishes other characteristics about that organism.
For me the case is simple. We are the product of a sick and vicious experiment than increase our predispositions to more negative factors and or characteristics than good ones.
I may offend some people with my comments so be warned:
It appears that none of the comments thus far (regardless of the fact that some are Phd and feel the need to state it) seem to have grasped the basics.
It seems that some have deliberately, or through ignorance decided that mix Evolution through Natural Selection with Genetics.
The two subjects are not a ANSWER in themselves for the reason that the descendants of slaves have ‘Dominated’ Sprint Athletics.
No one has taken into account the fact that even if the Human Genome DNA sequence has been mapped for some 10 years now.
No Genetic pre-disposition for the ability to run 100/200/400 meters faster than another racial group has been identified.
No credible Scientist would dare stick there head above the parapet and say, this genetic sequence is the sole reason for a racial group excelling.
The reason is that the environmental considerations are immeasurable.
This is a great Olympian (Johnson) with no scientific training, back up by a bunch of people with a agenda.
If I use the logic perpetuated thus far, then the Caucasoid whom are closely to the Neanderthal (only found in Europe), man than he is to Homosapien (out of Africa) is genetically less intelligent that Homosapien.
Why because we know that Neanderthal man was genetically redhead and had a small brain compared to his African counterpart.
Yet no one with a specific agenda would accept that and would develop counter-science to combat that idea.
Remember despite what many may think there Science and it’s evidence is not agenda driven until someone who has an agenda attempts set one.
This rather lazy science dressed up as fact is the same one used to drive the following agenda:
The bell curve theory
Why can’t Black swim as well as whites
Why men are smarter than women
Just my two pennies worth
Dr. Wardell Johnson: As you should know, race has no genetic basis. Not one characteristic, trait, or even gene distinguishes all members of one-so-called race from all members of another so-called race.
Unlike many animals humans haven’t been around long enough or isolated enough to evolve into separate subspecies or races. Despite surface appearances, we are one of the most similar of all species.
Skin color really is only skin deep. Most traits are inherited independently from one another. The gene influencing skin color have nothing to do with the gene influencing hair form,eye shape, blood type, musical talent, athletic ability or forms of intelligence. Knowing someone’s skin color doesn’t necessarily tell you anything else about him or her.
Mr. Michael Johnson is not remotely qualified to discuss whether African descended Blacks from West Africa have different body types and different physiological structures that allow them to have advantages in one sport or another. Further Mr. Johnson is not qualified or certified to suggest through his research that there is a genetic basis for these kinds of differences. Mr. Johnson does not take into account the effect of culture, environment,training, can have on what one can do in the athletic arena.
Septimus: Note me and my buddy, Nate Clark lost very few races in swimming to white boy’s. Nate Clark is in the International Swimming Hall Of Fame and the Ohio State University Hall-Of Fame.
I beat white boy’s in 104 races in competitive swimming while loosing a total 7. So I won 104 races out of a total of 111. That’s not bad is it, Septimus?
It was against our religion to loose to any white boy, whether it was in swimming, track or on the, ACT, SAT, Stanford Benet, LSAT, Spanish Spelling Bee, etc.
Your comments about women being smarter than men are ridiculous and border on the absurd.
Women are smarter than men and when given the chance and opportunity they exceed men in all fields of endeavors.
In reply your accusations about the fact I mention the IDEA PERPETRATED by some about women to SHOW THE ABSURDITY of it.
Don’t ever try and twist my words to suit your argument deal in the context they were said.
I note you never had the backbone to contest my other example about the filthy idea of the bell curve yet in your cowardly attempts to make yourself look good you choose the women argument and attempt to take it out of context a pathetic, idiotic childless jibe.
I’m of African descent and I swim in Triathlons, well aware of the ‘idea’ about Black people swimming.
Note I only mention it in context of your boastful attempts again to make yourself look good.
Your more ego driven than you are to have a genuine debate.
Septiumus: I agree with your comment about the context in which you mention women. You were right and I was wrong and I apologize for attacking you on that basis.
I agree with your comments about the Bell Curve. I do not have an inflated ego. I was stating some facts about my swimming career in the historical context of Afro-Americans swimming in the United States of America.
I do agree with much of what you stated in your comment of July 6 but I could care less whether you are of African descent.
Don’t all human beings have a African Geno Trait.
Septiumus: Let’s have a genuine debate! Micheal Johnson the non scientist contends that descendants of enslaved Africans are better athletes and that they have a superior athletic gene. Mr. Johnson provides no factual data, no semblance of research or evidentiary proof to substantiate his false assertions and opinions.
Mr. Johnson cannot verify that everyone of the Afro-Americans, Afro- Caribbeans,Afro-English that have won all the sprints races which includes the 100 to 400 Meters in said Olympics had enslaved ancestry and he has failed to establish whether there is a correlation with winning the sprints and having slave ancestry.
If you even have the audacity to buy into his logic that Blacks have a superior athletic gene then they should dominate all Olympic sports. You cannot turn this superior athletic gene on and off it should work for all sports.
One cannot just turn this superior athletic gene on for track and some field events. It should work for swimming the 1500 Meters, 800 Meters, 400 IM, 200 IM and all swimming and diving events etc.
Oh! So this is just a special athletic gene for running faster and sprinting?
Perhaps Mr. Johnson can explain whether the superior athletic gene turns off for swimming and only works for Track & Field Events?
Furthermore, Mr. Johnson the astute Historian, Geneticist, Evolutionary Biologist and Scientist fails to mention the fact that many African Americans also have the genes of the white Plantation Masters in their gene pool.
Mr. Johnson fails to show why my brothers from the Motherland have not dominated all the sprints and long runs in the Olympics because they would tend not have their blood contaminated with white genes or Indigenous genes? I am fully aware of the long distance success of the East Africans from Kenya, Tanzania, Uganda, Eritrea, Ethiopia and the impact of environment, climate and diet can have on training/running in high altitudes.
How do we know that Jesse Owen’s great grandfather wasn’t white Plantation Owner? We do know that the great Muhammad Ali had a white great grandfather from Ireland who was a slave master. Did that make Ali hit his opponents harder and faster?
Mr. Johnson fails to point out that Colonialism has effected Africans from the Motherland in a like or similar manner as descendants of the enslaved in the Americas.
So shouldn’t all Blacks Africans except for the Ethiopians have this superior athletic gene also? The Ethiopians did not live under European rule for any significant period of time and they fought against the Italians gallantly in Eritrea and all over Ethiopia until their country was finally liberated. The Ethiopians had kicked the Italians behinds in the early 1900 hundreds. So Mussolini’s invasion of the Cush/Abyssinia/Ethiopia in 1935 was all about revenge and to get a stake hold in East Africa.
I am very sorry that you confused my comments of confidence with ego. I am very proud to be an African American Black Man. Further I have always promised to give back to my community in a positive manner and I have always tried to teach our young men and women to give back to their communities in a positive way.
I thank you for your time and consideration and your feedback is most appreciated.
Ronald,
Can you please point out in what I’d said previously that in anyway contradicts what you’ve attempted to say?
I’n fully versed in genetic traits,perceived advantage mutation etc.
If you’d taken the time read correctly what I’d wrote earlier you’d have noticed that I stated that even though the Human Genome has been mapped, no credible evidence has specified which factors assist in a particular trait or expression.
Furthermore what environmental factors, ‘switch on’ genes as it were.
I’m not entirely sure you have read my comments correctly.
Big Will
Thanks for the info.
He might be right,I think genetics and a lot of practice plays a dominat part, we did have to do a lot of running trying to get away from Massa because he was right behind us with that whip!! As far as swimming is concerned most Blacks can’t swim so the White boys and girls will always dominate that catagory. Whem Massa was chasing us and if we ran to the river he knew for sure he had us then because we would come out of the water or drown@@ LOL
Bernie you crazy. Oh wait…Maybe all the great black athelets that are descendants of American X slaves are direct descendants of Toby or Kuta Kenttae. And we all know massa eventually cut his feet off before he broke a record.
Our greatness is found in the fact that our/black people genes are the oringinal genes of humanity which all races come from on this planet. Johnson either does not know that fact like some who have commented and condemed his half truth or he is of those just afraid to speak complete truth in the face of this white racist society!!
MICHAEL JOHNSON NEEDS TO SEE THAT TELEVISION FOOTAGE OF CBS SPORTS COMMENTATOR JIMMY THE GREEK FROM 1990 AND WHAT HE SAID ABOUT BLACK ATHLETES NOT BEING AS GOOD AS THEY ARE BECAUSE IT WAS NOT A NATURAL TALENT.BUT BECAUSE IT WAS THE MASSAH WHO BRED THEM AND MADE THEM THAT WAY.THEN I KNOW HE WILL RETRACT HIS WORDS.
People love to take credit even if it is not warranted. Sometimes myths are born and grow and grow and grow, like the extremely large genitalia black men were supposed to have. Some people still believe that. Certain things are self evident like floaters and sinkers. I am talking about swimming, where blacks have yet to make their mark. The same muscles and bone density that make you a good tackler will drown you when the boat flips over.
There has been research underway that is addressing the theory of past experiences of our ancestors affecting the genes in future generations. If you get an opportunity watch the documentary “Ghost in Your Genes” which can be found on youtube and then revisit this discussion!
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