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David Livingstone Smith, Ph.D., professor of philosophy, contributed an essay to the Philosophy Talk blog on August 3, titled “Superpredators Old and New.”  Smith examines language used by President Trump at a recent speech he gave in Youngstown, Ohio, suggesting that Latino men are predatory beasts.

Smith likens Trump’s rhetoric  to that of political scientist John DiIulio in his infamous 1995 description of “superpredators” – young, black males who prey upon the innocent—and further explores the many examples throughout history of people portraying members of another culture as monsters. While details vary in these portrayals, they all, according to Smith, have certain commonalities.

“First, superpredators are malevolent – they are out to get you and yours,” Smith writes. “Second, they are devoid of morality – they will do anything to satisfy their depraved desires. Third, they are irredeemably evil – bad to the bone. The only way to deal with them is by banishment, prison, or execution. Fourth, they are racialized – they are not members of our kind. And fifth (and very importantly) they have superhuman powers – superhuman strength, or endurance, or sexuality, or intelligence, which (combined with their other attributes) makes them immensely dangerous."

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