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The Dove Counter-balance IQ Test (Updated Version)

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In 1968, African-American student Adrian Dove was excoriated by his professor and colleagues regarding a subpar performance on an IQ Test; legend has it that Dove’s performance landed him in the region of mental retardation. Angered by this experience, the industrious Dove set out to prove a seismic point to all around him regarding culturally biased IQ Tests. From this young man’s perspective, these tests did not measure intelligence, rather reflected how similar the test-taker was in cultural perspective as the creator of the test. He created the following IQ Test and distributed it to his classmates who all performed worse than he had on the initial test.

Keep in mind that the issue of IQ and Standardized tests will become a hot-button issue in the wake of the 1954 Brown v. Board of Education (Topeka, Kansas) decision. A few of the major questions that were being bantered around the nation by White power-brokers were the following?

  • Are Blacks intellectually inferior to their White counterparts?
  • Is the Black mind capable of learning as rapidly and retaining information as the White mind?
  • Is poor testing on Standardized Tests (ACT /SAT) a sign of Black intellectual inferiority?
  • Is it possible for Blacks to gain entry and complete coursework at Predominantly White Institutions?

This matter became a frontpage issue with the arrival of Allan Bakke and the State of California’s attempt to implement “Affirmative Action” strategies to diversify their medical school classes. Bakke’s argument was a simple statement of “In the Federal Government’s rush to include Blacks, they failed to understand that it meant excluding more deserving (meaning higher performing)  students.”

What follows is a modernized Dove Counter-Balance Intelligence Test. A major portion of our discussion regarding Affirmative Action.

NAME:

TIME:

THE COUNTER BALANCE INTELLIGENCE TEST

  1. A “handkerchief head” is:
    (a) a cool cat                                                  

(b) a porter

(c) a Uncle Tom                                             

(d) a hoddi

  1. Which word is most out of place here?

(a) black                                                         

(b) blood

(c) gray                                                          

(d) spook

  1. A “gas head” is a person who has a:
    (a) fast-moving car                                        

(b) “process,”

(c) habit of stealing cars                                

(d) long jail record for arson

  1. “Bo Diddley” is a:
    (a) game for children                                     

(b) down-home cheap wine

(c) down-home singer                                    

(d) new dance

  1. “Hully Gully” came from:
    (a) East Oakland                                            

(b) Fillmore

(c) Watts                                                        

(d) Harlem

  1. Cheap chitlings (not the kind you purchase at a frozen food counter) will taste rubbery unless they are cooked long enough. How soon can you quit cooking them to eat and enjoy them?
    (a) 45 minutes                                                

(b) 2 hours

(c) 24 hours                                                   

(d) 1 week (on a low flame)

  1. What are the “Dixie Hummingbirds?”
    (a) part of the KKK                                       

(b) a swamp disease

(c) a modern gospel group                             

(d) Deacons.

  1. If you throw the dice and 7 is showing on the top, what is facing down?

(a) 7                                                                

(b) snake eyes

(c) boxcars                                                     

(d) 11.

  1. “Jet” is:
    (a) an East Oakland motorcycle club            

(b) a gang in “West Side Story”

(c) a news and gossip magazine                    

(d) a way of life for the very rich

  1. T-Bone Walker got famous for playing what?
    (a) trombone                                                  

(b) piano

(c) “T-flute”                                                   

(d) guitar

  1. “Bird” or “Yardbird” was the “jacket” that jazz lovers from coast to coast hung on:
    (a) Lester Young                                            

(b) Peggy Lee

(c) Benny Goodman                                      

(d) Charlie Parker

  1. Hattie Mae Johnson is on the County. She has four children and her husband is now in jail for non-support, as he was unemployed and was not able to give her any money. Her welfare check is now $286 per month. Last night she went out with the highest player in town. If she got pregnant, then nine months from now how much more will her welfare check be?
    (a) $80                                                            

(b) $35

(c) $150                                                         

(d) $100

  1. “Money don’t get everything it’s true.”
    (a) but I don’t have none and I’m so blue      

(b) but what it don’t get I can’t use

(c) so make do with what you’ve got             

(d) but I don’t know that and neither do you.

  1. How much does a short dog cost?
    (a) $0.15                                                         

(b) $2.00

(c) $0.35                                                         

(d) $0.05

  1. Many people say that “Juneteenth” (June 19) should be made a legal holiday because this was the day when:
    (a) the slaves were freed in the USA             

(b) the slaves were freed in Texas

 (c) the slaves were freed in Jamaica             

(d) the  slaves were freed in Ca.

  1. The saying that “He’s Clean” means?

      A.        Fresh out of the shower                     

B.        Not carrying drugs

      C.        Well Dressed                                     

D.        Extremely smart

17. Who wrote The Road to Riches?

      A.        Kool Moe Dee                                   

B.        Big Daddy Kane        

      C.        Ice-T                                                  

D.        Kool G. Rap

18. Who performed a soulful rendition of the Star Spangled Banner at the NBA All             Star Game?

      A.        Prince                                                 

B.        Marvin Gaye

      C.        TLC                                                    

D.        Al Green

19. Who was the first woman to run for the U.S. Presidency?

      A.        Shirley Chisholm                               

B.        Hillary Clinton

      C.        Jane Goodall                                      

D.        Susan B. Anthony

20. What religious leader was known as “The Charmer” during an earlier music       career?

      A.        Malcolm X                                         

B.        Louis Farrakhan

      C.        The Honorable Elijah Muhammad    

D.        Father Divine

21. The lead rapper for Public Enemy was?        

      A.        Chuck D                                             

B.        Flavor Flav

      C.        KRS-ONE                                          

D.        Paris

22. The first person to say “Black Power” during the 1960s was?

      A.        James Brown                                     

B.        Al Green

      C.        Stokely Carmichael                           

D.        Willie Ricks

23. Which artist is closely associated with the P-Funk

      A.        Shock-G                                             

B.        George Clinton

      C.        Big Baby                                            

D.        All of the Above

24. Tupac Amaru Shakur was born in

      A.        Baltimore                                           

B.        Harlem

      C.        Marin City                                         

D.        Oakland

25. My dogs are barking means

      A.        My feet are sore                                 

B.        My feet hurt

      C.        My shoes are too tight                       

D.        All of the above

26. Which group made “Black Steel in the Hour of Chaos”

      A.        Public Enemy                                    

B.        Busta Rhymes

      C.        The Last Poets                                   

D.        Sister Souljah

27. “Are you waiting for my arm to fall off?” Is a classic line from what movie?

      A.        School Daze                                       

B.        Lady Sings the Blues

      C.        Mo Better Blues                                

D.        Sparkle

28. The father on Good Times was named?

      A.        Jerry                                                   

B.        JJ

      C.        James                                                 

D.        Bookman

29. Jim Brown was a famous?

      A.        Athlete                                               

B.        Movie Star

      C.        Political Activist                                

D.        All of the above

30. Drez is the lead rapper in what group?

      A.        The Lords of the Underground          

B.        Black Sheep

      C.        X-Clan                                               

D.        Digital Underground

31. Nassir Jones’ first album was titled?

      A.        Stillmatic                                           

B.        Illmatic

      C.        Automatic                                          

D.        Too Tragic

32. Who song “I Will Survive”?

      A.        Whitney Houston                               

B.        Yolanda Adams

      C.        Gloria Gaynor                                    

D.        Hezekiah Walker

33. What was Muhammad Ali’s former name?  

      A.        Sonny Liston                                     

B.        Cassius Clay

      C.        Joe Louis                                           

D.        Carl Johnson

34. Malcolm X was a member of which organization?

      A.        Nation of Islam                                  

B.        OAAU

      C.        Muslim Mosque Inc.                          

D.        All of the Above

35. Michael Ray Richardson was a?

      A.        Boxer                                                 

B.        Pugilist

      C.        Politician                                           

D.        Basketball Player

36. The lead singer of LTD was?

      A.        Jeffrey Osborne                                 

B.        Luther Vandross

      C.        Teddy Pendergrass                            

D.        Prince

37. “Freeway Ricky Ross” garnered fame as a?

      A.        Drug Dealer                                       

B.        Corrections Officer

      C.        Rapper                                               

D.        Race Car Driver

38. Bruce Leroy was

      A.        The Last Dragon                                

B.        A Political Leader

      C.        Bruce Lee’s son                                 

D.        Sho’ Nuff

39. Marvin Gaye recorded many songs with whom?

      A.        Diana Ross                                         

B.        Gladys Knight

      C.        Tammi Terrell                       

      D.        Michael Jackson

40. Billy Dee Williams was the spokesperson for what?

      A.        Malt Liquor                           

      B.        Candy

      C.        Love                                       

      D.        Wine

 
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Why The Recent Pageant Success of Black Women Could Be A Double-Edged Sword for Black Girls

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I understand the current hoopla surrounding the historic achievements of women of African descent in the “beauty pageant” world. Just in case you missed it, it has been an unprecedented year as the alluded to women have captured the following crowns.

  • Kaliegh Garris (Miss Teen USA)
  • Nia Franklin (Miss America)
  • Cheslie Kryst (Miss USA)
  • Zoaibini Tunzi (Miss Universe)
  • Toni-Ann Singh (Miss World)

I salute these women for the years of hard work they put into honing their acumen, it was certainly time well spent as it led to a crowning achievement. I feel that this moment calls for me to issue a phrase that includes the words “Black girls rock” or something out of that vein.

Yet, my psyche is disturbed.

The source of my disturbance is the realization that my people have once again allowed a historic enemy to dictate their self worth and serve as a measure of “how far we have come” and “how far we have to go.”

I am sure that in the wake of this “historic achievement” little Black girls around the world have been told some variation of the following.

  • “You can be anything in the world.”
  • “The sky is the limit for your potential.”
  • “If you work hard enough, that could be you on that stage one day.”  

Although such statements are self-esteem builders for young Black girls, a process that I wholeheartedly support, there is an unfortunate sub-discourse that informs young Black girls around the glove that “this is a White world” and true success is measured by their ability to garner accolades from those who have historically shown no genuine interest in appreciating either the presence or God-given talents.

This is a significant conundrum facing persons of African descent. On the one hand, Blacks have historically been forced to sit on the sidelines and watch as Whites paraded their cultural achievements as if they were the only signs of beauty, culture, music, and fashion. Ironically, there is not a single persons of African descent who failed to realize that the cultural standards being boastfully promoted by Whites “could not hold a candle” to what was occurring within their community.

Although not covered by the white press, Blacks were convinced of their superiority in regards to dancing, music, culinary skills, fashion, and the beauty of Black women was unrivaled. Unfortunately for Black America, what they considered indisputable facts did little to erode feelings of disrespect from a larger White society, a populace that refused to concede even the smallest element of Black superiority. This “white out” seemingly birthed an unquenchable desire within Black America to enter that hostile society and force its inhabitants to acknowledge not just our equality, but dare I say, our cultural superiority.

Unbeknownst to Whites, Black parents have always prepared their children to go to war with what they considered a hostile White society in arenas ranging from athletics to academics. Black parents provided their children with a refrain that “you are going to have to work twice as hard to get half as far” and that “failure was not an option.” These were the marching orders that Black children received at the beginning of any foray into enemy territory. 

If provided the opportunity, I am sure that many of my ancestors would have made Malcolm X’s incisive query of “Who is he (meaning the White man) to be equal to” the foundation from which they advised the generations that followed them. In hindsight it is obvious that efforts to wrest trophies, crowns, and accolades from a resistant White community has done nothing in regards to the continuing fight to uplift Blacks.

Although much can be made regarding this historic moment for Black women, those arguments will never include a reasonable assertion that the pageants mentioned above are now controlled by Blacks or serve the interests of subsequent generations of Black girls who are at this very moment being taught to consider success on those stages to be a valid measure of their worth. As with most things surrounding Black life, even this “achievement” brings forth warning alarms as it was provided by those who have historically resisted anything positive for Black America or persons of African descent around the globe. And as we all know, that which has been given can be taken at a moments notice.

Dr. James Thomas Jones III

© Manhood, Race, and Culture, 2019.

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The Desperate Need for Black America to Address its Cultural Diet

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The phrase “you are what you eat” is a common refrain among most people. I am sure that each of us has heard such wisdom directed our way by someone (parent, grandparent, teacher, coach) who felt that they knew better than you did. American youth, regardless of the generation being examined, scoffed at the insinuation that preceding generations were providing an indispensable truth via the above popular saying.

Although I shudder to think that I belonged to that number who knew better than those who’d come before me, truthfully, I think that the vast majority of us belong in that number.

Famed playwright August Wilson placed the following words in Doaker, a Pullman Car Porter, mouth in the play The Piano Lesson. According to Doaker, “Time go ‘long, time go ‘long.” This short line has always remained prominent in my mind because it serves as a reminder that time is always going ‘long.

It is this evaporating intangible substance called time that “God ain’t making no more of” that provides each of us the opportunity to not only re-evaluate the path that we have traveled, but also a few fleeting moments, if we’re fortunate, to make sense of it all. During this blessed time I have come to understand that the saying “you are what you eat” is applicable to so many other areas of our life, most notably in regards to our consumption of popular culture.

Observation and participation have convinced me of the following truism. If one repeatedly uncritically consumes ridiculous portrayals of Black life there is little chance that the foolishness that they are allowing into their minds will not become a life philosophy.

It is a bit ironic that just as one’s physical appearances is a reliable indicator of what type of food has been consumed, our public persona, worldview, language, and behavior reflect our cultural choices. In fact, the signs of a poor cultural diet are more reliable than those of high caloric, carbohydrate filled food diet. Although unfashionable to say, it is easy to identify those hooked on a vitamin-deficient cultural diet.

Most agree that adherence to a righteous cultural diet is the most important diet of all due to its phenomenal impact on the life that one leads.

Unfortunately for Black America, legions of Black folk appear to be taking their cues regarding behavior from various reality television personas and putting forth their best effort to replicate the referenced foolishness.

When applied to culture, the prospect that “you are what you eat” should frighten many Negroes. Fortunately for such poor scraps of humanity, there is an opportunity that requires minimal effort for them to reverse course. They must simply cease their consumption of negative images that they have gradually become addicted to and replace such foolishness with uplifting images. There is no other reasonable path of ending the cycle of violence, nihilism, and unbridled stupidity that serve as highlights in the dim-witted lives of so many of our people.

In many ways, the alluded to images are a double-edged sword that simultaneously damages the minds of Black America while convincing outsiders that such ilk is an appropriate representation of Black life. The psychological damage emanating from reality televisions depiction of Black life inevitably leads huge-swaths of Black America to view their kind via a prejudiced and bigoted lens that is remarkably similar to the one used by their historic opponents.

It is time that we replace shows like The Real Housewives of Atlanta with uplifting and progressive depictions of Black life such as Hidden Figures. The refusal to consume negative images is at worst a significant portion of the formula to uplift our community. Failure to do so dooms significant segments of our community in both the short and long-term.  

Dr. James Thomas Jones III

© Manhood, Race, and Culture, 2019.