UNDER AMERICAN EYES - STUPIDITY

"…Previously, the marked limitation in mental capacity shown by the real Malay Filipino was mentioned. Be assured that such a statement is not to be construed as an attempt to belittle the Filipino people, whom I personally like very much. The mental status of a people should be discussed, if all, quite as frankly as should the question of their stature or the color of their hair or eyes, providing the facts can be ascertained as accurately.

In comparing races, there has long been a general impression among Caucasians that the mentality of Malays is decidedly limited, although statements to this effect on the part of Caucasians are usually attributed to their desire to glorify their own exalted mental status, and as blind propaganda against those of dark skin.

From a comparatively incomplete study of the matter, the writer has come to the conclusion that in mental capacity the Malay lies about midway between the Caucasian and the Negro, the Negro being lower, the Caucasian considerably above him. A group of approximately two hundred individuals, practically all students from various departments of the University of the Philippines, and most of whom came from families above the average in the social scale, were examined, using accepted tests for mental standards, and were found to rate less than twelve mental years.

These individuals were either pure Malay stock, or had a comparatively slight mixture of white blood in their veins. All of them had qualified for various courses at the University, and some of them were well advanced at the time the tests were made. Another much larger group, about eight hundred adult "Taos," were also rated and were found to average well below eight mental years. Unfortunately, due to lack of time, the writer had to delegate much of the work to others, but it is believed that the results are approximately correct for the Filipino people. This limitation is exhibited throughout all classes, and where exceptional brilliancy or ability is noted, investigation will nearly always show a considerable percentage of blood other than Malay in the individual's make-up.

The writer personally knows of only four or five individuals of pure Malay blood who have shown real mental capacity, and who have attained commensurate positions. A study of the leaders of the various activities of the islands is in itself strongly confirmatory of these findings. All the outstanding and more clever of the political group, the leaders in political life in the islands, are of mixed blood, usually Spanish and Malay, although a certain number are Chinese Mestizos. Equally, the more competent physicians and surgeons are all of mixed blood, while in the legal profession a considerable mixture of either white or Chinese blood seems to be an absolute essential to success.

Briefly, the Malay apparently was destined by nature to be a "hewer of wood and a drawer of water," and attempts on the part of the educator to elevate him beyond a certain mental plane only result in disappointment and disaster for the poor Malay, who, left more or less to his own devices, is a most likeable individual, quite contented with his status and much happier than when striving for the unattainable.

After all, in spite of the lack of mental capacity, these people have an exceptional amount of mental dignity, and once having been started along any path, educatory or otherwise, will strive indefinitely, though possibly ineffectually, toward that goal..."

Robert W. Hart, 1928