May 14, 2022, 2:46 PM ETInterview, Podcast

Glenn Loury: Race, Racism, Identity Politics, and Cancel Culture | Lex Fridman Podcast #285

Glenn Lowry explicitly states, "I hate affirmative action," viewing it as a "band-aid" rather than a solution for developing the capacities of people to compete.
He argues that affirmative action creates a "side door" that fails to make individuals smarter, more creative, or more fit for actual competition.
Lowry distinguishes between equality of status (a citizen's right) and equality of outcome (social results), arguing that fair treatment does not guarantee equal representation in all professions.
He contends that disparities in outcomes often reflect differences in cultural norms, traditions, and family structures rather than systemic discrimination alone.
Lowry asserts that expecting proportional representation of all racial groups in every profession is a "mistake" that ignores distinct cultural practices and norms.
He believes the focus on "equality of outcome" is a "false hope" and the "wrong goal" for addressing social disparities.

Lowry contextualizes MLK's 1963 "I Have a Dream" speech as occurring 100 years after the Emancipation Proclamation, framing it as a call for African Americans to be recognized as "free and equal citizens."
He emphasizes that MLK's vision was grounded in a universal Christian ethic where the "worth of a human being is equal" regardless of race, gender, or background.
Lowry identifies two opposing facets of human nature revealed by the history of slavery: the capacity to look the other way at terrible evil, and the capacity to sustain dignity and humanity under oppressive conditions.
He notes that the eradication of slavery was an "amazing achievement" in human history, occurring within 150 years of emancipation, transforming a population from chattel to full citizenship.
He credits the rise of African American equality to the efforts of individuals like Frederick Douglass, who chose to "emancipate himself personally" and become an educated, articulate leader.

Lowry identifies as a "Black American" but argues that race is a "superficial difference" and that deep down, all humans share the same biological essence.
He maintains that racial identity persists because it shapes how others perceive and treat individuals (e.g., in interactions with police or salespeople).
He argues that every person needs a "story" and a cultural narrative to teach their children, similar to Jewish or other ethnic identities.
He advocates for "Black Patriotism," asserting that African Americans are first and foremost Americans with no alternative home other than the U.S.
Lowry rejects the "Republic of New Africa" movement as a "fantasy" and argues that African Americans must work within the American political framework to solve their issues.
He suggests that the Civil Rights Movement has evolved into an "apologia for the failures of African Americans," specifically regarding family structure and violence, rather than holding the community responsible for self-improvement.
He believes high out-of-wedlock birth rates and violence within Black communities are primary drivers of disparity, not just external racism.
He expresses frustration that the "white supremacy" narrative is "seductively attractive" to African Americans and acts as an "avoidance mechanism" for personal responsibility.

Lowry describes himself as a "conservative leaning" neoliberal economist who believes in free markets, private property, and the virtues of capitalism.
He is critical of the Democratic Party's reliance on racial grievance and pandering to Black voters, specifically citing Joe Biden's promise to nominate a Black woman to the Supreme Court as "infantilizing" the Black community.
He expresses regret that Barack Obama did not use his presidency to condemn riots and racial grievance, suggesting Obama "doubled down" on a narrative of systemic police brutality that Lowry deems "demonstrably false."
He argues that the central threat to Black lives is violent crime perpetrated by Black people against other Black people, not police brutality.
He praises Thomas Sowell as one of the "100 most significant economists of the 20th century" and believes Sowell "deserves a Nobel Prize" despite his controversial views and non-quantitative methodology.
He criticizes the academic tendency to shut down inquiry into cognitive inequality, comparing the suppression of such research to historical accusations of "witchcraft" or "red-baiting."
He argues that using the label "racist" to silence dissenters is a "fool's errand" that creates a "spiral of silence" where unpopular but widely held views are suppressed.

Lowry identifies "identitarians" and university administrators as the "barbarians at the gate," threatening the core mission of the university to pursue truth and free inquiry.
He argues that topics like IQ differences, gender identity, and colonialism should be fair game for research and debate without being labeled as offensive or politically incorrect.
He supports the acquisition of Twitter by Elon Musk, viewing it as a potential mechanism to break the "spiral of silence" and allow suppressed views to be expressed openly.
He warns that power to label information as "misinformation" is "delicious" and "corrupts," leading to the suppression of views that institutions simply dislike rather than false information.

Lowry recently attended the funeral of his brother-in-law, Eugene Wesley Smith, who died suddenly at age 68 from a heart attack.
He expresses fear of death and suffering, specifically referencing the experience of his late wife, Linda, who suffered from metastatic breast cancer before passing at 59.
He draws philosophical comfort from Lucretius and Epicureanism, arguing that fearing death is irrational because death is inevitable and we have no control over it.
He describes his current worldview as neither strictly Christian nor atheist, but rather grounded in a naturalistic view of evolution and the universe's finite nature.
Lowry asserts that the meaning of life is found in living well, contributing to the community, bonding, reproducing, and leaving a "dignified legacy" through work and children.
He advises young people to "wear their history lightly," avoiding the trap of letting ethnic inheritance become a "net" that holds them back, and instead to use it as a foundation to "fly."