How to Argue With a Racist: History, Science, Race and Reality

by Adam Rutherford

Two or three centuries is not a very long time in evolutionary terms, and arguably not enough time for these genes to become fixed in a mixed population as a result of deliberate selection. Indeed, one 2014 study of the DNA of 29,141 living African Americans showed categorically no signs of selection across the whole genome for any trait, in the time since their ancestors were taken from their African homelands. Breeding programmes by slave owners did occur, but not uniformly or consistently. Furthermore, there were different types of slaves in America, what Malcolm X termed ‘field negros’ and ‘house niggers’ for whom physical strength would have not necessarily been a selective advantage. Furthermore, the economics of slavery were not a uniform industry to be served by one type of human chattel. Tobacco cultivation dominated much of agriculture in the south, but eventually gave way to cotton farming in many areas, which was far less labour intensive, and highly skilled. Powerful workers would not necessarily have been quintessentially important. I am unaware of any breeding programmes specifically for speed.