Glenn Loury $7 / month

Glenn Loury's Substack explores themes around race, inequality, freedom of expression, and the complexities of identity politics in the United States and globally. Loury, an economist, engages with controversial topics while challenging prevailing narratives on systemic racism, affirmative action, censorship, and the role of traditional values in addressing social issues.

Race and Inequality Freedom of Expression Identity Politics Systemic Racism Affirmative Action Censorship and Media Education and Academic Freedom Political Narratives Social Justice and Activism Family and Community Dynamics

Top posts of the year

And their main takeaways

Derek Chauvin Did Not Murder George Floyd

5640 implied HN points • 05 Dec 23
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Social Issues Justice Policing Race relations
  1. The concept of "poetic truth" is discussed, referring to the creation of a partisan version of reality for power and leverage.
  2. The narrative around George Floyd's death is challenged, highlighting potential inaccuracies and the danger of perpetuating false truths.
  3. The importance of seeking and acknowledging the truth in controversial and emotionally charged situations is emphasized, even when it challenges established beliefs.

Systemic Racism at Brown?

4068 implied HN points • 25 Jun 23
🚌 Education Race Public Policy Inequality
  1. A controversy at Brown University surrounding systemic racism sparked a debate on freedom of expression.
  2. Glenn Loury, a black conservative economist, argues against claims of systemic racism at Brown and presents his scholarly contributions.
  3. Loury emphasizes the need to address racial inequality without undermining academic freedom.

A Glenn Loury Rant™

3930 implied HN points • 11 May 23
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Social Issues
  1. Glenn Loury discussed social dysfunction in black America and the importance of proper child-rearing.
  2. He emphasized the urgency to address the issues in black communities instead of making excuses.
  3. Loury highlighted the need to move forward from historical challenges to create a better future.
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I Was Censored by YouTube

3714 implied HN points • 17 May 23
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Censorship Free speech
  1. YouTube censorship can have serious consequences for content creators.
  2. Lack of transparency in YouTube's moderation and appeal processes is concerning.
  3. Content creators are exploring alternative platforms like Substack for more freedom of expression.

The Exquisite Irony of Claudine Gay's Downfall

3596 implied HN points • 09 Jan 24
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Identity Affirmative Action Race relations Higher education Leadership
  1. Defenders claim that ousting Claudine Gay was more about race and ideology than academic integrity, but it still doesn't excuse plagiarism.
  2. Being a university president may require more than being a noteworthy scholar; skills like administration and fundraising could take precedence.
  3. The debate on affirmative action and academic standards for black students is complex, with implications for diversity, standards, and systemic corruption.

Ibram Kendi's Crusade against the Enlightenment

3557 implied HN points • 15 Oct 23
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Ideology Education Ethics Civil Rights Government
  1. The article discusses Ibram Kendi's rejection of the western intellectual tradition and his call for a new academic discipline.
  2. Kendi criticizes standardized tests in education as a racist policy that degrades black minds and bodies.
  3. Kendi proposes a radical solution to racism in the United States, advocating for a totalitarian government run by 'formally trained experts in racism.'

Racial Preferences May End, but the Fight Will Continue

3518 implied HN points • 18 Jun 23
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Race Affirmative Action Supreme Court Education Social justice
  1. The Supreme Court is expected to end racial preferences in college admissions, but the fight for racial equality will continue.
  2. Advocates suggest shifting preferences from race to socioeconomics to better address disparities in access to education.
  3. Maintaining racial preferences based on outdated assumptions about disadvantages faced by black students may actually hinder progress towards equality.

What Florida Is (and Isn't) Teaching Students about Slavery

3518 implied HN points • 06 Aug 23
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Education Slavery Criticism History Racism
  1. The Florida Board of Education's guidelines for teaching African American history include lessons on the Underground Railroad, slave rebellions, and the harsh realities of chattel slavery.
  2. The controversy on the Florida curriculum involves a debate between emphasizing victimization or acknowledging the agency of enslaved individuals.
  3. Some researchers argue that recognizing the agency of enslaved blacks does not downplay the inhumane aspects of slavery and can provide a more nuanced understanding of their experiences.

The High Tragedy of the Pandemic

2830 implied HN points • 04 Jul 23
📰 News Pandemic Research Funding
  1. The pandemic may have originated from a lab leak due to gain-of-function research.
  2. Fauci and others believed they were doing good by conducting this research, but it had unintended consequences.
  3. Cooperation and transparency from both Chinese and American authorities could have potentially prevented the pandemic from reaching a global scale.

The Real Threat to Democracy

2220 implied HN points • 21 Jan 24
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Elections Democracy Legitimacy Trump
  1. The looming threat to democracy is the debate around disqualifying Trump from the 2024 election.
  2. There are concerns about fairness and legitimacy in the electoral process, especially post-2020 election.
  3. The importance of preserving the democratic foundation and having free and fair elections is emphasized.

What Derek Chauvin's Trial Didn't Show Us

2063 implied HN points • 19 Dec 23
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Trial Narrative Testimony
  1. The Derek Chauvin trial had potentially exculpatory evidence excluded and facts misrepresented.
  2. There were concerns raised about the pathologist's autopsy report not aligning with the popular narrative surrounding George Floyd's death.
  3. Speculation was raised about the use of certain statements, like 'I can't breathe', becoming tropes in police encounters.

The End of Racial Discrimination and the Beginning of National Self-Knowledge

1906 implied HN points • 13 Aug 23
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Affirmative Action Constitution
  1. Racial discrimination has been a part of America's history but is being addressed through legal decisions.
  2. Limited affirmative action may have been necessary in the past, but now it's time for a more race-neutral approach.
  3. The Supreme Court's decisions on affirmative action highlight the importance of upholding the principles of equality and individualism.

Claudine Gay's Dishonorable Discharge

1867 implied HN points • 16 Jan 24
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Higher education DEI Plagiarism Race Leadership
  1. The charges of plagiarism against Claudine Gay were serious enough to merit her removal, despite other motivations behind the campaign against her.
  2. The appointment of high-ranking officials, especially in historical positions like Harvard President, should prioritize qualifications over symbolic representation.
  3. Habitual plagiarism can undermine a leader's credibility and position, regardless of race, and institutions should uphold standards of integrity and merit.

Q&A: What Would You Do with $43 Million to Fight Racism?

1827 implied HN points • 02 Jan 24
🎭️ Culture Film History Racism Entertainment Social Issues
  1. The Center for Antiracist Research raised $43 million with little to show for it in terms of research on racism.
  2. One approach suggested to fight racism with $43 million was to start a center for the rigorous study of race in America with elite scholars and promising grad students.
  3. Another proposed idea was to use the money to fund a movie dramatizing the shift in black political thought in 1966, which would showcase how certain ideas contributed to present-day racial divisions.

"Defining Deviancy Down" at 30: Reflections on Crime, Welfare, and Mental Health

1690 implied HN points • 05 Nov 23
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Crime Welfare Mental health Social norms
  1. Moynihan's essay 'Defining Deviancy Down' explores the impact of shifting norms and incentives on society.
  2. Critics of Moynihan's work questioned his motives rather than engaging with the validity of his analysis.
  3. The redefinition of deviancy has implications for mental health, substance abuse, and social control in society, leading to complex outcomes.

What Happened to the Black-Jewish Alliance?

1650 implied HN points • 17 Dec 23
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Race relations Historical Analysis Foreign Policy Nationalism Political Ideologies
  1. Black-Jewish alliance started strong but faced challenges over time, especially with disagreements over issues like affirmative action and Israel-Palestine.
  2. Historical tensions between Blacks and Jews stemmed from economic factors and differences in experiences of discrimination.
  3. Racially preferential policies, like affirmative action, deepened enmity between Black and Jewish communities by bringing to light symbolic and ideological differences.

Why I Wrote LATE ADMISSIONS

1434 implied HN points • 18 Jan 24
📚 Literature Memoir Author Book promotion
  1. The author wrote a memoir to understand and explain his unique life experiences.
  2. Writing the book helped the author reflect for readers' benefit as well as his own.
  3. By reading the memoir, readers can form their own judgment about the author's story.

Time to Get Rid of the N-Word Taboo

1257 implied HN points • 08 Feb 24
🎭️ Culture Language Race relations Identity
  1. John and Glenn discuss the use of racial slurs for illustration or analysis, rather than to demean.
  2. The taboo against racial slurs is expanding to even include terms that were once considered dignified, like "Negro."
  3. They talk about the power dynamics involved in the growing list of forbidden terms.

Livestream Event: Glenn Loury on Clarence Thomas

1238 implied HN points • 14 Jan 24
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Legal system Social Issues Race relations Presidency
  1. Livestream event discussing the significance of Justice Clarence Thomas and his impact on American law and society.
  2. Justice Clarence Thomas is celebrated for his efforts to uphold individual liberties and limit federal government powers.
  3. Criticism against Justice Thomas often focuses on personal attacks rather than his judicial ideas, especially from black critics who question his loyalty to the African American community.