McWhorter: Ditch "Systemic Racism"

McWhorter's arguments are always worth thinking about. And he points toward actual studies of phenomena like the "acting white" phenomenon. (Not that people actually act white--but that they see things like academic success as so acting. Of course.) It's good to point toward stuff that's more than merely bullshitting--as I do here. (ambiguity alert! I meant the less-flattering interpretation.) "Acting white"--like stereotype threat--deserves sustained, systematic inquiry. Not just BSing on a blog. I've read accounts of studies that conclude that stereotype threat is not a thing...but, personally, I suspect it's a thing alright. But I can easily be wrong.

   My own view, of course, is that it's almost impossible to have a serious discussion about this stuff without discussing group IQ differences. The fact that barrels of electrons are spilt on these questions while carefully avoiding the minefield in the middle of it all... Well, some day people will shake their heads in astonishment. It reminds me of friends of mine who used to spin out fantastical social theories to explain the demographics of the NBA...truly baroque and far-fetched creations. When I finally told them it was largely biological, they were astonished...outraged...horrified... Not at the fact, but at me and that I could possibly believe such a thing. It was racist! It was impossible! Are you saying that you believe athletic ability to be largely biological???? they asked, incredulous. And this wasn't even during the previous heyday of PC. And they're smart people.

   And yet it moves...

   The central fact of this whole problem remains unsayable. We're like Christians trying to spin out some way of explaining evil in the world without ever so much as whispering or hinting at the possibility that maybe--just maybe--God might not exist. We sink enormous amounts of time and effort...we underfund other things...we make up theories that obviously make no sense...and yet, we all reason, since there is no other alternative, one of these extravagantly nonsensical theories must be true.  Everyone involved knows it's a catastrophe that's wrecking us. But everyone involved also knows that it's the Inquisition for anyone who suggests that the truth is true. Or even might be.

   If Larry Summers can get the boot from Harvard for even suggesting that IQ differences between the sexes might explain some of academia's persistent demographics... Well, imagine what would happen to Mortimer J. Snerd, untenured lecture-worker at Crap State U. for even hinting about something analogous with respect to race. In fact, if anyone read this blog, I'd be afraid that there might be someone out there with a name even vaguely similar to 'Mortimer Snerd' getting the boot before the electrons are dry on this post.

   Political correctness is the death of reason; and political correctness is the order of the day.