Heterodox Out Loud

From Wokeness to Pluralism: A New Vision for Universities with Eboo Patel | Ep 24

Nov 12, 2024

Eboo Patel, Founder and President of Interfaith America, discusses the transformative power of pluralism in universities. He shares his journey from India and how his Muslim upbringing shaped his views on social justice. Patel critiques the shift in anti-racism strategies in academia and advocates for a balance between diverse perspectives. He proposes innovative ideas for creating 'Pluralist Universities,' emphasizing respectful dialogue and intellectual diversity, and uses jazz as a metaphor for collaboration in a democratic society.

58:39

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Eboo Patel

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Quick takeaways

Eboo Patel advocates for pluralism in universities, emphasizing its role in fostering intellectual diversity and respectful dialogue among diverse identities.

The podcast critiques the shift in anti-racism approaches from helpful initiatives to controlling paradigms, arguing for more inclusive practices.

Patel envisions universities as incubators of pluralism, promoting cooperative identities and civic engagement to prepare students for a complex society.

Deep dives

Navigating Racial Identity and Worldviews

The speaker reflects on the challenges of embracing their racial identity, particularly in the context of systemic racism and white supremacy encountered during their college years. They express a struggle between the emotional impact of racial discourse and the limitations of viewing the world solely through that lens. This struggle is echoed in a cautionary warning from a PhD advisor about the dangers of forcing one's worldview onto the complexities of reality. The speaker emphasizes that while understanding issues of race is important, it should not define every aspect of one's perspective.

Intro

2min

From India to Interfaith Activism

7min

The Harmony of Pluralism

9min

Jazz and Pluralism: Embracing Diversity

13min

Embracing Pluralism in Academia

23min

Building a Pluralism University: Steps Toward Inclusive Learning

4min

Celebrating Pluralism in Higher Education

2min

What new vision can pluralism bring to today’s universities? Today, founder of Interfaith America Eboo Patel, joins John to discuss how pluralism can be a guiding principle in transforming higher education away from rigid ideological confines towards a more inclusive and dynamic intellectual space.

Eboo shares his journey to understanding pluralism. He views pluralism as a way to embrace one’s identity while valuing others and notes that the approach to anti-racism in some universities is shifting from helpful to controlling. Ebo believes that pluralism can balance extreme views by fostering intellectual diversity and respectful dialogue. He also suggests ways to create "Pluralist Universities," such as starting pluralism fellowships, doing research for future diversity needs, and developing a liberal arts curriculum that reflects a diverse society.

In This Episode:

Evolution of anti-racism from perspective to paradigm to coercive regime
Personal narratives and pluralism at the Nantucket Project
Pluralism as navigating between "wokeness" and "whitewashing"
Implementation of pluralism in universities
Historical roots and modern applications of pluralism
Roles of intellectual, identity, values, and agonistic pluralism in higher education
Critique of overemphasis on victimhood in diversity discussions

For further reading, refer to Eboo Patel's co-authored article with Rebecca Russo on pluralism practices at universities.

About Eboo:

Eboo Patel is a civic leader who believes that religious diversity is an essential and inspiring dimension of American democracy. Named “one of America’s best leaders” by U.S. News and World Report, Eboo is the Founder and President of Interfaith America, the leading interfaith organization in the United States. Under his leadership, Interfaith America has worked with governments, universities, private companies, and civic organizations to make faith a bridge of cooperation rather than a barrier of division.

Eboo served on President Obama’s Inaugural Faith Council, has given hundreds of keynote addresses, and has written five books, including We Need to Build: Field Notes for Diverse Democracy. He is an Ashoka Fellow and holds a doctorate in the sociology of religion from Oxford University, where he studied on a Rhodes scholarship. Eboo lives in Chicago with his wife, Shehnaz, and their two sons.

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