SOURCE: "Race, Pathology and IQ," in The Wall Street Journal, October 10, 1994, p. A14.

[In the following essay, Herrnstein and Murray contend that IQ test results are the most reliable predictor of socioeconomic success and failure in society.]

"But what about race?" we are asked whenever we try to talk about The Bell Curve. Part of the correct answer is that there are many interesting questions involving race and intelligence. Racial differences in means and distributions on IQ tests are a reality. As far as anyone can tell, they are not artifacts of test bias. Some of them call for a rethinking of policy, especially affirmative action. All of these topics are discussed at length in the book.

But another part of the correct answer to "What about race?" is that racial issues are secondary. People find it hard to accept this at face value. The topic of race...