THIS HUMANITY: “Black” or “White” brained?!?

I have in recent times enjoyed a robust relationship with one of the popular artificial intelligence tools called Meta AI. S/He has been quite objective, always ready to consider additional learning and research materials. S/He remains wonderful, with a great capacity to scan, summarize, and propose deductions in less than 3 seconds.

We have disagreed, reconciled, and continued to enjoy mutually beneficial interactive sessions that cut across history, science, technology, philosophy, politics, ideologies, and more. World history and especially human experience is replete with unhelpful assumptions, including the idea of “White” supremacy over “Black.” This has propagated racism and lowered self-esteem in many potentially great but misinformed “Blacks.”

Thoughts on this, and memories of one of my project site encounters, made me ask my learning compatriot/tool this question recently:

Is the brain of "Blacks"/Africans different from that of "Whites"/Caucasians—chemically, biologically, structurally, or in any way?

I wish I could publish the entire response, but due to space, I summarize it thus:

1. Race is a social construct, not a biological reality. It is a myth that has been disproved.

2. There is no scientific evidence to support the idea that the brains of people of African descent are chemically, biologically, structurally, or fundamentally different from those of people of European descent.

3. Human genetic variation is not correlated with intelligence or cognitive abilities.

4. Genetic diversity: Human genetic variation is approximately 99.9% identical across all individuals, with only 0.1% variation.

Engineering & Technology Reflection

I have had several field encounters working with professionals of diverse races and cultures. One such experience occurred around 2009, shortly after I signed a contract with KOA Consultants Limited to manage a site, ensuring Electrical Services QA/QC and coordinating a 5-man resident MEP team for the 1004 Estate Rehabilitation & Refurbishment project in Victoria Island, Lagos State.

We had to manage fuel consumption for the 200kVA, 400V, 50Hz diesel generator powering the site office. The public utility supply was unreliable, and the load fluctuated between 25kVA and over 100kVA. The UPDC Project Manager—a Nigerian, a “Black” like me—sought my advice. I recommended procuring an additional 100kVA or 50kVA generator to manage varying loads and ensure redundancy.

Later, the Project Manager visited my office and instructed me to propose switching modifications to accommodate the additional generator. The next day, we met at the generator shed, where I presented a hand-sketched drawing and recommended two additional change-over switchgear units.

He reacted, saying: “Haba! Why do you want me to add two switchgear units for just one additional generator? Yusuf, you're even showing me drawings... too meticulous—you want to waste my money?”

Just then, he sighted an expatriate project manager from Elektrint, Engr. Lipani—a “White” man—and quickly asked him: “Hi Lipani, good morning. Now tell me, how many more change-over switchgears do we need?”

Lipani replied:“Buy one more change-over switchgear now!”

I then pulled Engr. Lipani to my office. We compared our circuit designs and realized both ideas worked, but mine included electrical interlock safeguards to prevent power source clashing. Engr. Lipani tapped my shoulder admiringly, turned to his site engineer, and said:“Lawrence, the consultant's option is better.”

We went together to the UPDC PM’s office for final resolutions. The PM accepted my recommendation. The “White” expatriate and my “Black” self became very good friends. We worked respectfully and cooperatively till the end of the project.

Relics of Mental or Cultural Colonization

I remember watching a national carnival staged in Abuja during Obasanjo's regime. Among the cultural displays, there was a short wrestling drama featuring two masquerades—one dressed in glowing white (representing the Holy Spirit/Angel), and the other in dark black (representing Satan). The "White" defeated the "Black" in the drama.

What disturbed me more was observing invited European diplomatic guests shaking their heads in subtle ridicule or amusement, while Nigerian officials cheered joyfully at the "White" victory. I was confused. I still wonder: who scripted that scene, and why?

Reflections from Icons of Change

“I believe in the brotherhood of man, and I believe that all men are created equal.”— Malcolm X, 1965

“We must work together to create a society where every person, regardless of race, has equal opportunities and equal rights.”— Nelson Mandela, 1995

So, let’s put our brains to work for good and in all goodness. The brain is only as good as what it is used for, and as strong or elastic as it is stretched. There may be something fundamentally wrong somewhere, but certainly not with the default makeup of our brain.

AbduRahman 'Lola Yusuf Adeola MNSE, MNATE, LCGI

(A Thinker & Technologist.)