Join John McWhorter, a Columbia University linguist and New York Times columnist, as he dives into the paradoxes of modern antiracism. He discusses how well-meaning intentions can lead to illiberal outcomes, likening today's 'woke' culture to dogma. McWhorter challenges the effectiveness of abstract theories, advocating for practical solutions like improving reading skills and vocational education. The conversation also touches on the complexities of race discourse and the need for a shift from race-centered policies to those prioritizing socioeconomic factors.
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insights INSIGHT
Defining "Woke"
"Woke" describes those awakened to systemic power dynamics and wanting change.
This term has evolved into a slur due to some people's offensive actions.
insights INSIGHT
Influence of the Woke
Few people are truly "woke", but many pretend to agree with them.
This outsized influence stems from 2020's racial reckoning and social media.
question_answer ANECDOTE
The Chinese Word Incident
A communications professor was suspended for using a Chinese filler word that sounded like a slur.
This incident exemplifies people's fear of being labeled racist, leading to absurd reactions.
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To anyone who has been following the debates surrounding race in America, John McWhorter needs little introduction. A professor of linguistics at Columbia University and a New York Times columnist, McWhorter believes that America is being harmed by a new form of antiracism, mostly espoused by white elites, that is illiberal, illogical and at heart neo-racist. To McWhorter, such thinking is not just a political stance but a religion with all the hallmarks of Christian dogma: white privilege as original sin that cannot be expunged; the hounding out of dissenters as heretics; the evangelical fervour of the true believers. In early 2022 he came to Intelligence Squared to discuss these ideas and the themes of his recent book, Woke Racism. McWhorter acknowledges the heartfelt desire of white people to be allies but, he argues that there is a better way to improve Black lives than what he sees as an unproductive focus on abstract theory. Hosting the discussion is the journalist, author and broadcaster, Helen Lewis.
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