Glenn Loury - When Black Lives Matter: On the Persistence of Racial Inequality in America 

can we please elevate this man higher in this time of need? We need his voice of reason more then ever

Glenn Loury is a national treasure. Protect him at all costs.

"Our humanity transcends our categorization." Brilliant, Dr. Loury.

"refute me if you will, but silence me you will not" damn , that one cut deep

America -- all of America -- needs Professor Loury right now.

the quality of this mind is astonishing

“Our humanity transcends our categorization.” And, “You are this, but you are also twelve other things.” Brilliant.

Glenn Loury is an intellectual titan. Incredibly moving treatment. At once nuanced, ambivalent, humanizing. This talk reflects a deep and genuine sense of ambivalence - even pain - resulting from a lifetime of struggling against these issues, both personally and intellectually.

I usually watch videos at 1.5x but I had to slow this particular one back to normal to completely grasp the nuance of his arguments. I really like that Professor Loury isn't consumed by thoughtless compassion but by a true burning passion for the betterment of his people.

His last sentence stating "our humanity transcends categorization", that is the truest statement of all

This mans honesty and bravery is a breath of fresh air 👏🏾👏🏾👏🏾He pulls no bunches ... We need a lot more people in our community willing to stand up for what is right. What is truth 🙏🏿

OH...!!!! What I will give for this type of conversation to be had in the mainstream..!!!

This is definitely one of the most powerful orations on race I have ever seen.

I am a spectator, from my house, who has watched hundreds of speeches and lectures on line and until today never applauded a speaker at the end of their talk. This man is courageous and brilliant. Thank you, Glenn.

I think I'm more upset that the school didn't provide the man a fan and some water. He's a guest for crying out loud. I'm from Chicago too. So I appreciated his tone throughout this lecture. What got me was when he mentioned the enemy without vs the enemy within. I don't know what brought Mrs. King to tears. He was telling the truth. We spend more time putting the shackles on ourselves as a people, than our so-called oppressors even get the chance to. I've come to ask myself when will my people actually become Americans? Yes, we're all American citizens, but patriots is another category.

I wish this was the conversation going on in the country at large. I just discovered this man, and appreciate him so much. I've learned more in the past few weeks listening to this man and a few others then my entire life. We don't learn the truth in public school either, so much of black history hasn't been taught in a full way. I pray for this country ❤️ I have faith we can fix this

I hope people start realizing how valuable this man is. I hope those in his direct circle are letting him know that it is very important that he start taking care of himself health wise. We need this man to stay alive and healthy for many years to come. Please take care of yourself, Glenn. For humanities sake. I know it is an unfair statement in many ways but unfortunately this is what life has come to. This man should be the gold standard by which leadership is measured.

This should be a clarion call, instead he is vilified by those who seek equality of outcome rather than equality of opportunity. I don't think the content of the speech could be more relevant than it is right now in 2020. 55 years after the end of Jim Crow, I wonder what MLK would think of the fruit of his labors, and ultimately of his martyrdom. I am neither black nor an intellectual , but I did grow up in the 80's during the bussing and reintegration of black schools in upstate NY in the 1980's. My school was 97% percent black , in a "bad" neighborhood. I undoubtedly have a very different view of things when compared with another lower middle class northereastern white male. I was a silent witness to the urban blight he describes. Later, in the 90's many of my primary schoolmates were killed in gang violence, by other former schoolmates. My heart broke seeing the hopelessness and desolation. It has only grown worse. I retain little hope that the current anger directed at the law enforcement community will be successful in effecting any level of tangible change in the black community, because it will address none of the root problems.

There are so few comments, I feel compelled to say something. This is only second the time I have heard professor Loury speak but it certainly will not be the last. Great talk! I lament the fact that Franchesca Ramsey get 100s of times more viewers.

I arrived in East Africa, from Italy, at the age of ten, and I had to wait eight months before being accepted at an English school, due to my ignorance in the language. I therefore had only locals of Bantu origin and Indians as possible friends when playing, thus started learning Swahili and English. To me, they not being European, never entered my mind that I was different from them. Thus I would propose that in the States, all parents should encourage, from when children are very young to have this experience. I therefore would like the Professor to read how this made me accept people as human beings. PERSONAL ENCOUNTERS WITH APARTHEID Introduction : - I lived in East Africa from March 1949 to February 1964 in the town of ARUSHA, Attended Arusha Primary School till December 1951, before being accepted at the then “Prince of Wales” boarding school, Nairobi. Frequented this high school until end of 1957, having attained “Higher School Certificate” required for entrance to University. To celebrate the completion of school in Kabete, Nairobi, Livio Tessaro, Adonis Stylianou and I decided to cycle back home. In case wild dogs attacked us, we were to form a triangle with the bicycles and us inside this and with machetes ready. We left at 3.00 am for Arusha, in then Tanganyka (now Tanzania). We stopped for a substantial lunch at Namanga before entering Tanganyika, From there on we were on tarred road. My father partly spoilt our trip by picking us up some 30 miles from Arusha, having already completed 140 miles, with the easiest part remaining. (For the Nairobi - Arusha trip, as students we travelled to and from home on transport with different ethnic groups, including Maasai warriors). _________________________________ In the last year at boarding school, as part of our “Literature” lessons, we had to read the books “CRY THE BELOVED COUNTRY” written by Alan Paton and also “Jock of the Bushveld” written by Sir James Percy FitzPatrick, both books based in South Africa. Paton’s book was banned in RSA, since it highlighted the Apartheid system. This book left quite a mark in my mind. In Tanganyika, being a “Protectorate” and not a British Colony, most of us mixed with different ethnic groups (though sometimes frowned upon by the British), and I personally had local and asiatic friends. I learned, like many other Europeans, the native language, called Kiswahili, since few of the indigenous people could speak English. Due to the changes in Tanganyika after independence in early 60s, my wife Teresa and I decided that it would be advisable to complete my studies at a university, as had done my friend Carl von Isenburg, who frequented the same schooling as me in East Africa before going to “Princeton” in the States. Our intention was to return to Tanganyika if the situation did not deteriorate further. We decided that the best choice would be Durban, South African, that we had visited on our honeymoon. Therefore we left Arusha by car in February 1964 for a journey of some 3000 miles. It took five and a half days to reach our destination, and found a hotel close to the University. Sometime I had to use the bus to get to the University. The first time, I waited at the bus stop with a group of local people, who got on before me, and when it was my turn to board, the driver simply said “Nie Blankes”. I did not undersand, and a lady behind me explained that the green bus is reserved for “coloured persons”, and that the driver was saying “No Whites”. I asked how I could get to the University, and she informed that I had to wait for the red bus with the White driver. I then remembered Paton’s book. One day, at the bus stop, a Chinese student was also waiting. We got talking, and he told me that he lived far from the University. So I asked him what time he usually left home; he replied that he boarded the first bus at 3:00 in the morning, before catching two other buses to arrive at the stop we were. I spoke of this with my wife and we decided to ask him if he wished to share our apartment during the week. He was so surprised that he hesitated to reply, but he accepted on condition that he contributed for food and lodgings. He often brought his Chinese friends around. And we learned so many things from them including Jazz (e.g. Ramsey Lewis Trio) that we were not familiar with. We became real friends, but after Eddie Chan Henry and his wife Daphne, left in order for him to teach at the University of Vancouver in Canada, we lost contact. To note that, Chinese were not cosidered “whites” but “honorary whites” with their own areas to live in, hence, unbeknown to us at the time, we were breaking the laws of the country. During Apartheid, most amenities were marked for “WHITES ONLY” or “NON WHITES”, a clear discrimination based on the colour of the skin. After graduation, I decided to seek short term employment in companies for which I had been obliged by the University to work during the University holidays. If any company did not find our performance or behaviour satisfactory, the University, on receiving this information, could have terminated our studies. The first company I joined, after some months wished to promote me to their Head Office in Johannesburg. I remained there a short while, and decided to resign and return to Durban, to my wife and young son. I then joined another construction company near where we lived. They transferred me to Ixopo to manage a new road contract for them. On this contract I encountered some new aspects of apartheid. The Materials Technician came to present the results of various tests requested by the Roads Department of Natal. The tea-boy arrived with the usual cup for me, and I asked the technian what he would like to drink, tea or coffee. He hesitated, so I ordered tea for him. Whilst analysing the results for compliance, in walked a foreman without knocking, and immediately stopped, turned around and exited by slamming the door. On asking my secretary where the foreman was, I was told he had left the site saying that “he will not work for a person that drinks tea with a “kaffir” (local term for a person of Bantu origin)”. Philip Ndaba, the technician, in my opinion was better educated than the foreman, and certainly had better manners. Philip belonged to the Xhosa tribe, the same as Nelson Mandela. The accountant for the project was Runga Naidoo of Indian origin, and lived nearby with his wife. All our senior personnel, on week-ends could come to visit our home not far from the project, irrespective of their origins. Many years later, I started my own business near Durban, and bought a house in an isolated area called New Germany. One late evening I heard a soft knocking on one of the windows, and on investigation, I found Philip Ndaba and his brother John standing outside in the dark. Surprised as I was, I felt their fear, and asked what was the matter. Philip explained that the South African security police was searching for them, and asked if I could help them. He told me the facts before replying. I hid them in the empty servants’ building on our the property, with instruction not to make noises and not to open to anyone unless they heard my voice. I would bring food in the dark and knock three times in succession, repeated again after a short interval. NO one knew of their presence on the property. Three evenings later, I let them out, gave them provisions. They thanked me, and said they would somehow let me have their news. Weeks later, one of our workers informed me that they were safely in their “homeland” Transkei. It is strange that the very people that critized the Apartheid policies when applied to them, now do the same to other ethnic groups. The Bantus were migrants from the Nigeria / Cameroun region who first moved south along the Atlantic route, with a later one going east before swinging through East Africa and down as far as Transkei. Mandela will now be turning in his grave for this situation. Nelson Mandela and the Indaba* of his tribe are for me examples that many European “Politicians” should emulate in their daily behaviour. * Tribal council ….. one should read the book on his history “LONG WALK TO FREEDOM”.

This is GOLD, where have I been.

Anyone else never heard of this guy before Bret Weinstein and Heather Heying gave him a shoutout during the Dark Horse podcast in the days of the riots? This speech is incredible, I kept trying to figure out "which side" he was on, he's "all over the map," only to realize at his manifesto, this is what nuanced conversation sounds like and I forgot what that was.

I absolutely believe we need to aspire to a post-racial society. Ideology is so much more important.

Thank you professor Loury for your words of truth and wisdom, I pray for more and courageous intellectual man like yourself to speak out, You spoke from the heart and with so much passion it made me cry, Your life story didn't get you down,, In fact it made you climbed high with the help of G-d , let's hope for a better future for black Americans and for all Americans, G-d bless you and keep you safe!

Mr. Loury, This incredible lecture should have been witnessed by millions more and commented on by at least several hundred thousands. But that is how it is in our world. I wish to say here, that your generation, and the two that preceded it, have been an enormous influence in my life (reading Baldwin as a startled 11 year old, and a lover of black musical history and its consequences since before I knew how to read and write.) I am a longtime fan of the two black guys podcast, and have found great comfort and illumination in that over the years. Long have I been pondering the absence of outrage throughout the land over what you so eloquently allude to here. Systemic violence, illiteracy, and the hundreds of thousands of wasted young lives, every one of which has been born into a society that proclaims itself free. I have no argument. I struggle at times to see this picture clearly, as if I've been constructing a giant jigsaw puzzle over time, and must step back continually to guess at what the completed picture might be, wondering if it ever will be complete. Political discourse, academic analysis, jurisprudence and social sciences all have a crack at this, and perhaps too often leave out the most important ingredient, that passion that rings so obviously clear and true in your voice. I fear that too often we don't really hear each other. That last reply at the very end.....makes me think very much about tethers, in all their variance and complexities. And about the idea that what can appear to be freedom from those tethers comes in the guise of further tethering. Not necessarily by devious means, but by misguided belief, and failures to understand some of those complexities. It is all such a moral and often emotional battle, after all. We can hope that more humans learn to pay attention to both of those things, while they also learn the art of tackling complexities. There are, after all, things that others can free us from. There are also things that only we ourselves can free ourselves from. When knowledge after time, leads to wisdom to know the difference, we thrive. I'm very much looking forward to reading your memoirs.

This deserves more attention

During these tumultuous times I hope many more will appreciate listening to Mr. Loury's personal disposition within the vast black identity. His unique experience helps define black individuality amongst the heavy currents of today's tribalism in identity politics. Thank you Watson Institute!

i can't get enough of this guy. just great...

OMG Glenn Loury! Anything but that!! Run awaaaaayy!

Speaking as a person who grew up in a slum. What you call today the hood. I watched as we gained positions as judges, engineers, inventors, supreme court judge, astronauts, astronomers, professors, political advisers, lobbyists, wed developers, CIA, FBI, DIA, agents, ballet dancers, opera singers, olympians, teachers, singers, doctors, nurses, lawyers, reporters, journalists, authors, poets. I watched from afar because the people mainly, not all, but mainly didn't come from my background. Instead we had single mothers who had no time for their children. We were all mistakes and we knew it. Our mothers continued dating looking for that one man that would stay. Bringing them into our homes. We were all molested. I don't now one male or female I grew up with that didn't have some man try something or do something to us. Plus the beatings. Lots of beatings. Robberies, gangs trying to get us to join to sell for them cause we were young. Everyone I kew had no hope. Our parents were too hopeless to give us any. Bullies in schools made it impossible to go or you learned to fight. No one talked about the amazing things people of color were doing. They were jealous about it. I still have some of my old friends and we hated our lives growing up. We hated our mothers for looking for love. We still hate the men. They had no mercy for us. BLM is a farce. Drugs, alcohol, selfish people, who are so self absorbed and immature they refuse birth control and teach their children to fight the system and hate the police. They taught us that men in nice cars were to be admired. Not men who studied. In fact every child I knew who loved to read were eventually beat down by their parents. So as a person who lived it and watch it continue with the over stimulation of violent movies and rap I say f Soros. F all those people who talk about our plight and refuse to address the cause. The real cause. Bs refusing to use birth control in a country that practically gives it to you. In a coin try where they fought a war to end slavery while 2/3 of the world still have a robust slave trade. 45 million slaves in the world right now. And we sit here divided as Fuc going nowhere in a country where we could do anything if given half a chance by our own people. We are Americans. Not anything else. Divided we fall. Divided and arguing and petty we are weak. Can't blame no one else. But now Trump is in office so it might be too late.

someone needs to make a movie about his memoire! Full of Jazz and family drama! Mix of decent and street as well as a mix of styles of the era! I would watch that!

I would pay big money to watch a 2-3hr debate between Glen Loury and Cornell West!!!!

Powerful stuff. The way in which Professor Loury communicates his memories are very telling of "where his heart is". Thank you for being a voice of reason.

80 comments! I’m stunned! What does it say about the intellectual diet of our present society when such appealing depth, insight, brilliance, and edification as offered here can rouse only eighty comments? Talk about being awaken from a deep and heavy slumber! I’ve heard of this man before, but never took the time to check him out. I’m guilty as charged! And perhaps my disclosure is just one among thousands of other reasons out there in cyber space answering my question. But from this point on I will not be among the party of culprits. This man has won me over. Agree or disagree with him, the intellectual fare he offers can be chewed on for nourishment, light, and growth. I’m sold!

My take is that that is ten minutes of the most concise truth on present political America that you will ever hear.

I commend you for your needed voice!!! It takes so much courage, especially in these heated times!!!!!

This is so good. It just gets better as it goes, so watch to the end. Thank you for sharing.

I looked up the book he recommended: Ethnicity without groups, and found it very thought provoking, to say the least. Great lecture. In a reasonable society, the availability of such knowledge to the masses would be a death knell to the universities.

Pity this has so few views...

Outstanding! Thank you.

"Is there any space in the public conversation for a nuanced and complex moral engagement with these questions, or do they merely become fodder for partisan argument?" I sincerely hope one emerges and more voices adequately expressing the nuance and complexity of these issues emerge. There are too few now, and too much misguided, regressive, simplistic and/or childish opposition to intellectually rigorous, honest and open conversation on the subject. It's a shame so few view talks like this.

Another excellent presentation - my new hero Glenn Loury "He Da Man"!

Amazing talk. I love listening to intellectuals talk. So dense in each sentence. This will be one to chew on for a while.

11:15 struck to my core. What a wonderful question to envelope your audience in the discourse. I truly enjoyed this lecture.

Thank you Patrick, you sparked a great answer from Glenn, 1:15:37 -- 1:19:09

I would listen to Glen all day and even all week if I could.

So timely and much needed for all to digest. This is the conversation we should be having, but are not. Thank you, Mr. Loury, for saying the hard things so eloquently.

So powerful.

Every time I listen to this man, I am made more intelligent from the experience. Rational, honest, and forthright, he is a titan in his assessments. Though I might not always agree with him on every subject, only a fool would dismiss his logic.

A great difference between an intellectual and an ideologue....Thank you Dr. Loury.

WOW. This man is really something. Professor Lowry is a beautiful, moving writer, speaker, and intellect. This was incredible.

*"Our humanity transcends our categorization"* - Glenn Loury _If only..._ 💙🙏🏼 🇺🇸🙏🏿❤

Thank you Professor for the insights.

I have been in tears 😭. I have been supporting these thoughts very similar, and like you say “call it like you see it” with personal experience myself. My problem is I am now considered with “no humanity “ as though I don’t care about these communities. I do Care, but like your judge friend, “they/you, (because I’m white), really want to be helped”. I would love to help, but realized that the folks around me would rather steal food stamps than work and try to get out of the “ghetto”. Idk how to feel and truly help. I love your thoughts and strongly agree with what you have suggested. 🙏🏼 to you

What a beautiful lecture. He's the only voice which seems to wrestle with the true complexity of race in the US.

Glenn Loury and Cornel West….. all day and everyday. Honesty, integrity with nuance and context. No catchy “simple” answers for these two gentlemen.

I hear you Sir☹️🙏🧘🏿🧏🏾‍♀️👏🏾

She (the widow King) Cried, Not because he was Wrong, but Because he Was Right. Though it is good Professor Loury learned it is better to Fix what's wrong, as opposed to merely pointing Out what's wrong.

"Nuance is a virtue " - Professor Loury

An intellectual lion. We are fortunate this man has decided to be so prolific virtually. Still find it hard to believe this lecture hall isn't packed.

Worth listening to the end.

Love this man. Lest we only end up "speaking to the choir," we need to share this video with others by recommendation or in the various social media available. Both the far right and progressives of ALL colors need to hear this message. It is a nuanced, dialectical understanding of the issues at hand--wooden Aristotelian thinking in simple terms of black and white simply don't cut it.

WOW!!!!! Put this on replay on Every jumbotron in America. Brilliant!

I thoroughly enjoyed this.

Don't know if you read these, but you also made a middle-age White woman cry. I wish more people would watch this as well.

Absolutely brilliant man, but he is so smart it's hard to follow his speech without have to looking up some words. Great points all around, needs to be a more sought after voice in our society.

I love this so much

I love to read memoirs!

It is far easier to judge based on obvious markers such as race than to judge based on values, honor, discipline, courage and honesty. Lazy and or simple-minded people cannot handle much more or do not care to.

Truly incredible analysis. Beginning to end. He didnt skip a beat. I mean wow.

Wow!

Glenn Loury is a national treasure

Awesome. thank you.

Damn his life story was so well told. I have had interesting things happen in my life but I don't have the words to paint so vivid a picture as Glenn Loury. It's a shame that the majority of people who will bother to listen to Glenn are likely bigoted and fail to hear his arguments in their entirety or understand exactly what he is saying and that the people that most need to hear it on the left will likely stop listening very quickly once they register what Glenn is saying. I have been listening to him quite a bit on Bloggingheads with McWhorter and disagree with him often when he comes into disagreement with McWhorter but this was a very engaging and thoughtful presentation.

“Our humanity transcends our categorization.” Amen.

Great family story towards the end.. I agree with everything and the loosing of morals is becoming a problem with every group in US. Hope people watch & wanna take up the hard work in front of us!!!

Glenn is an amazing academic, always honest and able to steel man the argument of the 'other side' to develop fact-based opinions.

'The land of the Free' and other such sayings are not statements of fact but of ideals! Goals! Desirable wants and needs. America is a land of ideas and aspirations for an improving and progressing world [actual progression].

Such thoughtfulness in one brilliant man who should be helping to write federal social policies.

This man is brilliant!

This was so amazing

I watched three of his most recent videos today in March of 2021. His viewpoint has swung remarkably to the right. Honestly I've been listening to him for 2 years, and I almost can't recognize him in this video. It's heartfelt and positive, but so different in orientation.

This!♥️

Really enjoyed this lecture 👍😎

This speech needs to be simplified for the masses.... And myself. I understand what he is saying but unfortunately his vocabulary expands mine at times. Doing my best to keep up!

This is brilliant and densely packed information. Racism is constantly blamed for group-think differentiation and personal bias. But visual distinctions such as skin color are not as much to blame as are the cultural, language, border, economic, educational, religious, and political differences between various human groups. One of my favorite lyricists, the recently departed Neil Peart, wrote in the song "Entre Nous": "Just between us I think it's time for us to recognize The differences we sometimes feared to show Just between us I think it's time for us to realize The spaces in between Leave room For you and I to grow".

Carl Winslow got wicked smart. Seriously though, fantastic lecture; could not be more relevant today.

I am not an American and had never heard of this man before, but my goodness, he is impressive.

Amen.

AFAICT, all of the people who asked questions were international students. It's great that those students are trying to understand the problems in this country. It often seems to me that immigrants appreciate what it means to be an American more than some of us who were born here. However, I wonder if any students who grew up in the US were in attendance, White, Black or otherwise. That bothers me because those who grew up in this country are probably the ones who need to hear nuanced approaches to big societal problems the most.

Such a genius

Dr. Loury's analysis from 49:11 to 57:22 illustrates a crucially important, sophisticated, much-need assumption of multiple causes for the violence he describes. I'm grateful for his brilliance.

Took a covid era road trip through Nevada and Utah listening to pod casts to get to Freakonomics and finally Glenn Loury (I had heard of him before, but only peripherally as a kind of "black conservative sell out"). Since then, I have become less "Liberal" but even less of today's "conservative". Sort of a "what really works" moderate. Glenn now fits the bill for me. I also realized that Africa contains about 5 dominant tribes that are quite distinct except for the fact that they share generally darker hues. So, what exactly is race? Also, that these tribes were quite bloody ... as the Europeans were ... as well as the Asians were. Currently, I'm all for creating equity and opportunity in the US. There were indeed great and organized injustices, partly against my own ancestors who migrated here who had to change their names to get employment and education. I also see Chinese and Indians who do well but who can't possibly hide their "race" or accent. There is structural racism, but I think it's of a universal sort of human categorization/human cognition sort that is very difficult or impossible to overcome and is not the primary reason why blacks are not doing well. That is, if somehow, whites become super humanly "woke", "pure" and absolutely color blind, AND provided full financial reparations, that only a little would change. It is also insulting -- that the fundamental help for blacks has to come from whites. There are other causal variables that mostly involve family structure and in particular how children are raised cognitively that are much more fundamental.

My impression is that Mrs. King had tears for she agreed with what you said and felt it on a deep emotional level. Why did you assume that she cried because she disagreed with you?? WHY DIDN'T YOU ASK HER??

This is a true intellectual!!! I have met a lot of intellectuals men and women of color in all levels of society and they have a gift of knowledge and discernment, the truth is liberating. For us people not belonging to the same group of people of color we respect people of color and in fact we envy you guys of the privilege you guys have. We simply give in to whatever the demands of you hoping we will live together in peace and love.

Please give a way for us to get in touch with Dr. Loury. He has spoken for thousands of African Americans. Many of us agree and have plans that need help to join the army.

I did laugh when he said "Did you say de sade???"

Circa 32 minute mark: Some of the feelings expressed by Loury can be seen in the play/movie A Soldier's Story.

Play this at 1.5 speed and he sounds even more brilliant.

Pretty powerful stuff.