Jared Diamond's Exploration of Inequality

Background

• Professor at UCLA, trained biologist, specialized in human physiology.
• Passionate about studying birds; began at age 7 in the U.S.
• First visit to Papua New Guinea (PNG) at age 26, which sparked a lifelong interest.
• Regular trips to PNG, becoming a leading expert on the island's bird life.
• Developed curiosity about the people of PNG through fieldwork.

Connection with New Guineans

• Over the years, Diamond has developed relationships with thousands of New Guineans.
• Learned several local languages; knowledge about birds often shared by local people.

Historical Context

• People have been living in New Guinea for at least 40,000 years, longer than in the Americas.
• New Guineans are among the most culturally diverse and adaptable populations.

Key Questions Raised

• Question posed by a local man named Yali: "Why do you white men have so much cargo and we New Guineans have so little?"
• This question challenged Diamond and initiated his quest for understanding.

Concept of 'Cargo'

• New Guineans refer to material goods introduced by Westerners as "cargo."
• Cargo perceived as evidence of the white man's power, treated with reverence.
• Western colonialists believed in racial superiority, thinking it justified their wealth in cargo.

Reflection

• Initially, Diamond found Yali's question simple yet was unable to provide an answer, highlighting the complexity of understanding inequality.