Science vs. Racism: How Scientific American is Combating Social Justice Issues

In the Spring issue of City Journal, James Meigs discusses the growing focus of Scientific American on social justice topics. The magazine has recently published several articles that explore how scientific disciplines can contribute to promoting social justice and equity.

One such article, titled “Modern Mathematics Confronts Its White, Patriarchal Past,” examines how mathematics has historically been used to perpetuate systemic racism and inequality. Another article, titled “The Racist Roots of Fighting Obesity,” explores how public health policies have often been driven by racist assumptions and biases.

While these pieces are rooted in scientific topics, in 2021, SciAm published an opinion essay titled “Why the Term ‘JEDI’ Is Problematic for Describing Programs That Promote Justice, Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion.” The article critiques the expansion of the DEI acronym to include “Justice” and argues that the Jedi knights from Star Wars are inappropriate mascots for social justice initiatives.

The authors suggest that the Jedi knights are prone to white saviorism and toxic masculinity approaches to conflict resolution. They argue that using violent duels with phallic light sabers and gaslighting with “Jedi mind tricks” is not a positive representation of social justice initiatives.

The connection between these social justice topics and science was unclear to many readers. However, Meigs argues that it’s important for scientists to engage in conversations about social justice issues and work towards creating more equitable societies. He suggests that science can play a crucial role in addressing systemic racism and inequality by providing evidence-based solutions to complex problems.