The Glenn Show John McWhorter – Glenn and John Throw Down over The Message
Oct 25, 2024
John McWhorter, a renowned humanities professor at Columbia University and New York Times columnist, dives into the contentious themes of Ta-Nehisi Coates’ book, 'The Message.' He critiques Coates for what he sees as a lack of depth and nuance in addressing race and morality. The conversation escalates into a debate on the complexities of the Israel-Palestine conflict, the role of Black intellectuals, and the responsibilities that come with public discourse. They also touch on the challenges of oversimplified narratives in literature and identity.
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Coates Debate Begins
- Glenn Lowry and John McWhorter discuss Ta-Nehisi Coates's book The Message and the controversy surrounding it.
- Lowry praises the book, while McWhorter expresses reservations despite acknowledging Coates's writing skill.
Coates's Writing Style
- Coates's writing exhibits artistic skill with sentences and vocabulary.
- McWhorter admits to previously being "deaf" to it due to personal dislike.
Simplistic View of Conflict
- Coates's take on the Israeli-Palestinian conflict is simplistic due to incuriosity and bias.
- He oversimplifies the conflict, framing it solely through the lens of white supremacy.
