Sowell: on universities and race
This video is a compilation from a bunch of interviews with Sowell over a period of many many years. One of the most interesting things about watching it is how consistent Sowell’s message has been on the subject of colleges, “diversity” programs of affirmative action, and teaching minority students that they are victims of systemic racism:
Jason Riley’s biography of Sowell (entitled Maverick) is to be published later this month by Basic Books (Hachette). It will be interesting indeed to observe how much (or, perhaps, how little) attention is granted by the MSM to what promises to be a very fascinating and important book.
That’s a fantastic instructive punchline at the end – one of the best ever.
Diversity [dogma] (i.e. color judgment) breeds adversity. That said, diversity of individuals, minority of one. Character (e.g. principles) matter. Baby Lives Matter (BLM).
“biography of Sowell (entitled Maverick)”
I would expect something about John McCain with that title; wish Riley had chosen a different adjective for Sowell.
@AesopFan:
It’s about time the word Maverick was reclaimed from the McCain Stain, Père et Fils.
Sowell is a good start.
Sowell is my favorite social commenter. Has been for years. I really enjoyed his American Spectator takedown of “The Bell Curve” and later his book “Black Rednecks and White Liberals”. I look up from my monitor and it is on the top shelf of my bookcase. When I have to winnow down my library to 100-200 books, it will remain.
A good topic like they used to do on the BBC. They would ask outside of the bible what book would you take to read if you were on a deserted island. We don’t have to limit to one book. Just get a top ten.
I will read Riley’s book when it comes out.
One thing that Sowell always argued was that academic quotas was a net detriment for minorities. The reason is that most of these people are not prepared for the academic rigor of upper level schools. In other words, they would do quite well in lower ranked colleges where they can get an adequate or superior education and be quite successful in their professional life.
So the colleges get these students that are flat not prepared for the intense learning environment and they drop out feeling frustrated and alienated or put into programs with worthless degrees like ethnic studies, kinesiology et al.
A way of making these universities actually work to get these students meaningful degrees is to have their indexes based not on admissions but on graduation rates in equivalent disciplines. Ie. if 45% of white students that enroll in Engineering get their degree in Engineering, then minority students must be within one statistical mean from that rate or it would be branded a racist school.
All the sudden the smell of fecal matter emanating from the administration will become noticable. You will see a lot more emphasis on students being ready or getting remedial help to pass this degree. Inventive solutions could be a pipeline from magnet schools where the university would mentor students to be prepared. Also summer sessions from pre-admission students. Ie. let the students know what is expected and work.
Many schools do the same with their athletes. One of the few good things that the NCAA has put in place.
@Spartacus:
“A way of making these universities actually work to get these students meaningful degrees is to have their indexes based not on admissions but on graduation rates in equivalent disciplines. Ie. if 45% of white students that enroll in Engineering get their degree in Engineering, then minority students must be within one statistical mean from that rate or it would be branded a racist school.”
Standard Deviation.. but yes. Although which standard deviation are you talking about in which context? I suspect if you picked East Asian or Ashkenazi exam scores in Abstract Algebra and could rustle up enough Blacks to compare against, it would be more like 2SD.
Furthermore any and all DIE metrics can and will be gamed. Even when not gamed, they introduce distortions and unintended consequences.
Tinkering is a waste of time. It needs to be burned to the ground. If Blacks and other minorities are capable, then they should be able to look after themselves and end up hugely over-represented in the most prestigious professions. Cossacks, Country Clubs.. somehow the Jews did it. Are you saying that Blacks are dumber than Jews? You Raaaacist 😛
And if they’re not capable of handling the intellectual work and the self-discipline, why then they’re about where they deserve to be. No stigma need be involved in anyone finding their natural level in the Great Chain of Being provided that they fulfill some useful purpose and don’t squander their talents.
Don’t agree with Sowell on some of his ‘Reasons’… but certainly he is correct that it is pernicious and evil to tell Blacks that they are perpetual victims. They’re never going to produce bevvies of particle physicists, but for sure lots of them missed out on good productive happy lives because they were indoctrinated to be angry and miserable and helpless.
I am Spartacus,
Thank you for that heads up on Sowell’s review of the Bell Curve. I just read it and find it both illuminating and persuasive. It’s caused me to reevaluate my opinions regarding that book.
“Jason Riley’s biography of Sowell (entitled Maverick) is to be published later this month”
I read another Riley book last month.
“Please stop helping us”
Really good.
@JimNorCal:
“Please stop helping us”
Happy to oblige, Sir! If you feel so inclined, would you perhaps consider as a quid pro quo not raping, mugging, and killing us at a rate vastly disproportionate to your percentage of the total population? I mean, if it’s not too much trouble and all.
One can but dream.
Contrary to Spartacus and Geoffrey Britain, there are serious objections to Sowell on the Bell Curve via The AmSpectator.
Reasoning based on the Flynn Effect is quite dodgy from the get go, since it’s been reversing over recent decades to begin with.
Second, black twins adopted and raised in white versus black homes do not support his reasoning.
And third, there is the claim (which I haven’t evaluated) that Sowell does not grasp Arthur Jensen’s data.
Thus, our friends superlatives for the Sowell critique appear to be seriously challenged.
@Spartacus – just got my copy of BRWL last week.
“A way of making these universities actually work to get these students meaningful degrees is to have their indexes based not on admissions but on graduation rates in equivalent disciplines.”
The graduation rate will remain unchanged and will probably improve, by the simple expedient tested and honed in the public schools.
https://www.thecollegefix.com/student-shocked-to-discover-he-wont-graduate-high-school-with-0-13-grade-point-average/
One might see a connection between this story and Sowell’s irritation about poor preparation for college work.