The rising tide of political correctness has thwarted honest discussion about the centrality of culture in shaping life outcomes. That cultures vary widely in their prioritization of education, family, and vocation has become an unspeakable proposition on the left. The reaction to a recent John McWhorter column in the New York Times that argued against abolishing social-work licensing tests on grounds of racially disparate results is a case in point. The commentary drew accusations of racism from author Ibram X. Kendi, who interpreted McWhorter’s recognition of cultural differences across race as his arguing that “there’s something wrong and inferior about Black culture.”
The taboo against acknowledging that cultural variations affect individual outcomes was not always so strong on the left. In 2013, for example, CNN news anchor Don Lemon did a whole segment identifying behavioral pathologies in black inner-city communities. “Finish school . . . Stop telling kids they’re acting white,” Lemon said. Barack Obama made a similar point at the 2004 Democratic National Convention.
Read Full Article »