Ibram X. Kendi Critiques Standardized Testing as a Tool for Racial Hierarchy
Historian Ibram X. Kendi has highlighted the historical use of standardized tests to justify racial hierarchies in the United States. The discussion stems from the controversial book 'The Bell Curve' by Richard Herrnstein and Charles Murray, which argued that standardized tests could demonstrate genetic inferiority among Black people. Kendi points out that these tests have been used throughout history to support racial hierarchies, often by manipulating test content to produce desired outcomes. The SAT, for example, was developed by Carl Campbell Brigham, a proponent of eugenics, who later admitted that his framework was flawed. Despite this, standardized tests continue to reflect and perpetuate racial inequities, as evidenced by persistent score gaps between racial groups. 
