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Wrongthink on Race With Glenn C. Loury

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Sep 29, 2021

Guest

Glenn Loury

Glenn C. Loury, Professor of Economics at Brown University and the first tenured Black professor at Harvard, dives deep into controversial topics around race and inequality. He critiques the Black Lives Matter movement and its disconnect from the challenges facing Black communities. Loury challenges the dilution of academic standards in elite universities while discussing the complexities of meritocracy in education. His personal journey from a working-class background to academic success adds richness to the conversation about identity and societal expectations.

01:42:18

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ANECDOTE

Early Life and Struggles

Glenn Loury, from a working-class Black family in Chicago, became a father at 17.
He worked full-time while pursuing his undergraduate degree, driven by ambition and fueled by caffeine and little sleep.

insights

INSIGHT

Focus Amidst Turmoil

While tumultuous events like the Vietnam War and social unrest unfolded around him, Loury remained focused on his personal goals.
He prioritized his education and family, viewing some protests as self-indulgent.

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ANECDOTE

Journey into Economics

Loury's talent for math led him to economics, a field that applied rigorous analysis to real-world problems.
At MIT, he thrived in the collaborative environment, engaging with renowned economists and further developing his analytical skills.

Get the Snipd Podcast app to discover more snips from this episode

Challenging Narratives on Race and Liberty

01:38 • 2min

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A Deep Dive into Race, Society, and Technology

03:10 • 2min

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From Struggles to Success: A Thinker's Journey

05:09 • 26min

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Navigating Identity and Struggle

31:13 • 22min

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Concerns of Academia: Standards vs. Diversity

53:17 • 8min

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Reevaluating Racism: Disparities, Discourse, and Politics

01:01:30 • 6min

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Challenging the Narrative on Race and Activism

01:07:20 • 19min

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Examining Merit and Misconceptions in Elite Public Schools

01:26:44 • 6min

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Exploring the Failures of Meritocracy in Education

01:32:28 • 3min

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The Dangers of Wokeness and the Backlash It Creates

01:35:04 • 5min

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The Asian American Achievement Paradox

Jennifer Lee

Min Zhou

In *The Asian American Achievement Paradox*, sociologists Jennifer Lee and Min Zhou delve into the academic achievements of Asian American children, particularly those of Chinese and Vietnamese immigrants. They argue that the success of these groups is not solely due to cultural values but is influenced by immigration policies, community resources, and institutional support. The book reveals how these factors create an 'achievement paradox,' where those who do not fit the success model feel like failures.

You Are What You Eat

None

Honorable Elijah Muhammad

The Negro Family: The Case for National Action

The Case for National Action

Daniel Patrick Moynihan

The Moynihan Report, officially titled "The Negro Family: The Case for National Action," is a 1965 report by then-Assistant Secretary of Labor Daniel Patrick Moynihan. It examined the challenges facing Black families in the United States, particularly the high rates of female-headed households and their correlation with poverty and social problems. The report's controversial conclusions sparked intense debate, with critics arguing it blamed Black women for systemic issues. Despite the controversy, the report remains a significant document in the history of American social policy, highlighting the complex interplay between family structure, poverty, and racial inequality. It continues to be studied and debated for its insights and its lasting impact on discussions about race and social policy.

The Tyranny of Merit

What's Become of the Common Good?

Michael Sandel

In 'The Tyranny of Merit', Michael J. Sandel argues that the current system of meritocracy has led to significant social and political issues. He contends that meritocracy stratifies society into winners and losers, based largely on economic status and educational credentials, resulting in hubris among the successful and resentment and humiliation among those who are not. Sandel suggests that this system ignores the role of luck and external factors in success and instead attributes success solely to individual talent and hard work. He advocates for a new way of thinking about success, one that is more attentive to the role of luck, more conducive to an ethic of humility and solidarity, and more affirming of the dignity of all work. The book also explores the impact of credentialism and the need to restore dignity to work that does not require a college degree, promoting a politics of the common good.

The Spiral of Silence

Public Opinion – Our Social Skin

Elisabeth Noelle-Neumann

In 'The Spiral of Silence', Elisabeth Noelle-Neumann examines how individuals adjust their behavior based on perceived public opinion, often leading to the suppression of minority viewpoints due to fear of social isolation. The book provides insights into social behavior, media influence, and group dynamics, highlighting the role of public opinion as a form of social control.

The Power of the Powerless

Václav Havel

Keane, John

Written in 1978, 'The Power of the Powerless' is a seminal essay by Václav Havel that critiques the post-totalitarian systems of Eastern Europe. The essay, which was circulated in samizdat form, argues that individuals living within such systems must 'live in truth' to challenge the pervasive lies and ideological control of the state. Havel uses the example of a greengrocer displaying a communist slogan to illustrate the mechanisms of compliance and the potential for resistance. The book, edited by John Keane, includes responses from various contributors and provides a broad spectrum of democratic opinions on freedom, power, and civil liberty under totalitarian conditions.

Politics and the English Language

George Orwell

In 'Politics and the English Language', George Orwell argues that vague and imprecise language can obscure truth and manipulate public opinion. He critiques the 'ugly and inaccurate' written English of his time, particularly in political contexts, where language is used to 'make lies sound truthful and murder respectable'. Orwell emphasizes the importance of clear and concrete language, suggesting that poor writing fosters poor political thinking and is a danger to society. He provides examples of bad writing and offers guidelines for effective writing, including six rules to avoid the misuse of language. Orwell believes that language and thought are interdependent and that improving language can help improve political life.

How to Be an Antiracist

Connor Cobley

Four decades ago, Glenn C. Loury became the first tenured black professor of economics in Harvard’s history. Ever since then, he has made waves for his willingness to buck the elite intellectual establishment; for his iconoclastic ideas about race and inequality; and for his incisive cultural criticism.

He is a man of seeming contradictions: he rails against the divisiveness of woke politics from his post at Brown University, one of America’s most left wing campuses. He worries about what the death of God means for the country -- though he calls his own past religious beliefs a “benevolent self-delusion.” In the 80s, Glenn challenged his fellow black Americans to combat the “enemy from within,” while he himself battled demons like adultery and addiction.

But Glenn’s ability to re-examine his positions and look at his own past with clear eyes is hardly a fault. Glenn is a man who, in a time of lies told for the sake of political convenience, strives to tell the truth even when the truth is hard. Or complicated. Or an affront to our feelings. Or contradicts what we wish were true.

In today’s conversation: race, racism, Black Lives Matter, school choice, standardized tests, crack, sexual infidelity, Christianity, the Nation of Islam, neoconservatism, Harvard, groupthink, and pretty much every other hot-button subject you can imagine. Plus, Glenn’s own remarkable life story.

Glenn's own podcast, "The Glenn Show" is available through Substack and in video form on his new Youtube channel.

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