Since When Did Pathology Have a Race/Ethnicity Attached to It?
path·o·log·i·cal
/ˌpaTHəˈläjək(ə)l/
adjective
- relating to pathology.
“the interpretation of pathological studies”
- involving, caused by, or of the nature of a physical or mental disease.
“pathological changes associated with senile dementia”
Another title I could’ve used for this is “What Exactly is ‘Black’ Pathology”? But I didn’t want to make the title longer than it already is.
INFORMAL
compulsive; obsessive.
“a pathological gambler”
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When I was watching content creators in a certain “Black” sector of YouTube — most of them I stopped watching — I would hear some of them mention something that they would describe as “Black Pathology”. There are different types of pathology, but I posted the definition of this one because I know this is the one they’re referring to.
When I listened to a video, some would mention those would defend ‘Black Pathology,’ or if I’ll read the comment section of a video, and some people will criticize this ‘Black Pathology,’ or they will accuse someone of defending it. They don’t say someone is defending pathological behavior, they say someone is defending ‘Black Pathology’.
I’ve heard this description here and there over the years, but there was something that didn’t occur to me until recently, and it led to a burning question: since when did pathology have a race or ethnicity attached to it, or more specifically, what exactly is “Black” pathology?
I’ve noticed this only used on so-called Black people; a lot of the ones who say this tend to swing the sword viciously at their own people — which it’s easy to go at people who considered an “easy target” — but spare the sword for others or they will give them a slap on the wrist. If others are criticized, it come and goes, but they go all the way in when it comes to so-called Negroes. Yes, I’m critical of the behavior of most “Black” people, but I don’t spare others. I call things down the middle, regardless of race or gender, but I’m starting to digress here.
So, nobody else is capable of or has pathological behavior? Is there such a thing as Caucasian, Asian, or Hispanic pathology? I’m asking because that’s the way they make it seem. As if pathological behavior is linked to just “Black” people. Overall, I think pathology is a pattern of human behavior, not just one particular race, but maybe someone knows something I don’t.
