City Journal Audio Who We Are: Race and Meritocracy
Jan 21, 2026
Jason L. Riley, a Senior Fellow at the Manhattan Institute and renowned commentator on race and public policy, shares his insights with Rafael Mangual. Riley critiques the left’s victimhood mentality and emphasizes the importance of personal responsibility. He discusses how historical figures shaped his views on race and outlines the disconnect between activist agendas and mainstream Black community priorities. Riley also highlights how family structure impacts progress and advocates for young minorities to embrace opportunities over pessimism.
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Agency Versus Victimhood
- Jason Riley frames the left-right divide on race around agency versus victimhood, with the left emphasizing structural oppression.
- He credits thinkers like Shelby Steele and Thomas Sowell for articulating the agency-focused perspective he embraced.
Raised In A Responsibility-Focused Community
- Jason Riley describes growing up in a religious, extended-family environment that emphasized work, sobriety, and personal responsibility.
- He contrasts that upbringing with activist narratives that center external blame for black communities' problems.
Activist Agenda vs. Community Preferences
- Riley highlights a long-standing disconnect between activists' agendas and black communities' preferences on issues like policing and school choice.
- He attributes activists' emphasis on grievance to fundraising and political relevance, not necessarily community wishes.
