Identity Politics vs. Excellence
The Glenn Show| Glenn Loury and John McWhorter
“Often, debates about affirmative action and racial preferences in college admissions get so intense and so overdetermined we forget what’s really at stake,” Loury writes in a preface to a talk with John McWhorter. “I’m talking about the role of the university in creating value in our society.”
“If we prioritize diversity and proportional representation over academic excellence, we may end up debilitating our academic and governmental institutions. Are we willing to take that risk?” he asks.
“So when we talk about changing the standards that determine who gets admitted to our top schools and who gets hired in our top academic departments, we’re not just talking about giving a boost to individuals who happen to be members of historically underrepresented minority groups. We’re talking about intervening in a meritocratic vetting process that identifies and cultivates individual talent, creativity, and innovation and transforms it into far-reaching social and scientific change.”
Listen to an Excerpt of the talk with Loury and McWhorter.