The articles were written to dispute older white supremacist ideas, and so a good amount of space was given to stating what those views and attitudes are. But the viewpoint expressed in the articles is one that rejects the idea of natural differences beyond trivial physiological variation; it asserts that inequalities in achievement are the result of environmental factors including access to education and social prejudice. Which is pretty much in line with what was generally published in the 1970s. The articles are rather pedantic and superficial, and afford no real probing analysis of racism, but Awake! articles are always incredibly superficial. It is striking how much space is given to stating the racist views and especially the (seeming bizarre) focus on body odor. I think the articles are especially directed to racial prejudice within the "brotherhood", particularly to views held by white JWs. The same magazine back in the 1920s, published under the name Golden Age, published much racist material (referring to "backward races", racial differences caused by genetic deficiencies, blacks being a meek and teachable race, etc.), and even after the end of segregation, it is certain that many of these ideas were still very much current among some white JWs. I think it's a legitimate question of whether these articles, by devoting so much space to these racist views, helped perpetuate them unintentionally.
WARNING.... Extremely disturbing and racist Awake! magazine (October 8, 1977)
by Alfred 22 Replies latest watchtower beliefs
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Alfred
Jam... I just double-checked in my WT CD 2010 and yes... this is for real...
Wha happened... this is not ONE article.. It's actually 4 different articles in this magazine October 8, 1977
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wannabefree
this article was incredibly childish, irrelevant and completely unecessary
When looking back at the 70's, what isn't?
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jam
Thanks Alfred; to make sure it is for real before I E-mail
it. What the hell, how did I miss that. Why print such
garbage and in 1977. WOW.
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cofty
No offense but don't the borg print enough dangerous bullshit and hate without us having to misrepresent the things they say that are just plain stupid?
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jam
Cofty; Good point. No need to spread the stupidity. And
to think we were there just as stupid.
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rebel8
What dumbasses. Honestly, even if they were allegedly trying to debunk it, why even comment on such a thing?
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cofty
I think the article reported at length on a trial that involved sweating, blindfolds and sniffing. Totally insane!
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NewChapter
WOW! So a people that were moved by the spirit needed to be reassured by blind fold tests! Obviously there was a need for the article---
NC
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Band on the Run
Access to the actual articles would be nice to see the overall content. My cloistered JW aunt repeated the body smell part of me about the time of the article. Quite the opposite is true. I saw a painting circa 1800 of a mulatto. The woman's skin tone was blue black and very dark. Look at African-Americans going on. The reality is that white overseers and masters were not repelled in any way. I imagine black women wished they were repelled.
I see nothing wrong with asserting and naming commonly held beliefs in a religious periodical. Also, 1970 for Witnesses is the same as 1930s for normal people. Racists beliefs should be stated boldly so people can see how wrong they were. Perhaps something today is equally as wrong. The light of day is disinfectant. If all the Witnesses ran were these articles, maybe an issue arises. The WT is not wrong 100% of the time.
They are wrong about enough that we don't have to invent claims to prove that they are a cult, that is dangerous, absurd, and venal.
