Resetting the Conversation on Race, with Coleman Hughes and Kenan Malik
Jan 18, 2023
01:03:26
AI Summary
Highlights
AI Chapters
Episode notes
auto_awesome
Podcast summary created with Snipd AI
Quick takeaways
Critique of anti-racism promoting victimhood and division among racial groups.
Impact of identitarian politics on disrupting cross-racial class coalitions.
Advocacy for focusing on income and class, rather than race, for societal equality and justice.
Deep dives
Evolution of Race and Politics
The discussion delves into the historical evolution of race and politics, highlighting the shift from universalist perspectives to identitarian notions, particularly focusing on how the left moved towards more identitarian motions over time. Examples from the early 1980s and the Salman Rushdie campaign in 1988, 1989, exemplify this transition, with a reflection on the impact of identitarian politics over the past 30 years.
Impact of Race and Social Evolutions
The podcast emphasizes the interplay between race, class, and social transformations, underscoring instances where race became a tool to disrupt cross-racial class coalitions. It also elucidates how the social pessimism prevalent in modern times has influenced the rise of identitarian politics, attributing it to broader economic and social shifts over the past half-century.
Historical Formation of Racial Concepts
Exploring the historical origins of race as a product of modernity, the episode scrutinizes how racial inequalities emerged against the backdrop of Enlightenment ideals of equality. The concept of race served to justify inequalities, notably in the context of slavery, by deeming certain individuals as racially inferior. The distinctions between racial and ethnic categorizations in the 19th century compared to contemporary views are also examined.
Colorblindness and Politics
The concept of colorblindness is dissected within the discourse, portraying it as a commitment to treating individuals without racial bias. The episode challenges misconceptions about colorblindness, advocating for a focus on factors like income and class rather than racial distinctions in achieving societal equality and justice. It underscores the importance of transcending racial categorizations in policy-making and societal progress.
Race, Politics, and Universalism
The conversation navigates the nuances of race and politics, emphasizing a shift towards universalism over identity politics. It debates the impact of pessimism on societal changes, juxtaposing historical racial advancements like Obama's election with persisting pessimistic views. The dialogue underscores the significance of prioritizing shared values and ideals over superficial racial divisions in fostering solidarity and progressive societal transformations.
Does the conversation on race need a reset? That is the question that Coleman Hughes and Kenan Malik explored when they came to Intelligence Squared in January 2022. Hughes is an acclaimed American writer and host of the award-winning podcast Conversations with Coleman. In 2019 at the age of 23 he testified before Congress against reparations for slavery and has roundly criticised the work of other Black writers on race such as Ibram X. Kendi and Robin DiAngelo. In his view, their brand of anti-racism encourages a sense of victimhood among Black Americans and sows division between different racial groups. Malik is a British author and broadcaster, whose new book Not So Black and White explores the history of the idea of race and invites us to challenge many of the assumptions behind today’s culture wars.
If you would like to support Coleman Hughes and his work, you can do so at colemanhughes.org.