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NL888 Posted 12 years ago
Grammar
Nor to intermarry with white people?
1) Does "his disabilities" mean "the average negro's disabilities"?
2) Do "our prognathous relative" and "our dusky cousins" refer to "the average negro"?
3) Does "nor to intermarry with white people" mean "nor of qualifying them to intermarry with white people"?
Context:
Thomas Henry Huxley, by the standards of his times, was an enlightened and liberal progressive. But his times were not ours,and in 1871 he wrote the following:
No rational man, cognizant of the facts, believes that the average negro is the equal, still less the superior, of the white man. And if this be true, it is simply incredible that, when all his disabilities are removed, and our prognathous relative has a fair field and no favor, as well
as no oppressor, he will be able to compete successfully with his bigger-brained and smaller-jawed rival, in a contest which is to be carried on by thoughts and not by bites. The highest places in the hierarchy of civilization will assuredly not be within the reach of our dusky cousins.
It is a commonplace that good historians don't judge statements from past times by the standards of their own. Abraham Lincoln,like Huxley, was ahead of his time, yet his views on matters of race
also sound backwardly racist in ours. Here he is in a debate in 1858 with Stephen A. Douglas:
I will say, then, that I am not, nor ever have been, in favor of bringing about in any way the social and political equality of the white and black races; that I am not, nor ever have been, in favor of making voters or jurors of negroes, nor of qualifying them to hold office, nor to intermarry with white people; and I will say, in addition to this, that there is a physical difference between the white and black races which I believe will forever forbid the two races living together on terms of social and political equality. And in as much as they cannot so live, while they do remain together there must be the position of superior and inferior, and I as much as any other man am in favor of having the superior position assigned to the white race.
2) Do "our prognathous relative" and "our dusky cousins" refer to "the average negro"?
3) Does "nor to intermarry with white people" mean "nor of qualifying them to intermarry with white people"?
Context:
Thomas Henry Huxley, by the standards of his times, was an enlightened and liberal progressive. But his times were not ours,and in 1871 he wrote the following:
No rational man, cognizant of the facts, believes that the average negro is the equal, still less the superior, of the white man. And if this be true, it is simply incredible that, when all his disabilities are removed, and our prognathous relative has a fair field and no favor, as well
as no oppressor, he will be able to compete successfully with his bigger-brained and smaller-jawed rival, in a contest which is to be carried on by thoughts and not by bites. The highest places in the hierarchy of civilization will assuredly not be within the reach of our dusky cousins.
It is a commonplace that good historians don't judge statements from past times by the standards of their own. Abraham Lincoln,like Huxley, was ahead of his time, yet his views on matters of race
also sound backwardly racist in ours. Here he is in a debate in 1858 with Stephen A. Douglas:
I will say, then, that I am not, nor ever have been, in favor of bringing about in any way the social and political equality of the white and black races; that I am not, nor ever have been, in favor of making voters or jurors of negroes, nor of qualifying them to hold office, nor to intermarry with white people; and I will say, in addition to this, that there is a physical difference between the white and black races which I believe will forever forbid the two races living together on terms of social and political equality. And in as much as they cannot so live, while they do remain together there must be the position of superior and inferior, and I as much as any other man am in favor of having the superior position assigned to the white race.
Top answer
1) Does "his disabilities" mean "the average negro's disabilities"? Yes 2) Do "our prognathous relative" and "our dusky cousins" refer to "the average negro"? Yes 3) Does " nor to intermarry with white people" mean " nor of qualifying them to intermarry with white people"?
- 1) Does "his disabilities" mean "the average negro's disabilities"?
- Yes 2) Do "our prognathous relative" and "our dusky cousins" refer to "the average negro"?
- Yes 3) Does " nor to intermarry with white people" mean " nor of qualifying them to intermarry with white people"?
- Yes I hope you realize that in modern times this terminology and these ideas can give great, great offense.
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3 Answers
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1) Does "his disabilities" mean "the average negro's disabilities"? Yes
2) Do "our prognathous relative" and "our dusky cousins" refer to "the average negro"? Yes
3) Does "nor to intermarry with white people" mean "nor of qualifying them to intermarry with white people"? Yes
2) Do "our prognathous relative" and "our dusky cousins" refer to "the average negro"? Yes
3) Does "nor to intermarry with white people" mean "nor of qualifying them to intermarry with white people"? Yes
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Clive hope you realize that in modern times this terminology and these ideas can give great, great offense.Indeed.
My initial reaction on reading the original question was to delete it and pretend it hadn't happened. However, this is a language forum, not a PC forum, so I let it pass. But I feel sick.
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Yes sir. The author has pointed out "It is a commonplace that good historians don't judge statements
from past times by the standards of their own." Both gentlemen would be shocked by their own words if they live in our time and have received modern education today.
from past times by the standards of their own." Both gentlemen would be shocked by their own words if they live in our time and have received modern education today.
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