# Critique this: Why blacks run faster **URL:** \ **Category:** Great Debates\ **Created:** [July 6, 2012, 1:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/critique-this-why-blacks-run-faster/627414 "2012-07-06T13:42:08Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 34
**Author:** ![orcenio](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/orcenio/32/1036_2.png) [@orcenio](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/orcenio)\ **Post date:** [August 6, 2012, 11:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/critique-this-why-blacks-run-faster/627414/661 "2012-08-06T11:29:16Z")
Anyone see Galen Rupp take sliver in [Men’s 10,000](http://www.london2012.com/athletics/event/men-10000m/index.html)? His [training partner/roomate](http://www.freep.com/usatoday/article/56804274?odyssey=mod%7Cnewswell%7Ctext%7COlympic%20Sports%7Cs) seems to have taken the gold; congrats to their coach, hard work pays off. ---
**Author:** ![PrettyVacant](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/49beb7/32.png) [@PrettyVacant](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PrettyVacant)\ **Post date:** [August 6, 2012, 11:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/critique-this-why-blacks-run-faster/627414/662 "2012-08-06T11:30:10Z")
> [@iiandyiiii](#): > > It’s quite likely that the Final comprised entirely of descendants of “white” people- and almost certainly most of them were descendants of “white” people. > > Not only white people, obviously. I think we got past that point several pages ago. It’s been an interesting thread. ---
**Author:** ![Czarcasm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/czarcasm/32/4050_2.png) [@Czarcasm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Czarcasm)\ **Post date:** [August 6, 2012, 11:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/critique-this-why-blacks-run-faster/627414/663 "2012-08-06T11:41:17Z")
> [@PrettyVacant](#): > > I’ve asked you before to explain how, outside of deed poll, black Americans or people from the Caribbean would have Anglo-Saxon last names other than through slavery, and you haven’t. I asked you months ago now. > > Please explain or leave my thread - you apear to be trying very hard to be a tedious distraction. Pseudoscientific ideas like yours need to be distracted from reaching popularity. There are many ways people get their family names, you have no way of determining how long someone’s family has lived in a certain area(the athlete may have moved there just to be on the team), and you cannot guarantee the racial background of people just by looking at their names and the country they happen to live in at the time. It is impossible-no one has that ability, not even you. ---
**Author:** ![Czarcasm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/czarcasm/32/4050_2.png) [@Czarcasm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Czarcasm)\ **Post date:** [August 6, 2012, 11:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/critique-this-why-blacks-run-faster/627414/664 "2012-08-06T11:43:36Z")
> [@PrettyVacant](#): > > I think we got past that point several pages ago. It’s been an interesting thread. Several pages of you ignoring a good point because it conflicts with your pseudoscience isn’t interesting-it’s tedious…but apparently necessary. ---
**Author:** ![PrettyVacant](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/49beb7/32.png) [@PrettyVacant](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PrettyVacant)\ **Post date:** [August 6, 2012, 11:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/critique-this-why-blacks-run-faster/627414/665 "2012-08-06T11:46:24Z")
> [@Czarcasm](#): > > There are many ways people get their family names Like I’ve asked and asked and asked: black Americans with Anglo-Saxon names, lets hear the ways they got those names beyond deed poll or slavery? Is this the 4th or 5th time I’ve asked you? All you have to do is list a few. ---
**Author:** ![iiandyiiii](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/iiandyiiii/32/7924_2.png) [@iiandyiiii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/iiandyiiii)\ **Post date:** [August 6, 2012, 11:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/critique-this-why-blacks-run-faster/627414/666 "2012-08-06T11:47:08Z")
> [@PrettyVacant](#): > > I think we got past that point several pages ago. It’s been an interesting thread. We got past it, sure- because using superficial things like appearance and surname is a pretty poor way to get good data on someone’s actual ancestry. ---
**Author:** ![iiandyiiii](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/iiandyiiii/32/7924_2.png) [@iiandyiiii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/iiandyiiii)\ **Post date:** [August 6, 2012, 11:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/critique-this-why-blacks-run-faster/627414/667 "2012-08-06T11:48:12Z")
> [@PrettyVacant](#): > > Like I’ve asked and asked and asked: black Americans with Anglo-Saxon names, lets hear the ways they got those names beyond deed poll or slavery? > > Is this the 4th or 5th time I’ve asked you? > > All you have to do is list a few. I think it’s very likely most of those runners are descended from slaves. It’s also very likely most of them are descended from “white” people. ---
**Author:** ![Czarcasm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/czarcasm/32/4050_2.png) [@Czarcasm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Czarcasm)\ **Post date:** [August 6, 2012, 11:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/critique-this-why-blacks-run-faster/627414/668 "2012-08-06T11:58:57Z")
> [@PrettyVacant](#): > > Like I’ve asked and asked and asked: black Americans with Anglo-Saxon names, lets hear the ways they got those names beyond deed poll or slavery? > > Is this the 4th or 5th time I’ve asked you? > > All you have to do is list a few. Nope. It’s _your_ silly theory that is being questioned here. You think you can determine the genetic background of athletes just by looking at their name and the name of the country they _current_ are competing for. You don’t even need to see a picture of them. Show us some background evidence that proves that you aren’t talking out of your ass, because I don’t thing many people here are accepting your ideas as a given. ---
**Author:** ![PrettyVacant](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/49beb7/32.png) [@PrettyVacant](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PrettyVacant)\ **Post date:** [August 6, 2012, 12:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/critique-this-why-blacks-run-faster/627414/669 "2012-08-06T12:00:24Z")
> [@iiandyiiii](#): > > I think it’s very likely most of those runners are descended from slaves. It’s also very likely most of them are descended from “white” people. Yep, we know this. We’re looking primarily at the influence of slavery. On the issue of DNA mix, as well as an Anglo-Saxon component, other African regions and groups are also interesting - the Slave Coast was the length of the USA and central American combined and to a depth inland of several hundred miles, and at a time when people were very settled. Variation within that coast are equally interesting. ---
**Author:** ![Czarcasm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/czarcasm/32/4050_2.png) [@Czarcasm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Czarcasm)\ **Post date:** [August 6, 2012, 12:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/critique-this-why-blacks-run-faster/627414/670 "2012-08-06T12:01:15Z")
> [@iiandyiiii](#): > > We got past it, sure- because using superficial things like appearance and surname is a pretty poor way to get good data on someone’s actual ancestry. It’s much worse(and sillier) than that-he is using surname and the name of the country the athlete is _currently_ competing for to determine someone’s ancestry-no picture needed. ---
**Author:** ![PrettyVacant](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/49beb7/32.png) [@PrettyVacant](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PrettyVacant)\ **Post date:** [August 6, 2012, 12:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/critique-this-why-blacks-run-faster/627414/671 "2012-08-06T12:02:41Z")
> [@Czarcasm](#): > I’ve asked at least 4 times: This is really the extent of the politeness I can extend you. Please go away from my thread. ---
**Author:** ![Czarcasm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/czarcasm/32/4050_2.png) [@Czarcasm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Czarcasm)\ **Post date:** [August 6, 2012, 12:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/critique-this-why-blacks-run-faster/627414/672 "2012-08-06T12:05:39Z")
> [@PrettyVacant](#): > > I’ve asked at least 4 times: This is really the extent of the politeness I can extend you. Please go away from my thread. It’s your idea-come forth with with some direct corroborating evidence, not vague theories. ---
**Author:** ![Czarcasm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/czarcasm/32/4050_2.png) [@Czarcasm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Czarcasm)\ **Post date:** [August 6, 2012, 12:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/critique-this-why-blacks-run-faster/627414/673 "2012-08-06T12:09:55Z")
> [@PrettyVacant](#): > > the Slave Coast was the length of the USA and central American combined and to a depth inland of several hundred miles, and at a time when people were very settled. Variation within that coast are equally interesting. No. the “Slave Coast” was where the slaves primarily shipped _from_, not to. It consisted of what is now Togo, Benin and Western Nigeria. ---
**Author:** ![PrettyVacant](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/49beb7/32.png) [@PrettyVacant](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PrettyVacant)\ **Post date:** [August 6, 2012, 12:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/critique-this-why-blacks-run-faster/627414/674 "2012-08-06T12:18:15Z")
obv. that was intended to read as the SAME length. You still working on that list in order to disabuse me of my ignorance? ---
**Author:** ![iiandyiiii](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/iiandyiiii/32/7924_2.png) [@iiandyiiii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/iiandyiiii)\ **Post date:** [August 6, 2012, 12:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/critique-this-why-blacks-run-faster/627414/675 "2012-08-06T12:21:06Z")
> [@PrettyVacant](#): > > Yep, we know this. We’re looking primarily at the influence of slavery. > > On the issue of DNA mix, as well as an Anglo-Saxon component, other African regions and groups are also interesting - the Slave Coast was the length of the USA and central American combined and to a depth inland of several hundred miles, and at a time when people were very settled. Variation within that coast are equally interesting. So your point is “isn’t it interesting that all (or most) of the best sprinters have African ancestry (in addition to many other ancestries)”? If so, I’d answer that “no, it’s not particularly interesting”. ---
**Author:** ![Czarcasm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/czarcasm/32/4050_2.png) [@Czarcasm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Czarcasm)\ **Post date:** [August 6, 2012, 12:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/critique-this-why-blacks-run-faster/627414/676 "2012-08-06T12:36:11Z")
> [@PrettyVacant](#): > > obv. that was intended to read as the SAME length. > > You still working on that list in order to disabuse me of my ignorance? You going to come up with direct evidence to show us that your idea isn’t ignorant? It’s your idea, so the only homework to be done here is yours. ---
**Author:** ![Marley23](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/45deac/32.png) [@Marley23](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Marley23)\ **Post date:** [August 6, 2012, 12:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/critique-this-why-blacks-run-faster/627414/677 "2012-08-06T12:57:15Z")
> [@PrettyVacant](#): > > I’ve asked at least 4 times: This is really the extent of the politeness I can extend you. Please go away from my thread. You are not the sole owner of this thread. Stop telling people to leave. ---
**Author:** ![PrettyVacant](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/49beb7/32.png) [@PrettyVacant](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PrettyVacant)\ **Post date:** [August 6, 2012, 1:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/critique-this-why-blacks-run-faster/627414/678 "2012-08-06T13:09:50Z")
> [@Czarcasm](#): > > You going to come up with direct evidence to show us that your idea isn’t ignorant? It’s your idea, so the only homework to be done here is yours. My evidence is the Anglo-Saxon last names of people of predominately African decent. That’s it. They look like the names of their former slave owners to this ignorant poster. That’s my evidence. As you’ve said “There are many ways people get their family names”: Tear apart my crazy ignorance. Pref in list form but at this stage anything will do. ---
**Author:** ![Czarcasm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/czarcasm/32/4050_2.png) [@Czarcasm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Czarcasm)\ **Post date:** [August 6, 2012, 1:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/critique-this-why-blacks-run-faster/627414/679 "2012-08-06T13:15:06Z")
Adoption. Whim. Change by immigration officials who couldn’t pronounce the last name. Marriage. Legally changed sometime in the past, no reason given or needed. ---
**Author:** ![Czarcasm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/czarcasm/32/4050_2.png) [@Czarcasm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Czarcasm)\ **Post date:** [August 6, 2012, 1:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/critique-this-why-blacks-run-faster/627414/680 "2012-08-06T13:17:08Z")
> [@PrettyVacant](#): > > My evidence is the Anglo-Saxon last names of people of predominately African decent. You don’t even have _that_ if you are trying to determine their ancestry by the country they _currently_ live in. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/critique-this-why-blacks-run-faster/627414.md?page=33) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/critique-this-why-blacks-run-faster/627414.md?page=35)