Hume argued Black intellectual inferiority was natural, not environmental

Evidence

I am apt to suspect the Negroes and in general all other species of men (for there are four or five different kinds) to be naturally inferior to the whites. There never was a civilized nation of any other complexion than white, nor even any individual eminent either in action or speculation. No ingenious manufacturers amongst them, no arts, no sciences. On the other hand, the most rude and barbarous of the whites, such as the ancient GERMANS, the present TARTARS, have still something eminent about them, in their valour, form of government, or some other particular. Such a uniform and constant difference could not happen, in so many countries and ages, if nature had not made an original distinction betwixt these breeds of men. Not to mention our colonies, there are NEGROE slaves dispersed all over EUROPE, of which none ever discovered any symptoms of ingenuity; tho’ low people, without education, will start up amongst us, and distinguish themselves in every profession. In JAMAICA, indeed, they talk of one negroe as a man of parts and learning; but ‘tis likely he is admired for very slender accomplishments, like a parrot, who speaks a few words plainly. — Frans Dokman, Beyond Bantu Philosophy_…, 128

Categorization

• SHARE: Hume’s infamous footnote is often misremembered; the ‘parrot’ dismissal of the Jamaican scholar is worth sharing with someone studying the history of racist science.
• QUESTION: Hume’s ‘original distinction betwixt these breeds’ — how widely quoted against Beattie’s environment-based rebuttal, and did Hume ever revise it after Beattie’s attack?