\hp200\doc\web\99\10\barbados.txt
Date sent:      	Mon, 19 Jul 1999 17:58:53 -0400
To:             	<h-bd@egroups.com>
From:           	harrison@vineyard.net (Lawrence Harrison & Patricia Crane)
Subject:        	[h-bd] Patricia Hausman's comments on genetic roots of culture; "molding other cultures
	to be like our own"


>From Larry Harrison
        With respect to genetics and culture, and at the risk of beating a
dead comparison, I again refer to the contrast between two former
Caribbean slave colonies, authoritarian, illiterate, dirt-poor Haiti and
democratic, literate, relatively prosperous Barbados.  The slaves in both
came from the Dahomey (Benin) region of Africa, presumably from the same
or a similar gene pool.
        Haiti gained independence in 1804, was substantially isolated from
the rest of the world during the 19th century, and a good part of rural
Haiti remains isolated today.  The culture of slavery as well as zero-sum
traditional African culture, powerfully sustained by a religion (Voodoo)
without an ethical code, are palpable to any foreigner who has lived
there, as I did for two years.
        Barbados, which I have visited several times, remained as a
        British
colony until 1966 by which time it had substantially absorbed British
values, attitudes, and institutions.  The Barbadians are sometimes
referred to as Black Englishmen or Afro-Saxons.
        With respect to cultural imperialism, I repeat the relevant
        section
of my July 18 letter:
               The idea is not that we, the fortunate of the West and East
Asia, impose progressive values or even necessarily sermonize about them.
It is demonstrable that cultures that emphasize one's capacity to
influence one's destiny, work ethic, education, merit, frugality, trust,
and community are cultures that progress, be they Anglican Englishmen;
Catholic Basques; Confucian Chinese, Koreans, or Japanese; Jews; Sikhs,
etc.  And that message is not being lost on intellectual, political,
business, and professional leaders in Third World countries. 
Increasingly, they are coming to the realization that traditional values
are obstacles to democratic institutions, prosperity, and social justice. 
And they are taking the lead themselves to bring about cultural change.






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From:           	"Glayde Whitney" <whitney@Darwin.psy.fsu.edu>
To:             	<h-bd@egroups.com>,
       	"Lawrence Harrison & Patricia Crane" <harrison@vineyard.net>
Glayde Whitney here:


It would indeed be marvelous if there existed places on earth where we
could neatly separate the "genes and culture" confoundings and overlaps,
and in so doing discover that genetically "black" countries were capable
of maintaining a culturally "Anglo-Saxon" liberal democratic civilization.


I worry that the Haiti v. Barbados comparison does not cut it.  According
to the _CIA World Factbook 1998_, Haiti is 95% black and 5% mulatto plus
white.


On the other hand, Barbados is 80% black, 4%white, and 16% other. Are
these 16% plus 4% non-blacks an East Indian, Asian, etc. middle class that
holds things together? Furthermore, the government is not quite entirely
black-run without help from whites: The Queen of England appoints the
Governor General, lots of members of government are appointed, while
admittedly some are also elected by vote of the citizens. Where in the
world have blacks been able to maintain a European level civilization and
modern infrastructure? Perhaps Zimbabwe or South Africa, or the city of
Washington DC?


Glayde Whitney
Professor
Department of Psychology