Which Black Lives Matter? | Glenn Loury & Heather Mac Donald | The Glenn Show The Glenn Show・57 minutes read
Heather McDonald praises Glenn Lowry's speech at the National Conservatism Conference and questions the celebration of the Fourth of July by Black Americans in light of the country's past racism. They discuss the increase in violent crime following George Floyd's murder, attributing it to gang life, street life, poor parenting, and the delegitimization of law enforcement.
Insights Heather McDonald praises Glenn Lowry's speech at the National Conservatism Conference for its eloquence and wisdom, highlighting the importance of acknowledging the West's contributions to concepts like human rights and tolerance. The rise in violent crime in the US is attributed to the George Floyd phenomenon, not the pandemic or economic hardships, with factors like retaliation, gang life, street life, and poor parenting playing significant roles, challenging narratives that label these crimes as "crimes of poverty" and emphasizing the impact of the breakdown of civilization in certain American cities. Get key ideas from YouTube videos. It’s free Recent questions What is the 1619 Project?
A historical focus on America's racism.
Who is Glenn Lowry?
Host of the Glenn Show.
What is the impact of past discrimination on present racial disparities?
Influence on current racial inequalities.
Why is the breakdown of the traditional family structure concerning?
Challenges posed by shifting societal norms.
What is the impact of racial preferences on academic performance?
Influence on fair competition in education.
Summary 00:00
Heather and Glenn debate America's racial issues. Heather McDonald is a senior fellow at the Manhattan Institute, a journalist, and social critic who writes for the City Journal. Glenn Lowry hosts the Glenn Show and previously was at Bloggingheads.tv, now at glenlary.substance.com and his YouTube channel. Heather praises Glenn's speech at the National Conservatism Conference for its eloquence and wisdom. Heather discusses the 1619 Project's focus on America's racism and the 1776 report's conservative rebuttal. Heather reflects on the historical mistreatment of Black Americans by whites, both in the North and South. Heather questions the celebration of the Fourth of July by Black Americans given the country's past racism. Glenn emphasizes the importance of acknowledging the West's contributions to concepts like human rights and tolerance. Heather and Glenn discuss the impact of past discrimination on present racial disparities and the role of inner-city culture. Heather highlights the crime wave following George Floyd's murder and the impact of anti-police rhetoric on law enforcement. Heather and Glenn debate the connection between the crime surge and the George Floyd protests versus the pandemic's influence. 18:56
Rising Violent Crime in US: Root Causes Violent street crime increased in the United States during the pandemic, unlike in other countries like France, Italy, or Peru. The rise in violent crime in the US is attributed to the George Floyd phenomenon, not the pandemic or economic hardships. Crimes labeled as "crimes of poverty" are debunked as individuals involved often possess smartphones, indicating a different motivation. The increase in crime is linked to retaliation, gang life, street life, and poor parenting, not poverty or pandemic-related factors. The New York Times suggested crime would rise both during and after lockdowns, creating a contradictory argument. The delegitimization of law enforcement has led to thousands of lives lost due to the attack on policing, particularly in black communities. The media's focus on specific narratives, like police brutality, overlooks the brutal killings of black children by other black individuals. The breakdown of civilization in certain American cities, leading to savage killings, is largely ignored by the media and society. The normalization of single parenthood in African-American communities is identified as a key issue affecting socialization and outcomes. The demonization of males and traditional male virtues, along with the rise in illegitimacy rates, are highlighted as broader societal problems affecting both black and white communities. 36:42
Challenges of Family, Crime, and Education The older brother was a crack dealer who used weapons, while his younger brother was described as a sadist involved in violent street crimes. Lack of fathers is seen as a significant issue, with some attributing it to problems in personal responsibility. Alice Goffman's book "On the Run" delves into the lives of young men in Philadelphia evading capture due to warrants, offering insights into their interactions with law enforcement. Goffman, a talented ethnographer, faced criticism for her work, particularly for being a white woman embedded in the inner city. Growing up in a culture with marriage expectations can influence behavior and success, as seen in research by Raj Chetty. The breakdown of the traditional family structure poses challenges, with societal norms shifting away from marriage expectations. Mayor Giuliani's stance on education emphasized the importance of academic standards over identity politics, challenging the idea of education solely focusing on self-identity. Giuliani's legacy, though tarnished by the 2020 election, highlighted his courage in addressing social issues like welfare dependency and lack of fatherhood support. Disparate impact thinking, which abandons standards due to potential performance disparities, is criticized for undermining assessments of human excellence and character. Affirmative action and softening standards are argued to lead to grade inflation and diminish the ability to accurately assess individuals' abilities and character. 54:11
"Assessing Performance and Addressing Racial Preferences" The speaker discusses the use of a test to assess complex thoughts and how different people perform on it. Different criteria are used to admit individuals to various educational programs, leading to differential performance. The speaker criticizes the practice of adjusting standards of assessment to avoid exposing differential performance. The term "affirmative action" is challenged, suggesting it be replaced with "racial preferences" for accuracy. The issue of mismatch in college admissions is highlighted, with concerns about denying problems and engineering outcomes. The impact of racial preferences on academic performance is discussed, emphasizing the importance of fair competition. The speaker argues against lowering standards for certain groups, advocating for equal conditions for all students. The discussion shifts to the enforcement of criminal laws and the impact on different racial groups. The speaker criticizes the lack of condemnation for criminal behavior within certain communities, calling for honesty and accountability. The importance of addressing cultural breakdown and racial taboos in discussions about crime, punishment, and policing is emphasized. 01:10:36
Disparity in Cocaine Sentences and Police Risk African American support was present for the disparity in triggering minimum sentences for cocaine possession, as evidenced by sociologist Donner Usmani's research on the punitive responses of black legislatures to criminal law during the crime wave in the 80s. Despite calls to de-racialize policing, the number of police officers feloniously murdered in 2021 was 73, compared to four allegedly unarmed black individuals fatally shot by police. This highlights the disproportionate risk faced by police officers in comparison to unarmed black individuals. The narrative surrounding police shooting unarmed blacks is challenged by statistical analysis, revealing that the focus on this issue overlooks the larger problem of black-on-black crime and the significant risk faced by police officers.