How Mediocrity Dominated the Left | Glenn Loury, John McWhorter & Jason Riley | The Glenn Show 

Kendi does not deserve to be mentioned in the same breath as Sowell.

Teachers used to teach people how to think, now they teach what to think.

Professor Sowell is a National Treasure. As are the three gentlemen in this video.

Glenn Loury, when he gets mad, gets going, his words are nothing short of heavenly. Glenn Loury, from the south side of Chicago, God bless you.

One of the most significant tragedies within the American intelligentsia has been the deliberate neglect of Thomas Sowell.

My other hero, now no longer with us, was Walter Williams. He was tremendous.

The left hates Sowell because he's too smart for them to handle. So, they simply mass ignore him. I, however, have learned an immense amount from that man and am eternally grateful to him. He is front and center in my imaginary steering committee (right alongside Winston Churchill - my role model for courage).

I'm on my third Sowell book. I wish I had known about him fifteen years ago. Your podcast is a public service, and helps protect democracy and civilization.

'Thomas Sowell writes (and thinks) circles around the woke writers'! Massive understatement. :)

Kendi vs Sowell is equivalent of a Wet blanket vs a Supercomputer.

I am so tired and disheartened with all of this. I despair at the Orwellian descent into cultural madness I see all about me. I give up. I want to withdraw from it all. But I thank you and people like you who possess the fortitude to resist, to push back. I wish you well, and hope you will have an impact.

All of these three are brave men.

To anyone who wants to introduce someone to Thomas Sowell but is unsure which book to give them, I'd highly suggest "The Thomas Sowell Reader." It's an excellent curation of his body of work from over the years, categorized by topic. It has made a fan out of each person I've given it to.

The center moved to the left. Moderate folks are now right wingers while standing still.

Great conversation gentlemen. And Jason is so right about Thomas Sowell "writing circles" around the likes of West, Kendi, and Coates. The person I wish the black community would talk much more about is Booker T. Washington. Here's a man who was born a slave, after being emancipated, WALKED 500 miles to ask permission to go to school at Virginia Hampton and Normal. If ever there was a successful black American who was oppressed and disadvantaged, and then went on to such successes as writing five books, founding the Tuskegee Institute, and being counsel to Presidents of the United States, it's Booker T. Washington. What black person alive today can claim that they are or have been more disadvantaged than Booker T. Washington? I find it extremely regretful that most of the black Americans I've known and worked with (military and government), don't even know who Booker T. Washington is. One of the greatest quotes from Washinton's 1911 book entitled: "My Larger Education" goes: “There are some things that one individual can do for another, and there are some things that one race can do for another. But, on the whole, every individual and every race must work out its own salvation.” And another Washington quote from "My Larger Education" that perfectly explains why the white apologists and black academics either reinforce the fake race baiting, or don't speak out about it goes: “I am afraid that there is a certain class of race-problem solvers who don’t want the patient to get well, because as long as the disease holds out they have not only an easy means of making a living, but also an easy medium through which to make themselves prominent before the public.”

Are you guys able to interview Mr. Sowell? As someone else said here, he is a national treasure!!

As a conservative academic, I have little but disdain for my unproductive Leftist colleagues and pretty much ignore them. That has cost me things like university awards. On the positive side, I never get put on pointless university committees.

Sowell and these 3 gentlemmen are living proof of MLK's " content of my character speech".All 3 are very intelligent but perhaps their biggest virtue is their steadfast determination to be truthful and honest.Beacons of light in an ever darkening world .

It is so shocking to hear about how you were all treated by your colleagues. I can't imagine treating my coworkers bad because we disagree. So unprofessional. You guys are great, thanks for the show.

I admire Thomas Sowell more than most men I can think of for three reasons. 1. His insight and thorough studies on economics and socio-anthroplogy are so well presented. 2. He's an economist, and I majored in Economics. 3. He's a US Marine, and I'm a US Marine.

All the way from England, looking from across the Atlantic Dr Sowell is the greatest living American.

I think Mr. Sowell was taking hits starting in the early 70's. I was fortunate to get 1st Editions of his 3 books whereby he travelled the world and did extensive research on culture, history, slavery etc.

So glad you guys are saying what some of us cannot. Thank you!

The BBC could not handle this.

So glad to see and hear academics make sense for a change, outside the sentimental tripe of the far left.

Kendi's birth name, is Henry Rogers.

It is difficult to sell the truth. Lies go like hotcakes.

My introduction to Sowell was by a coworker who idolized Ann Rand. Needless to say said coworker was a libertarian. So at some points in our numerous conversations he would mention Sowell. I bought and read 2 of his books; the one I can see from where I sit is titled Race & Culture. It's been a while, but I used to visit the Thomas Sowell site on RU-vid which has some interesting videos on it. I'm an independent who was more left leaning than right, but frankly I've been getting more frustrated with both parties lately.. Here's just a note on how different my coworker and I were on some topics. He said he never went out and just walked around destination unknown. If he was walking he knew exactly where he was going. Me, nope, I love to walk around destination unknown; I've done it literally around the world.. I'll finish with race though it's inot necessary, but the discussion and some of the comments do mention blacks' knowledge or lack of knowledge of TS though this is not to be exclusive. I'm a 69 year old black (US) man. My coworker was white (US) and we worked together for over 10 years in Saudi Arabia. I love how Sowell got out and saw and wrote on the world, plus the man has always kept his afro; if I could have one I would.

You can agree or disagree, but the candor of this conversation was refreshing!

How the hell does more of the black community not know the teachings and the books of Dr Thomas Sowell? The man is the GOAT @ 93, wise, brilliant and should have been president and/or at a minimum Secretary of Education advocating Charter schools - Kendi has a generic name and is a top notch grifter…..

8:39 Hahaha at John citing Coleman being about to do TED as evidence of alternatives being considered. Considering how it turned out, one can say John's point aged poorly.

Excellence. Well done, Gentlemen.

I am from Sweden and have so far read four of Sowell's books. I will definitely read more and continue market him amongst my friends, colleagues and acquaintances.

Jason Riley is correct: public intellectuals like Loury and McWhorter are the exception. That said, the rise of Hughes is a very positive development.

Oh dear Lord I know it's ridiculous but when Glenn and John are jousting, and though I _know_ it is just that, I feel like I did when my parents would fight. I duck in my chair a bit. But I learn so much. Great stuff, Jason, John and Glenn! 💯

I really believe that social media in general and Twitter in particular hold the key to understanding how we got here. You mustn't underestimate the power of the bubbles these platforms have created. Nor should you discount the potency of the existential fear that online mobs engender. Being on Twitter is virtually a requirement for public figures today. And being on Twitter virtually guarantees that you will mistake the insane ravings of a tiny minority of people as the beating heart of the culture.

Wonderful rich conversation. Thank you gentlemen

Ya'll are not only brilliant but brave. Just incredible examples of humanity.

Damn, I LOVE these guys!!

Loved this clip. One of my favorite Glenn Show clips.

I listed to Dr McWhoter's book on Woke Racism recently, his voice guides you though it effortlessly.

I am grateful for your courage.

There have been historians like James MacPherson and Gordon Wood that have called out Nicole Hannah Jones.

I was hoping to see an actual example (videos) of Kendi and Sowell expressing their beliefs.

Love the brains and bravery of these thinkers, these men who stand up for what they believe in at time of national cowardice.

I LOVE LOVE LOVE Glenn!

I do appreciate you guys, all 3 of you. The craziness of 2020 led me to find you, so something good came of it. Rational, intelligent debated thought is always good to see.

Glen Loury is a stud. Just a brilliant and powerful force for truth. Respect and Admiration all day.

His real name is Henry Rogers, not Ibram X Kendi. 5:30

Holy crap!! This is great!! These are the conversations that need to be had. Thank you guys!!

5:31 Ibrahim 'Xolani' Kendi isn't his real name. He changed his middle and last names from Henry Rogers when he married a woman called Sadiqa Edmonds. Kendi is Meru and Xolani is Xhosa. So, his African names are imagined, with his surname from East Africa and his middle name from South Africa. Revolutionaries with an X in their name are like Ghostbusters: the original was better than the sequels.

Any group of people who mention Thomas Sowell in a positive light are good people. Every time I hear him speak I believe I get more intelligent.

When I pause around these parts, it's always worth the while.

Who was financing and promoting Kendi and not funding and promoting Sowell? That is the question.

Love this talk! Thank you, Gentleman! Ive definitely subscribed to your channel, Glenn! ❤ Thomas Sowell ❤

I respect and admire Thomas Sowell. Thank you gentlemen for this discussion. Another man I admire is Walter Williams. May he RIP

Gentlemen, I greatly appreciate your presentations and I have a few of Dr. Thomas Sowell's books. Looking forward to Glenn's book! I must wonder why (and he wisely avoided politics and bureaucracy) to the nation's drift left --- true wide ranging intellectuals in their specific specialties are valuable to the education process. Shutting down dissenting or opposition voices is just wrong-headed. THANK YOU Gentlemen --- keep working hard to be heard and castigated by your detractors --- that means you are speaking truths from a perspective they do not appreciate. We all have much to learn from each other --- agree to disagree but take mindful arguments to the battle, not slurs and ignorance.

Thank you Glenn and John for your intellect, critical thought and search for the true core to the human condition, and striving honorably to be the binding strands and cables in supporting the suspension bridge between common ground for civil discussions about American racism. I respect you both and salute you both. Keep up the good works that sheds light on our modern racism issues and the political divides that keep drifting farther apart.❤🇺🇲💯

We all know how Coleman Hughes on Ted worked out :) Engaging discussion though, as always, gentleman!

question would we be in better shape today if Sowell had taught & mentored scores of students and helped THEM write more books, gaining more traction, more voices, more critical mass. -?

BLACKS of EXCELLENCE fight back: How Mediocrity Dominated the Left - I love these guys. And respect them

Glenn is all fired up! LOL! Sowell's basic economics should be required reading for high school

John, if his name was Henry Rogers 😂😂😂😂

Appreciate that Cornel West was mentioned. Don’t agree with him on everything but he’s one of the most genuine, intelligent, thoughtful and incredibly charismatic, as well as uniquely kind individuals I think I’ve ever seen. Wish there were more like him on the left.

Amazing conversation. ❤

Social media has a huge role. People put a stake in with a few virtue signaling posts, and feel they need to stand with that forever even if their side is wrong.

Great segment and I especially appreciate Glenn's remarks from the 10:30 mark forward. So much of what gets discussed on this channel is most interesting and challenges my thinking, thinking that really has been shaped and re-shaped by the media and my experiences over many years. I appreciate what Glenn does in these segments. It seems to me that Mr. Loury is heavily invested as a "Wrestler" ... he wrestles in thought in an attempt to arrive at some truth when it can be found, but understands that his perceptions and experiences may not be exactly like that of his guests; and I am not so inclined to feel that despite Glenn's ego (something that we all have and need), and his desire to be "right"; I feel confident at the end of the day, he would not allow ego to win a match over truth, knowledge, and understanding. There is so much value in these segments!

John answer the question right at the conclusion of this conversation. Thx guys, learn something often from yall

Its harder to engage in deep thought and think than to allow one self to get swept away by feelings and emotions.

Norman Finkelstein is also a "left-of-center critic" of the left.

You men are my intellectual heroes.

Love Thomas Sowell. One of the greatest American thinkers of the the 20th and the 21rst centuries. Ibram X Kendi is an obomination. Love Lowery and McWhorter. Love these men and the show and this guest.

I wish Walter Williams was around to add his wisdom to Thomas Sowells voice.

Few academics I have met, right or left, have any integrity if their tenured bubble is threatened. Those without tenure will sacrifice their honor to attain it.

Quality talks as usual guys thank you.

Henry Rogers looks the part and changed his name to sound the part. That’s about it; add an X to your name so you can make millions.

I would the race discussion is about POWER. The lever, or in many cases, the cudgel is emotion.

I think John is right about that muzzle. It’s not just about the suggestion that someone is racist if they offer a critique of the left, it’s everything else too.. bigot, phobic this and that. Essentially it’s about maligning people’s character and vilifying them, to the extent that they are ostracized and left without a career. I’m impressed that Glenn and John have withheld their position while offering critiques. As a white Christian man I would be torn to shreds by that crowd, despite the fact that I honor my family, adhere to morals about loving your neighbor, and do what I can to do the right thing.

Kindly put the link to the full conversation in the description-make it easy for us😊. I'm not familiar with Jason ? but I certainly will search for it.Thank you for your content, gentlemen!

A member of the Manhattan institute. A published author on nyt, feel they are not getting the recognition they deserve. There’s more, but they are far from marginalised.

We need more black intellects speaking out. I’m behind you guys.

I was a Democrat until 2012 and now my leftist friends consider me hard right to far right. I didn’t leave the Democrat party, it left me.

Interesting point of branding, constructing the image of a humble hardworking intellectual that superficially looks the part but is empty of depth. Being an intellectual “light weight” you need all the leverage you can get. Keep fighting the good fight Jason, John and Glenn. 👍🏻

This is a debate on the academic level. The media, sports, music, and black culture needs to be turned to self accountability to turn the tide of the destruction of the our black bothers and sisters.

it is puzzling that T.Sowell has been known and respected in Poland for years. his books were translated into Polish, we read his columns in newspapers.

10:04 Answer: Moral Cowardice.

Love these guys. This is such an important show. I am an American of European decent. Things are so far from reality and far from helpful right now that I just stopped listening to much it. Don’t get me wrong…. I have done my home work. When these gentlemen say something I listen, especially if it’s something that I don’t initially agree with, I will listen and honesty and openly consider it. This is is so important.

Dang. That thumbnail made me so hopefully that maybe these two FINALLY debated each other 😂

Gordon Wood and Sean Wilentz, and others, dared to criticize NHJ and the 1619 project. They are giants in the field. If they are attacked how can we expect junior members of the profession to speak out?

5:04 I agree. Thomas Sowell mentions that in his book Intellectuals and Race. Not only does the culture narrative question leftist ideology, but also depth of knowledge and deep thinking. Reading Sowell’s books has taught me much knowledge.

Aleksandr Solzhenitsyn’s Bill of Responsibility. That’s where freedom lies

Glenn and John are just too scared to debate Kendi. Oh wait… I got that backwards 😂

Are you "Black Conservatives" or just people who seek and are interested in Truth? This is a real inquiry for all those who question the contrived fantasies of people like Kenji and Nicole Hannah Jones. If one has no concept of objective Truth, one can just make it up as they go. Many in our culture have become lost in their own mind and ideology.

Ibram Xolani Kendi was born Ibram Henry Rogers.. so Henry went to private schools and was Methodist …

Anthony Jones? How about Henry Rogers?

TS is, and has been for a long while, the smartest man on the planet.

I think, not only is it a feelings issue, but in regards to Thomas Sowell, in order to realize how right he is you have to learn a lot of history. Thomas Sowell has been talking about things since at least the 70s if not the late 60s. He's made predictions in those old interviews and he was right!

thanks...the three amigos..//

That Coleman Hughes TED Talk comment didn’t age so well

Jason Riley asks-- "Why aren't there more left-wing critiques of progressives today?" An excellent, perfectly-centered, question that goes to the heart of the lazy, self-satisfied partisan bias on much of the left. Leftist ideology is far more deeply rooted and unexamined than is the ideology of the right. And the less it is called into question, the greater the excesses that will inevitably occur. Whenever I make arguments that call the assumptions of my leftist friends into account, it is a sure path to being regarded as no more than a right-winger in sheep's clothing. The left is largely blind to its own biases. I understand what the three of you on this program are talking about...and your frustration and puzzlement. It's a fact that most people loath complexity or living in that space characterized by what Keats dubbed "negative capability." We are now transacting life in a bipolar world where only the two poles have gravitas.