Race, Class, and Culture with Briahna Joy Gray (S3 Ep.10)
Apr 8, 2022
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Briahna Joy Gray, former national press secretary for Bernie Sanders, discusses American exceptionalism, poverty and class, crime in poor neighborhoods, the cancellation of Whoopi Goldberg, the intersection of race and identity politics, vocational schools, minimum wage laws, socialism, and alternative models for distribution of labor and capital.
Identity politics can sometimes overshadow discussions about class and poverty, emphasizing the need to address both racial and economic disparities.
Cultural background and upbringing shape individuals' perspectives and socio-economic outcomes, necessitating nuanced discussions about culture and its impact.
Racial and ethnic categories often fail to capture the diverse experiences of individuals, highlighting the importance of recognizing and validating unique multi-ethnic identities.
Deep dives
The Complexity of Identity Politics
The podcast episode explores the complex issues surrounding identity politics and its impact on various marginalized groups. It delves into the weaponization of identity politics and how it can sometimes obscure the larger issues of class and poverty. The discussion highlights the need to address both racial and economic disparities, rather than prioritize one over the other. It also acknowledges the challenges faced by individuals, particularly white individuals, who want to engage in conversations about race and poverty without being labeled as racist or uninformed.
The Influence of Cultural Background
The episode examines the influence of cultural background on individuals' perspectives and experiences. It explores the history of Jewish identity in America and the complexities surrounding Jewish success as a minority group. The conversation delves into how culture shapes individuals, their opportunities, and socio-economic outcomes. It raises questions about the perception of Jews within racial frameworks and the challenges of fitting into intersectional paradigms. The episode highlights the need for nuanced discussions about culture and the recognition of its impact on various communities.
Navigating Race and Ethnicity
The podcast episode tackles the complexities of racial and ethnic identity in America. It discusses the ways in which racial categories can be broad and fail to capture the nuances of individual experiences. The conversation delves into the challenges faced by individuals who identify with multiple racial or ethnic backgrounds and the importance of recognizing and validating their unique experiences. It emphasizes the need to move beyond oversimplified racial classifications and engage in more nuanced conversations about the diverse experiences of individuals.
Exploring Economic Disparities
The episode highlights the link between economic disparities and racial or ethnic identity. It explores the historical and contemporary factors that contribute to the socio-economic outcomes of different racial and ethnic groups. The discussion raises questions about the impact of immigration, educational opportunities, and cultural factors on economic success. It emphasizes the need to address both systemic racism and economic inequality in order to create a more equitable society for all individuals, regardless of their race or ethnicity.
Culture is not intrinsic and can change
Culture is not intrinsic and can change according to anthropologists who argue against the notion that culture is determined by genetics. It is a matter of which direction cultural changes are pushed in.
Changing culture is difficult, requires local efforts
Changing culture is challenging and cannot be effectively done by top-down government intervention. Meaningful cultural change is best achieved through local efforts, such as through community organizations, churches, and schools. Personal interactions and face-to-face connections play a crucial role in shaping cultural norms and expectations.
My guest today is Briahna Joy Gray. Briahna was the national press secretary for Bernie Sanders and his 2020 campaign. Before that, she was a columnist and Senior Politics Editor at The Intercept. Her work has also appeared in many other outlets like Rolling Stone magazine, Current Affairs, New York Magazine, and The Guardian. Briahna currently hosts the Bad Faith Podcast, which I hope to go on soon.
We talk about how Briahna's international childhood influenced her worldview. We discuss American exceptionalism and patriotism, and whether they're justified, how identity-politics crowds out the issues of poverty in class, the effects of crime in poor neighborhoods, and the cancellation of Whoopi Goldberg. We argue about the extent to which culture is a cause of racial and ethnic disparities. We go on to talk about our cultural obsession with four-year colleges and the prospect of instead supporting vocational schools much more than we currently do, minimum wage laws, and socialism generally.
I really enjoyed this one and I hope you do too.
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