The problems faced by black Americans today stem more from freedom than oppression. Pitying groups based on their identity is a way of putting and keeping them down, says Professor Glenn Loury.
Professor Glenn Loury’s opening remarks from the Towards the Common Good: Rethinking Race in the 21st Century conference, hosted by The Equiano Project. This clip is a section from the panel discussion: What do we know about progress in racial equality and the disparities that exist?
The evidence about racial inequality is varied and complex. It is often hard to draw singular conclusions about how and why certain groups fare differently. Added to this are the myriad definitions of inequality and racism; terms which are used in different ways and often have political connotations. Can we use evidence to reconcile disagreements, engage the ‘moderate middle’, and reach a shared understanding? What kind of inequality should we all be concerned about? What do we understand or not about the driving factors?
“Towards the Common Good: Rethinking Race in the 21st Century”, a conference held at King’s College, Cambridge, brought together some of the world’s leading thinkers on identity. Organised by the ideas and debate forum the Equiano Project, it included John McWhorter, Glenn Loury, Coleman Hughes, Sir Trevor Phillips, Kenan Malik, Ayishat Akanbi, Sonia Sodha and many more.