On the July 12 show we'll have Walter Benn Michaels on. He is the author of " The Trouble with Diversity: How We Learned to Love Identity and Ignore Inequality. His basic premise is that racism and diversity are illegitimate notions because race is a scientifically flawed/bankrupt concept. As such, the true focus should be on class distinctions - in eradicating class differences.

I'm reading the book now and it's an . . . interesting . . . read. I look forward to a hearty conversation with him!

There's plenty on the net about him and his book. Just Google it. Here's a link to a NYT article: Affirmative Distraction.

Now that tonight's show is over I am really looking forward to talking with this author during next week's show. While I'll obviously be most respectful, I couldn't disagree with this guy's premise any more than I do. Even if you eliminate any race based programs and focus only on eradicating poverty and classism - you'd still have race based behaviors in society pushing/holding black folks back. Beyond that, the two issues are entirely distinct; while they often interact with each other - they are clearly separate. Why attack what little crumbs America throws black folks?

Anyway - hopefully we'll get some interesting interaction with him and some listeners as well!

It should make for quite interesting radio!

I've never agreed with this idea that race has no scientific basis. And even if it didn't, why would the science dictate a policy like the one he advocates? I hope I am able to check the show out.

quote:

Originally posted by Vox:

I've never agreed with this idea that race has no scientific basis. And even if it didn't, why would the science dictate a policy like the one he advocates? I hope I am able to check the show out.

Beyond this, even if race is not a scientific concept, that doesn't mean that human beings don't recognize it and respond accordingly. Race could be merely a sociological idea, if folks still discriminate based upon it - we still need to deal with it.

I don't agree with this guy's premise.

This strikes me as an academic exercise gone to 'pot'.

Of course, race is a sociological idea.

The effort to categorize people on a scientific basis is what race means...basically.

To now say there is no such thing as race, is mental masterbation...no disrespect intended.

I what describes the process more succinctly.

I always intend to listen to the radio show.

I always fall asleep...or simply forget.

I admire your work.

It is an excellent addition to the website.

Continued good luck.

PEACE

Jim Chester

"The commitment to understanding American society as fundamentally made up of races or culture, and the vision of social justice that follows from that - the elimination of discrimination against race - has been at best a massive distraction from the project of bringing about greater economic equality in society."

Walter Benn Michaels

"The real problem the left ought to be dealing with is what Michaels calls “class,” by which he means inequalities of income and wealth" - from the NY article link...

ummm... isn't that what Affirmative Action helps to do? pierce the wall of financial inequality?


Also, he is destructive.... what are his productive alternatives?

quote:

Originally posted by Khalliqa:
"The real problem the left ought to be dealing with is what Michaels calls “class,” by which he means inequalities of income and wealth" - from the NY article link...

ummm... isn't that what Affirmative Action helps to do?

Not for him. And, I think, that's the point from his perspective.

"Race based Affirmative Action is a kind of bribe rich people pay themselves for ignoring economic inequality."

Walter Benn Michaels

Play nice with this guy tonight, MBM!!

"It's not that that means anti-racism is wrong. It means preaching against racism has about as much progressive political force as preaching against theft. Theft is also wrong. But the world would not be a more equal place with respect to the division of resources if there was no theft. Racism is wrong. But the world would not be a more equal place with respect to the division of resources if there were no racism."

Walter Benn Michaels

Like I said on the show, white males are the only ones that don't benefit from affirmative action, unless they're attending an HBCU and receiving student loans. Ironically, white women are the biggest recipients of AA. Even Ann Coulter (aka the Coultergeist), as crazy as she is, doesn't complain about Affirmative Action because she knows that she benefits from it.

Did this guy actually say that? If so, I wonder what world he lives in were the eradication of racism would not improve the distribution of resources away from undeserving whites toward deserving Black folk?

I just listened to the show. Was this guy for real? The issue is not racism? What country does he live in?