Thomas Chatterton Williams, an insightful author exploring race and identity, shares his journey of unlearning harmful narratives about race. He reflects on personal experiences that shaped his understanding, like living abroad and his father's influence. The conversation touches on the complexities of heritage and the hope for a future where racial identifiers become irrelevant. Williams challenges the audience to seek genuine progress rather than just emotional release, emphasizing the importance of addressing deeper societal issues.

Jackson Katz, an educator and co-founder of the Young Men's Research Institute, teams up with Thomas Chatterton Williams, a staff writer at The Atlantic and visiting professor, to debate the role of identity politics in engaging male voters. They discuss the unique challenges facing men today, including health and education issues. Katz advocates for addressing men's narratives to reconnect with them, while Williams warns that focusing on identity could deepen divisions. The conversation dives deep into the need for inclusive narratives that resonate across diverse male experiences.

Featuring:Thomas Chatterton Williams - Contributing Writer @ The Atlantic, Visiting Professor and Senior Fellow Hannah Arendt Center @ Bard College Adam Davidson - Co-Founder @ Planet Money, Contributing Writer @ The New Yorker*** “It amazes me that any straight, white dudes don't see the privilege we have. It's not subtle.” - Adam Davidson - via Twitter (8/20/22)Not a long tweet. And in the grand scheme of things, hardly an unusual opinion to encounter. Ordinarily, I fire off a reply —maybe there’s some pithy back and forth, but things more or less end up about where they began— until the next (pointless?) social media drama.But maybe we agree to talk instead? Probe a bit further. Perhaps even learn a few things in the process? This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.wethefifth.com/subscribe

Sean Illing talks with author Thomas Chatterton Williams about race and identity in America. Thomas has analyzed racial identity through the lens of his own upbringing, and the performativity and pressures he experienced. In conversation with Sean, Thomas speaks about how he sees these identities as restrictive connections to the racial oppressions of the past, whether it's possible to achieve liberation without sacrificing solidarity, and on the complex interplay between race and class.Host: Sean Illing (@seanilling), host, The Gray AreaGuest: Thomas Chatterton Williams (@thomaschattwill), author; contributing writer, The AtlanticReferences:  Self-Portrait in Black and White: Family, Fatherhood, and Rethinking Race by Thomas Chatterton Williams (W.W. Norton; 2019) Losing My Cool: Love, Literature, and a Black Man's Escape from the Crowd by Thomas Chatterton Williams (Penguin; 2011) White Fragility by Robin DiAngelo (Beacon; 2018) "Camus' Stance on Algeria Still Stokes Debate in France" by Eleanor Beardsley (NPR; Nov. 7, 2013) The Brothers Karamazov by Fyodor Dostoevsky (1880) Between the World and Me by Ta-Nehisi Coates (One World; 2018) South to a Very Old Place by Albert Murray (Vintage; 1991) "The limits of anti-racism" by Adolph Reed (2009)  Enjoyed this episode? Rate The Gray Area ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ and leave a review on Apple Podcasts.Subscribe for free. Be the first to hear the next episode of The Gray Area. Subscribe in your favorite podcast app.Support The Gray Area by making a financial contribution to Vox! bit.ly/givepodcastsThis episode was made by:  Producer: Erikk Geannikis Editor: Amy Drozdowska Engineer: Patrick Boyd Editorial Director, Vox Talk: A.M. Hall Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Philosopher Susan Neiman and cultural critic Thomas Chatterton Williams discuss the dangerous consequences of conflating 'wokeism' with the Left, exploring topics such as the definition of wokeness, cultural appropriation, lack of optimism, the influence of Michel Foucault, critiquing liberal powers, and the complexities of being 'woke'.

Thomas Chatterton Williams, a culture critic and author known for his memoirs, shares insights on the power of literature and the practical application of philosophy. He delves into how his father's guidance fostered his love for reading and emphasizes the necessity of embracing contradictions in thought. Williams discusses his impactful contributions to free speech debates and reflects on his identity experiences in France, urging a departure from rigid racial classifications. Ultimately, he champions the importance of nurturing a love for reading in future generations.

Great writer Thomas Chatterton Williams discusses the legacy of the Black Lives Matter movement and the year 2020. Topics include accepting heterodox views, the impact of algorithmic boosting, positive/negative effects of BLM, consequences of viewing everything as a competition among identity groups, and the reformation of thinking and impact of research after 2020.

Thomas Chatterton Williams discusses racial identity in Europe, reflecting on experiences straddling both continents. Topics include Charlie Hebdo, Bataclan attacks, Islamism, George Floyd's murder, racial profiling, societal responses to political and racial issues, no-go zones, societal detachment, unity, divisions, inequalities, social justice movements, and evolution towards economic justice.

On this episode of Conversations with Tom Bilyeu, Thomas Chatterton Williams tells his own story of unlearning poisonous stories about race through extensive reading, living in a new country, and reflecting on his own family. As the discussion progresses, he confronts the challenges we face in getting past mere anger to build the beautiful society that we ought to be able to live in. This episode is brought to you by: Wagner Spray Tech: https://bit.ly/2WNICDs PeopleReady: Visit peopleready.com/impacttheory Better Help: Get 10% off your first month at https://betterhelp.com/impacttheory SHOW NOTES: Thomas talks about a novel that he tried to write that he had to give up on [1:00] Fiction is a very different medium from non-fiction writing and requires different skills [5:17] Nothing is ever wasted, and the best of the lost novel ended up in his non-fiction work [9:00] Thomas credits his father as being the first guy who “pulled himself out of the Matrix” [13:01] Thomas tells the story of the poet he is named after [18:47] Thomas then explains how he and his wife chose his daughter’s name [21:20] Thomas describes how stepping out of America caused him to view race differently [24:26] Thomas discusses the complexity of his heritage, ethnicity and ancestry [28:52] Thomas hopes for a society where the skin color is as unimportant as hair color [32:00] Do people want progress, or do they merely want catharsis and anger? [35:27] The blanket of identity we throw over every issue obscures deeper problems [41:49] Tom tells the story of how he started mining for astronauts in poor areas [48:14] Should we focus on helping children? [56:08] Children are never in a vacuum and you have to affect the whole family [1:00:55] Thomas talks about how he and his brother pursued completely opposed paths [1:06:22] Thomas discusses how he raises his kids [1:13:30] Thomas defines the good life as autonomy, as living according to his own values [1:19:27] Tom and Thomas discuss Hip Hop in the 90s and today [1:23:35] How can we get past anger towards the beautiful society on the other side? [1:32:36] What happens when people’s efforts are channeled in very limited ways? [1:40:26] Building desire is one of life’s most important quests [1:52:45] FOLLOW THOMAS: INSTAGRAM: https://bit.ly/2Z94PvI FACEBOOK: https://bit.ly/31dgnAu TWITTER: https://bit.ly/3esJJyP Are You Ready for EXTRA Impact?If you’re ready to find true fulfillment, strengthen your focus, and ignite your true potential, the Impact Theory subscription was created just for you.Want to transform your health, sharpen your mindset, improve your relationship, or conquer the business world? This is your epicenter of greatness. This is not for the faint of heart. This is for those who dare to learn obsessively, every day, day after day.Subscription Benefits: Unlock the gates to a treasure trove of wisdom from inspiring guests like Andrew Huberman, Mel Robbins, Hal Elrod, Matthew McConaughey, and many, many, more New episodes delivered ad-free Exclusive access to Tom’s AMAs, keynote speeches, and suggestions from his personal reading list You’ll also get access to an 5 additional podcasts with hundreds of archived Impact Theory episodes, meticulously curated into themed playlists covering health, mindset, business, relationships, and more: Legendary Mindset: Mindset & Self-Improvement Money Mindset: Business & Finance Relationship Theory: Relationships Health Theory: Mental & Physical Health Power Ups: Weekly Doses of Short Motivational Quotes  Subscribe on Apple Podcasts: https://apple.co/3PCvJazSubscribe on all other platforms (Google Podcasts, Spotify, Castro, Downcast, Overcast, Pocket Casts, Podcast Addict, Podcast Republic, Podkicker, and more) : https://impacttheorynetwork.supercast.com/ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Thomas Chatterton Williams, a thought-provoking author known for his works on race and identity, dives deep into the complexities surrounding racial constructs. He shares insights from his interracial upbringing, highlighting the challenges of navigating identity in a racially charged society. The discussion critiques the obsession with racial identities and advocates for authentic human connections. Williams emphasizes the fluidity of race as a social construct and envisions a future where racial distinctions become less significant, fostering a truly post-racial society.