A Brave Old World: An Analysis of Scientific Racism and BiDil®

constructed, was always rooted in 'biological' features; that is, the characteristics used to classify individuals into races were always assumed to have a basis nontrivially rooted in human biology (5). Many scientists have been satisfied to use false statistics, poor methodology, and illogical conclusions to "prove" the theory that biology is a predictor of culture, without regard for real evidence stating the opposite (6). Without any concrete evidence, why would scientists want to go to all the trouble to create distinct biological races? According to Maria Castagna and George J. Sefa Dei, "whites created different 'sciences' and 'scientific' theories to justify, legitimize and maintain the existing social order" (6). Therefore, rather than being based solely in objective observation, scientific racism is a scientific tradition in which biology is used not only to prove the existence of race, but also, to maintain existing social hierarchies. The recent Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approval of BiDil®, a congestive heart failure drug created by NitroMed®, looks to continue and reinforce this tradition of scientific racism. Marketed specifically to African Americans, it is the first drug to specifically target a racial group (7). A combination of 20mg of isosorbide dinitrate and 37.5mg of hydralazine hydrochloride (8), the two components have "been used for years to treat high blood pressure and agina (chest pain)" (9). While isosorbide dinitrate "helps the body make a tiny molecule called nitric oxide [. . .] hydralazine helps prevent its rapid destruction" (9). This creation of nitric oxide allows the arteries to widen and lets blood travel through them more easily, "decreasing the heart's workload" (9). While researchers believe that BiDil® works best in QUESTION: What is the difference between black natives slicing up a white missionary, and a white mob lynching a helpless Negro? Answer: very little and, for the victims, none at all. Whatever the reasons, whatever the excuses, whatever the motives, the basic behaviour mechanism is the same. They are both cases of members of the in-group attacking members of the out-group. Desmond Morris (1)