Excellent interview with David Bernstein, Glenn. Your Substack is off to a roaring good start.
I found Bernstein’s history of the use of racial categories (and ethnicities) particularly illuminating. Many on the left treat the various categories as perfectly obvious, but most are less than 50 years old and seem to have cobbled together to promote a particular political interest.
I agree that it would be most beneficial to move beyond the woke idea that “racial identity trumps everything else.”
Excellent interview. In a piece I'm writing today, I note that in my native Virginia, for 1/3 of the 20th century, racial classification was largely the job of one fanatical state official, Walter Ashby Plecker, MD. He spearheaded the adoption of the one-drop rule for African-Americans and legally eradicated the state's Native-American tribes by declaring their members to be African-American (because there had been some intermarriage between the two groups). The latter action obliterated the tribes' constitutional recognition and rights (restored by Congress and President Trump only in 2018). The two actions also created problems for Virginia's white upper-crust, many of whom claimed descent from the marriage of John Rolfe to Pocahantas. Thus, the 1924 Racial Integrity Act carved out an exception. Those whose ancestry was 1/16 or less Native-American (classified by the Act as African-American) could be considered white. In private, Plecker disliked the exception and ignored it when he wished. Born 10 days before the attack on Fort Sumter, Plecker boasted in 1943 of his racial database on Virginians: "Hitler's genealogical study of the Jews is [probably] not more complete."
This interview provides a clear explanation of how we got to where we are now in "racial" characterization. Prof. Bernstein provides a factual basis for our current situation. It should be read widely.
If the powers that be were at all serious about moving us to a post-racial America, they'd eliminate all those divisive little race boxes that we all check so frequently. But they don't. So the question arises, what is the purpose to keeping us all divided and pitted against each other?
Well, a lot of us cared, but it had nothing to do with their race, religion, or ancestry. It had to do with them all being statist, leftist, and corrupt.
Hi Glenn, I am a one trick pony, got 2 windmills in my sights over outrageous drug pricing. Both have ghosted my brilliant wit and withering sarcasm. When you have a moment, take a look. If you agree with any of it, use it, gratis. Been ghosted by 7 law firms, Benjamin Crump included, and Turley, PM hasn't replied either. Why won't somebody tell me if I have a case? Or why they won't accept it? Love your blog, PM.
For what it’s worth, I love the Q&A format.
Excellent interview with David Bernstein, Glenn. Your Substack is off to a roaring good start.
I found Bernstein’s history of the use of racial categories (and ethnicities) particularly illuminating. Many on the left treat the various categories as perfectly obvious, but most are less than 50 years old and seem to have cobbled together to promote a particular political interest.
I agree that it would be most beneficial to move beyond the woke idea that “racial identity trumps everything else.”
Excellent interview. In a piece I'm writing today, I note that in my native Virginia, for 1/3 of the 20th century, racial classification was largely the job of one fanatical state official, Walter Ashby Plecker, MD. He spearheaded the adoption of the one-drop rule for African-Americans and legally eradicated the state's Native-American tribes by declaring their members to be African-American (because there had been some intermarriage between the two groups). The latter action obliterated the tribes' constitutional recognition and rights (restored by Congress and President Trump only in 2018). The two actions also created problems for Virginia's white upper-crust, many of whom claimed descent from the marriage of John Rolfe to Pocahantas. Thus, the 1924 Racial Integrity Act carved out an exception. Those whose ancestry was 1/16 or less Native-American (classified by the Act as African-American) could be considered white. In private, Plecker disliked the exception and ignored it when he wished. Born 10 days before the attack on Fort Sumter, Plecker boasted in 1943 of his racial database on Virginians: "Hitler's genealogical study of the Jews is [probably] not more complete."
This interview provides a clear explanation of how we got to where we are now in "racial" characterization. Prof. Bernstein provides a factual basis for our current situation. It should be read widely.
If the powers that be were at all serious about moving us to a post-racial America, they'd eliminate all those divisive little race boxes that we all check so frequently. But they don't. So the question arises, what is the purpose to keeping us all divided and pitted against each other?
That's an easy one. Power. Both the Democratic party and many Federal Agencies crash without divisions like this.
Well, a lot of us cared, but it had nothing to do with their race, religion, or ancestry. It had to do with them all being statist, leftist, and corrupt.
Hi Glenn, I am a one trick pony, got 2 windmills in my sights over outrageous drug pricing. Both have ghosted my brilliant wit and withering sarcasm. When you have a moment, take a look. If you agree with any of it, use it, gratis. Been ghosted by 7 law firms, Benjamin Crump included, and Turley, PM hasn't replied either. Why won't somebody tell me if I have a case? Or why they won't accept it? Love your blog, PM.