As you surely know, Brian, this was but a part — though a significant part — of the more general obsession with eugenics in the period: compare the much-copied Indiana forced sterilization law of 1907.
You probably also know that the IQ tests devised by Yerkes and administered to U S Army recruits during the Great War included a question asking for identification of the profession followed by Christy Mathewson.
There was also a question about the nature and purpose of Crisco. Although, to be fair, the nature and purpose of Crisco is a more fundamental mystery than many legitimate questions that could go on an IQ test.
Also, on eugenics, yes: the application to immigration is definitely a case of existing fake science being brought to bear on a cultural panic rather than the cultural panic generating new fake science of its own. What’s amazing is that the fake science eventually provided a fake justification for the passage of laws that permanently reshaped US immigration policy and thus is still in some sense a defining force in American culture. Also: that the same debates keep being held over and over again in slightly updated language. Some of the battles over IQ testing in the 20s might as well have been about The Bell Curve, except that at some point in the intervening 70 years The New Republic switched sides.
On the other hand there is the venerable H.L. Menken, whose disdain for immigrants was exceeded only by his contempt for Americans. Consider this from his 1922 essay, *On Being an American,* the second section of which begins like this: “…the United States is essentially a commonwealth of third-rate men – that distinction is easy here because the general level of culture, of information, of taste and judgment, of ordinary competence is so low.” And it only gets worse from there!
meanwhile, I don’t want to ruin the surprise, but can I venture a guess?
Is the underlying concept of the project the idea that immigrants abandoned soccer upon arriving out of a desire to assimilate?
And BAFC is a sort of alternative history, what if?
jamie — We’re getting close. Lot of stuff to get in order before this thing can happen.
P_B — In line with the Edwin Black: I think I posted this on Twitter, but one of the first depressing things you notice about early American eugenics is how easy it is to research, because white-supremacist sites keep all the texts online. Lothrop Stoddard’s The Rising Tide of Color Against White World-Supremacy (1920, currently pulling down a four-star rating on Amazon.com) is only a click away.
Great work! Brooklyn Asylum, OY!
As you surely know, Brian, this was but a part — though a significant part — of the more general obsession with eugenics in the period: compare the much-copied Indiana forced sterilization law of 1907.
You probably also know that the IQ tests devised by Yerkes and administered to U S Army recruits during the Great War included a question asking for identification of the profession followed by Christy Mathewson.
73. Gennaro Gattuso is:
(a) a comedian
(b) a soccer player
(c) a television personality
(d) a mugger.
— Wait, this is a trick question!
There was also a question about the nature and purpose of Crisco. Although, to be fair, the nature and purpose of Crisco is a more fundamental mystery than many legitimate questions that could go on an IQ test.
Also, on eugenics, yes: the application to immigration is definitely a case of existing fake science being brought to bear on a cultural panic rather than the cultural panic generating new fake science of its own. What’s amazing is that the fake science eventually provided a fake justification for the passage of laws that permanently reshaped US immigration policy and thus is still in some sense a defining force in American culture. Also: that the same debates keep being held over and over again in slightly updated language. Some of the battles over IQ testing in the 20s might as well have been about The Bell Curve, except that at some point in the intervening 70 years The New Republic switched sides.
On the other hand there is the venerable H.L. Menken, whose disdain for immigrants was exceeded only by his contempt for Americans. Consider this from his 1922 essay, *On Being an American,* the second section of which begins like this: “…the United States is essentially a commonwealth of third-rate men – that distinction is easy here because the general level of culture, of information, of taste and judgment, of ordinary competence is so low.” And it only gets worse from there!
Will there be B.A.F.C. shirts available for purchase any time soon? Because I seriously want one.
I still want a Run of Play beermug….the nalgene on which I handwrote “RoP” with a sharpee smells great but is not quite the same
Yea whats the deal with those mugs?
I’m getting antsy, Brian
presumably you’re familiar with Edwin Black’s “War Against the Weak”, but if not:
http://waragainsttheweak.com/
meanwhile, I don’t want to ruin the surprise, but can I venture a guess?
Is the underlying concept of the project the idea that immigrants abandoned soccer upon arriving out of a desire to assimilate?
And BAFC is a sort of alternative history, what if?
jamie — We’re getting close. Lot of stuff to get in order before this thing can happen.
P_B — In line with the Edwin Black: I think I posted this on Twitter, but one of the first depressing things you notice about early American eugenics is how easy it is to research, because white-supremacist sites keep all the texts online. Lothrop Stoddard’s The Rising Tide of Color Against White World-Supremacy (1920, currently pulling down a four-star rating on Amazon.com) is only a click away.