Ingroups and Outgroups: Understanding Racial Bias in America

T. K. Coleman is the Director of Entrepreneurial Education at the Foundation for Economic Education (FEE) and the host of The Revolution of One podcast. As a member of the FEE faculty, he is a prolific writer and speaker and leads workshops on themes related to entrepreneurship, economics, and education. I met T.K. through our friends at The Minimalists podcast, where T.K. is a regular guest.

On this podcast, T.K. and I are talking about race relations in America. This topic has made headlines recently, but the stress of being black in the US is nothing new for people who cope every day with a society that refuses to fully accept them. T.K. is one of the best speakers I’ve ever heard describe the struggles facing young people of colour in a system that is biased to favour some over others. He discusses the fundamental fears that keep us divided, the reasons COVID-19 disproportionately affects African Americans and some of the key factors that can help us overcome our differences.

Here’s the outline of this interview with T.K. Coleman:

[00:00:32] The Minimalists podcast.

[00:01:08] The fall of CrossFit founder and CEO Greg Glassman.

[00:03:38] Peter Gray; Podcast: Free to Learn: Unleashing the Instinct to Play; Book: Free to Learn.

[00:04:19] Foundation for Economic Education (FEE).

[00:05:27] Cofounded the Praxis apprenticeship program with Isaac Morehouse. Praxis introductory video.

[00:09:11] Nicholas Taleb.

[00:12:12] Race relations.

[00:17:25] Video: Sapolsky on Depression in U.S.

[00:18:22] Struggles: white students vs black students.

[00:23:18] Book: Nonviolent Communication: A Language of Life: Life-Changing Tools for Healthy Relationships, by Marshall Rosenberg.

[00:23:53] Book: Language and the Pursuit of Happiness, by Chalmers Brothers.

[00:24:43] Book: How to Win Friends and Influence People, by Dale Carnegie.

[00:27:57] How to know yourself.

[00:28:58] Article: Taking a Walk as a Revolutionary Act by T.K. Coleman and Isaac Morehouse.

[00:29:28] Book: Journey of Awakening by Ram Dass.

[00:31:06] Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT); Russell Harris article on ACT: Embracing Your Demons: An Overview of Acceptance and Commitment Therapy.

[00:31:16] Book: The Righteous Mind: Why Good People Are Divided by Politics and Religion, by Jonathan Haidt.

[00:32:58] Article: The coronavirus is infecting and killing black Americans at an alarmingly high rate.

[00:34:19] Economic, educational, and cultural factors.

[00:39:51] The West Memphis Three.

[00:42:26] Video: Heartland Future Talks 2019: Robert Sapolsky & Lone Frank.

[00:42:35] Book: Why Zebras Don't Get Ulcers, Third Edition, by Robert Sapolsky.

[00:44:16] The war on drugs.

[00:46:17] A16Z podcast: What We Can’t Reveal We Can’t Heal.

[00:57:33] Book: Behave: The Biology of Humans at Our Best and Worst; Video: Robert Sapolsky.

[01:08:26] Exposing kids to diversity.

[01:13:05] Increasing opportunity rather than giving preferential treatment based on demographic.

[01:18:28] Book: The Evolution of Everything: How New Ideas Emerge by Matt Ridley.

[01:18:33] Video: Nassim Nicholas Taleb: "Localism and its Application to Lebanon".

[01:18:51] The rich always fear the poor.

[01:20:02] Follow T.K.’s work.