Coleman Hughes, writer and columnist, discusses colorblindness, population genetics, institutionalized neoracism, and myths of Black Weakness in 'The End of Race Politics' with Michael Shermer. They dive into affirmative action, gaps in income and wealth, reparations, and the future of colorblindness.
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Quick takeaways
Race is a social construct influenced by genetics and historical migrations, not just biological realities.
Minimum wage laws have had a significant impact on rising youth unemployment rates, especially for black teenagers.
Cultural factors, such as two-parent households and strong work ethics, play a crucial role in economic success and achievement.
Deep dives
Race as a Social Construct
The podcast delves into the concept of race as a social construct, highlighting that racial categories were created without scientific consultation. It compares racial groupings in census forms to biological clustering based on genetics and historical migrations. The discussion emphasizes the complexity of race, suggesting that it is akin to a month, inspired by biological realities, but socially constructed.
Impact of Minimum Wage Laws
Thomas Sowell's viewpoint on the effects of minimum wage laws on youth unemployment, especially for black teenagers, is discussed. Sowell argues that minimum wage laws had a significant impact on rising youth unemployment rates in the 1950s, particularly for black Americans. The podcast considers the acute effect of minimum wage laws on young people's ability to secure employment, highlighting the potential consequences of such policies.
Cultural Factors in Economic Success
The role of cultural factors in economic success is explored, pointing out that groups with high rates of two-parent households, strong work ethics, low tolerance for drug use, and strict parenting often exhibit higher levels of success. Academic studies comparing cultural norms and behaviors between ethnic groups shed light on the correlation between certain cultural attitudes and economic prosperity. The podcast emphasizes the positive impact of cultural values on individual and group achievement.
Immigrant Success in America
The podcast discusses the success of immigrant groups in America, highlighting their ability to achieve upward mobility through hard work and perseverance. It contrasts the narrative of systemic racism with the reality that many immigrant communities have thrived in the country. By showcasing the achievements of immigrants who have overcome adversity to attain economic and social success, the podcast challenges the notion of systemic barriers as insurmountable obstacles.
Analysis of Derek Chauvin's Trial and Conviction
The podcast delves into the controversial trial and conviction of Derek Chauvin in the George Floyd case, highlighting doubts about the felony murder charges. It discusses the different views on the cause of George Floyd's death, including the role of the maximal restraint technique used by Chauvin. The narrative challenges the prosecution's burden to prove beyond a reasonable doubt that Chauvin's actions directly caused Floyd's death, raising questions about the fairness of the trial and the presence of reasonable doubt in the case.
Promoting Colorblind Ideals for Society
The episode concludes with a focus on promoting colorblind ideals for societal change. The speaker expresses a desire to facilitate conversations around a colorblind society through advocacy and education. Embracing the ideals of a colorblind society is emphasized as a pathway to fostering understanding and progress in societal attitudes towards race, although the timeline for achieving substantial change is viewed as extending over multiple decades, suggesting that small and gradual steps can lead to a more equitable future for all.
As one of the few black students in his philosophy program at Columbia University years ago, Coleman Hughes wondered why his peers seemed more pessimistic about the state of American race relations than his own grandparents–who lived through segregation. The End of Race Politics is the culmination of his years-long search for an answer.
Coleman Hughes is a writer, podcaster and opinion columnist who specializes in issues related to race, public policy and applied ethics. Coleman’s writing has been featured in the New York Times, the Wall Street Journal, National Review, Quillette, The City Journal and The Spectator. He appeared on Forbes’ 30 Under 30 list in 2021.
Shermer and Hughes discuss: why he is considered “black” if he is “half-black, half-Hispanic” • what it means to be “colorblind” • population genetics and race differences • Base Rate Neglect, Base Rate Taboos • institutionalized neoracism • viewpoint epistemology • affirmative action • gaps in income, wealth, home ownership, CEO representation, Congressional representation • myths of Black Weaknes, No Progress, Undoing the Past • reparations • the future of colorblindness.
Contemplative yet audacious, his new book, The End of Race Politics, is necessary reading for anyone who questions the race orthodoxies of our time. Hughes argues for a return to the ideals that inspired the American Civil Rights movement, showing how our departure from the colorblind ideal has ushered in a new era of fear, paranoia, and resentment marked by draconian interpersonal etiquette, failed corporate diversity and inclusion efforts, and poisonous race-based policies that hurt the very people they intend to help. Hughes exposes the harmful side effects of Kendi-DiAngelo style antiracism, from programs that distribute emergency aid on the basis of race to revisionist versions of American history that hide the truth from the public.
