Link: https://www.statnews.com/2025/11/07/james-watson-remembrance-from-dna-pioneer-to-pariah/
James Watson, dead at 97, was a scientific legend and a pariah among his peers
He co-discovered DNA’s structure but later engaged in rank racism and sexism
By Sharon Begley Nov. 7, 2025
STAT senior science writer Sharon Begley wrote this remembrance of James Watson before she herself died in 2021.
Cutting. I love it.
I’m so confused, did she predict the day Sharon predict the day Watson was going to die, nearly for years AFTER he own?
No it’s common for papers to have prewritten obituaries for people they know will die soon, or even just important people in general so they can get them published quickly. She would have just had place holders for the date and his age that the editor filled in before publication. She probably didn’t expect that Watson would outlive her.
Oh, gotcha! I’m not a bright person.
I think it’s safe to assume she wrote something like [insert date here]. That seems like a pretty obvious explanation to me anyways.
Yeah, I shoulda thought about that.
I’m just learning about Mr. Watson’s darker side, here
His wiki page says:
In a BBC documentary that year [2007], Watson said that he did not see himself as a racist.
/smh They never see themselves as racist, but that usually means they are.
And, for anyone thinking “well. I’m not racist…” Remember, you DEFINITELY have some internalized biases. I’ve got them. I acknowledge them. I try to overcome them. If you aren’t, you should too! Also, being antiracist in general.
If someone ever finds themselves in a situation where they feel the need to say that they don’t see themselves as a racist…
If someone says stuff like that you can bet they’re extremely racist.
See and I keep telling people I’m racist and people don’t believe me despite my words clearly showing I am. I think I confuse people because the ex-wife is Jewish and my girlfriend is African lol
NB. Words are stupid. Actions define a man.
Do you see yourself as racist?
Do you not?
yes
This is the sort of spite that manifests greatness. A stellar clapback I’d have expected to hear in the temples of old when a priest takes the verbal lash to a king who was hated by his subjects. Quite the professional takedown. Well executed!
Huh. On top of all that he took credit for discovering the double helix of DNA when Franklin’s student showed him the work done by Franklin’s group without permission.
A diss from beyond the grave, this is some top notch stuff.
This guy sounds like he was quite a piece of work. Also, unfortunately, a real racist piece of work. Its pride, hubris. Everyone is susceptible to sin as such, even the smartest folks, sometimes especially the smarter folk. To be Prideful is selfish. Pride says “i am the best and need to answer to no one”. Also in a group, selfishness is a negative trait that won’t benefit a group, and can potentially harm said group.
So many “traditionally” smart folks are just assholes…
