Sam Harris speaks with Coleman Hughes about race, racism, social justice, color blindness, race and crime, Coleman's experience at TED, confusion of the elites, Ibram X. Kendi, affirmative action, poverty, single-parent families, death of George Floyd, trial of Derek Chauvin, mob rule, Candace Owens, guilt by association, John McWhorter, Glenn Loury, reparations, immigrant communities, evidence of discrimination, Martin Luther King Jr., and more.
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Quick takeaways
The concept of colorblindness as a goal in racial politics has become controversial, but it means treating individuals without regard to race and removing race as a factor in public policy.
The issue of diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) has faced ideological capture and overreach, causing moral confusion in institutions, and there is a need to swing back and restore balance.
Deep dives
Colorblindness as a Goal
The podcast episode discusses the concept of colorblindness as a goal in racial politics. The speaker argues that colorblindness means treating individuals without regard to race and removing race as a factor in public policy. They highlight that the idea of colorblindness was once a consensus view during the civil rights movement, but has since become controversial and rejected by some. The importance of addressing crime and reducing racism is emphasized, as well as the need to recognize the difference between cultural affinity and discussions regarding public policy and ethics.
The Experience at TED
The speaker shares their experience giving a TED Talk on colorblindness and the reaction it received from some members of the audience. They mention that their talk was non-threatening and anodyne, and they made efforts to engage with people who disagreed. They explain that a small percentage of people at TED had a philosophy of safetyism, where any disagreement was perceived as making them feel unsafe. This reaction was seen as an extreme response to an idea that is common sense to non-elite individuals. The speaker reflects on the divide between elitist values and the norms of the general population.
DEI and its Impact
The podcast episode addresses the issue of diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) in various institutions. The speaker acknowledges the benign idea behind DEI, which initially aimed to promote diversity and create equal opportunities. However, they highlight the ideological capture and overreach that has occurred, leading to moral confusion in universities, major corporations, and media. The speaker mentions the recent Congressional hearings where concerns about DEI were revealed. They question the initial skepticism towards concerns about wokeism and identity in institutions, suggesting that more people are recognizing the extent of the problem.
The Need for a Swing Back
The speaker discusses the need for a swing back in institutions regarding DEI. They suggest that the pendulum has swung too far towards ideological capture and emphasize the importance of restoring balance. The speaker highlights the inability of some institutional leaders to address issues objectively and their inconsistency in addressing different forms of extremism. They express hope that the pendulum will swing back, allowing for open discussion and a return to rationality and common sense.
Sam Harris speaks with Coleman Hughes about race, racism, and social justice. They discuss the ideal of "color blindness," race and crime, Coleman's experience at TED, LatinX, the confusion of the elites, Ibram X. Kendi, affirmative action, class differences, poverty, single-parent families, the death of George Floyd and the trial of Derek Chauvin, mob rule, Candace Owens, Christopher Rufo, guilt by association, John McWhorter, Glenn Loury, reparations for slavery and Jim Crow, immigrant communities, evidence of discrimination, Martin Luther King Jr., and other topics.
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