Every so often, like a bad case of hemorrhoids, the race/IQ/genetics kerfuffle flairs up. Well, the Mad Biologist can settle it once and for all.

NAEP math scores have been used as proxies for IQ (pdf, pdf)*. If we look at the NAEP 8th grade math data for 2011, when we compare students with college educated parents who aren’t poor, there is a about a twenty point gap in scores for any given socioeconomic group between black and white students (where a ten point difference roughly corresponds to one grade level). We know conclusively, based on studies in marginal journals edited by racists, that this racial difference is largely genetic (and we have controlled for a deleterious environment by excluding poor students and poorly educated parents). For instance, in Massachusetts, white students (with college educated parents who aren’t poor) have an average score of 312, while black students have a score of 291 (p less than 10^-6). Meanwhile, Alabama whites score 293, with no significance difference compared to black students in Massachusetts (p = 0.49). The gap between Massachusetts whites and Massachusetts blacks is the same as the gap between Massachusetts and Alabama whites.

Ergo, Alabama whites are also genetically inferior untermenschen whom we should not waste our time trying to educate. Look, I’m just bravely telling it like it is. If it doesn’t fit for your conservative preconceptions, that’s too bad. We have to heroically follow the data where they lead us. And when you look at other states, it’s clear: ‘heartland’ whites are genetically inferior to Massachusetts (and Maryland) whites, and we need to fundamentally rethink our social policies accordingly.

Actually, I don’t believe that genetics is involved at all in the differences between Massachusetts and Alabama whites. It’s the gay marriage. I think the higher performance of Massachusetts whites has to do with Massachusetts’ weak teachers unions and high number of charter schools. Um, wait… Fuck.

UNTERMENSCHEN!

Aside: For some bizarre reason, untermenschen makes me think of hamantaschen. Which are very tasty. Thankfully, Purim’s only a few months away!

*Added: I would note there’s compelling evidence that NAEP scores can be heavily altered by curricular changes, but, since IQ-genetics proponents use these tests (and the SATs which we know can be affected by curriculum–that is, test prep), I think it’s appropriate.