The Good Fight Coleman Hughes on the Legacy of Slavery
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Apr 16, 2025 
Coleman Hughes, a writer and host of Conversations with Coleman, dives into the legacy of slavery in the U.S. with Yascha Mounk. They discuss the ramifications of slavery on modern issues like mass incarceration and family dynamics. Hughes critiques narratives around the war on drugs and emphasizes the complexity of systemic racism. The conversation also touches on the importance of clear definitions in discussions of discrimination and explores the tension between colorblind ideals and racial realities, advocating for a nuanced understanding of social justice.
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Definition of Slavery's Legacy
- The legacy of slavery means the long-run consequences of American slavery.
- Key debates include whether mass incarceration or family breakdown are effects of that legacy.
Mass Incarceration's Complex Causes
- Mass incarceration results less from slavery's legacy and more from rising crime and prosecutorial discretion.
- Drug war strategies contributed, but causes were more complex and multiracially supported.
Critique of The New Jim Crow
- Michelle Alexander argues the war on drugs caused mass incarceration, but she only examines federal prisons.
- Most prisoners are in state prisons for violent crimes, so drug war explains only a fraction of mass incarceration.
