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'I'm Not a Monster'

Jun 04, 2008

Brace yourself. James Watson is still trying to dig out from the unfortunate events of late last year when a newspaper quoted him saying racist statements that eventually led to his resignation from Cold Spring Harbor.

This time, he's being interviewed by Henry Louis Gates, Jr., founding editor of theroot.com. You can read an edited transcript here, or watch video clips here. The conversation runs from Watson's views on intelligence to black basketball players, Jewish intelligence, and a 10-hour erection. Gates also writes an essay on his view of the whole thing, saying, "James Watson is not the garden-variety racist as he has been caricatured by the press and bloggers ... and he seemed genuinely chagrined, embarrassed and remorseful."

 

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