July 17, 2021

"Thinking Critically about Critical Race Theory."

Posted by Ann Althouse at 7:11 AM
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5 comments:

Ann Althouse said...

Mary Ann writes:

"I was surprised to read that Glenn Loury is a professor at Brown University. So, I guess Brown got a twofer with Prof. Loury, conservative and black. For sure, he is the only person at Brown who fits this profile. I wonder how popular his classes are and how he is treated by the faculty and students there. He is definitely a breath of fresh air for me and wish that there were more academics like him in our colleges and universities. He is sane, makes a convincing argument and is also easy to listen to without the preachy, angry tone that most African-American academics seem to use. He actually seems to be a happy man who enjoys what he’s doing!"

7/17/21, 10:21 AM
Ann Althouse said...

K writes:

"This podcast is worth watching because it defines what is meant by CRT in the schools, namely these two things: 1. teaching children that whites are oppressors and blacks are victims; 2. teaching children only one lesson in all classes, power differentials exist, the only moral thing to do with life is to fight them, here's how. Both McWhorter and Loury agree that this what parents are fighting and that it exists in the schools and that it is a direct intellectual descendant of Marxism and CRT though not the legal theory itself. And they agree that the left and the teachers' union types are pretending that since CRT (as defined above) is not the same thing as Derrick Bell's legal theory and since Derrick Bell's legal critical race theory is not being taught in the schools therefore parents are fighting a strawman and merely exposing their racism when they object to CRT (as defined above) being taught in the schools.

"[CRT is being taught. The head of a Virginia PTA (PTA = Petty Tyrant Association) was calling for parents who object to CRT to die so you can imagine the psychic abuse against K-12 kids trapped in the public schools which the PTAs are supporting. "You are an oppressor known as such by the color of your skin." It's a civil rights violation.]

"But the show is really worth watching because, beyond definitions, it shows two honest men wrestling with various undefined, somewhat formless "issues" or situations - rapidly changing situations and deeply embedded situations. Is the left lying? Are educational theorists lying or too stupid to know what's going on? Are university and professional associations racist or dense? and a lot more. And look up Roland Fryer whom they mention - he has the good sense to agree with me that schools are causing the black/white IQ gap."

https://faculty.smu.edu/millimet/classes/eco7321/papers/fryer%20levitt.pdf

7/17/21, 10:23 AM
Ann Althouse said...

I wish we had a transcript!

7/17/21, 10:24 AM
Ann Althouse said...

Owen writes:

"Aren’t they awesome. Like two geniuses doing jazz, Loury much “hotter,” more immediate and sweeping, McWhorter more reflective, measured. Brilliant stuff.

"At about 10 minutes Loury rips the PC-addled cabal of economics “scholars” in fine style, and points out its inexcusable omissions of his work but also that of Thomas Sowell. By the way, Jason Riley has recently written a fine biography of Sowell, “Maverick.” I am halfway through and it only deepens my admiration of his intellect and his character."

7/17/21, 10:47 AM
Ann Althouse said...

Marty H writes:

Thank you so much for posting this discussion with Loury and McWhorter. I found it incredibly meaty and will be chewing on it for a while. Consider this one of my predigested thoughts:

Glenn Loury discussed being left off the essential American Economics Association reading list on “black economics” when his PhD thesis is one of the seminal works in this field. (I forget the exact terms used in the discussion.)

It reminded me of your post about your early experiences with CRT. Your questions about CRT’s logical consequences were beyond the pale.

Perhaps the concern was less with you as Ann Althouse the individual, but with Ann Althouse the influencer, to use a modern term. (I know your reach back then was not as large as it is now, but neither was theirs.)

Loury is possibly being censored in the same way. I am sure any professional economist knows of him. The AEA list isn’t for them-the list is for people like high school teachers, economics students, dabblers. If these engaged people never hear of Glenn Loury they will not be exposed to serious, thoughtful discussions like this one.

Idle speculations and connections made on a walk then can’t include these ideas from McWhorter or Loury. Avenues of thought are closed off because gatekeepers like the AEA choose not to inform the public of Loury’s writings.

Again, thank you for posting Loury and McWhorter’s discussion. Well worth the hour.

7/17/21, 11:53 AM

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