Alon Ziv’s 2006 book, Breeding Between The Lines, has been republished, which drew sharp criticism online. Many users shared their disapproval of the book, which promotes the idea that interracial individuals are “healthier and more attractive” than those who are not.
The book’s website claims that even though the topic of race has an ugly history, the work “approaches it responsibly.” It alleges “mixed parents give their children the precious gift of diverse DNA” protecting them from cystic fibrosis and sickle-cell anemia, the latter of which is a disease that mostly affects Black people. All the author’s research is based on various academic journals in subjects like botany and animal behavior.
The description continues, saying Ziv – who is Jewish and not interracial – “illustrates how biology influences every aspect of our lives and how the right combination of genes can make all the difference.”
Though some say the book is based on eugenics – a social philosophy advocating the improvement of hereditary qualities by selective breeding – the author refutes that view in the site’s FAQs.
Ziv says “eugenics historically argued for the exact opposite of interracial unions. Racist eugenicists were attempting to create some kind of ‘pure’ race. Breeding Between the Lines shows why this type of institutionalized inbreeding is a very bad idea.”
The book was reviewed on Literary Ames in 2013, and the mixed-race author assured readers it was not racist. But Twitter sees it differently.
One user questioned why a book like this would be cleared for a second edition in 2016.
It takes a village to make a book and that village is 80% white women.
— Daniel José Older (@djolder) May 24, 2016
Another quoted a line from the book’s website and questioned the “mixed-race explosion” Ziv predicted.
Would someone remind Alon Ziv that his "mixed race explosion" already happened when white men went around raping everyone?
— Cocky McSwagsalot (@MoreAndAgain) May 24, 2016
David Pontious referenced Jacob Mason, an Italian internet celebrity who frequently professes his love for Black women on social media.
Between Alon Ziv and Jacob Mason, I think we need to hit the reset button on discussing interracial relationships and children.
— David Pontious (@DavidPontious) May 24, 2016
Tyler Adams has a simple solution for Ziv and his book.
The Mixed Delegation might have to trade for Alon Ziv so we can bench him
— Tyler Adams (@ietyler) May 24, 2016
While one user blamed the author’s message on two things: the idea that race is “a social construct” and “bad science.”
Alon Ziv's book, which I will never read, is what you typically get when race, as a social construct and bad science, is your framework.
— Astro Papi (@swindellium) May 24, 2016
