Is Wokeness Finally Dead?
Sam HarrisKey Moments
Wokeness persists underground despite public backlash, particularly in academia and arts, altering discourse and institutional practices.
Key Insights
"Wokeness" has shifted from a prominent public ideology to a more underground influence, especially within academic, artistic, and journalistic circles.
DEI initiatives are likely to continue in evolving forms, even if rebranded, suggesting a difficulty in eradicating the underlying ideology.
The narrative surrounding racial disparities, particularly concerning police brutality, is often based on flawed premises amplified by social media algorithms.
Academic and artistic fields have seen a significant shift in hiring and discourse, often filtering out white men and promoting certain ideological viewpoints.
Certain academic trends, like labeling music theory or math as inherently racist, are seen as absurd and indicative of the ideology's pervasive reach.
The 2020 George Floyd protests and the ensuing discourse highlighted a significant disconnect between perceived reality and statistical data regarding police violence.
The ideology's core tenet of battling perceived power differentials, particularly against "whiteness," fuels its adaptability to various issues like trans rights and geopolitical conflicts.
THE EVOLUTION OF "WOKE" IDEOLOGY
The conversation posits that "wokeness," while having lost significant public and political traction, has not disappeared. Instead, it has transitioned underground, particularly within academic, artistic, and media institutions. This shift suggests a persistent influence that continues to shape discourse and institutional practices, even if less overtly than before. The idea is that the core tenets of this ideology are simply being applied to different issues, making it a continuous force rather than a vanquished one.
INSTITUTIONAL INSIDIOUSNESS OF DEI AND ACADEMIC SHIFTS
The persistence of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) initiatives is highlighted, with the prediction that they will merely go underground and rebrand rather than disappear. The damage to academia and the arts is considered potentially irreparable in the short term, as the ideology has deeply embedded itself. This includes influencing hiring practices, academic discourse, and the perpetuation of certain ways of thinking among graduate students who become future faculty members, creating a self-sustaining ideological ecosystem.
THE MYTH OF POLICE BRUTALITY AMPLIFIED
A significant point of contention is the narrative surrounding police brutality, particularly in the aftermath of George Floyd's death. The speakers argue that the widespread belief that Black men are disproportionately targeted by police is a myth perpetuated by social media algorithms and a misinterpretation of data. They contend that the actual numbers of unarmed Black men killed by police are vastly lower than perceived, and this persistent narrative is a significant error in national discourse, creating a form of "woke racism."
ACADEMIC ABSURDITIES AND CURRICULAR DECISIONS
The discussion delves into specific examples of how this ideology manifests in academia, such as the idea that music theory or even mathematics is inherently racist. These extreme viewpoints, exemplified by figures like Philip Ewell, are dismissed as absurd by the speakers. However, they note that such ideas gain traction within certain circles and influence curricular decisions, indicating a broader ideological pressure within educational institutions that goes beyond reasoned debate.
THE ROLE OF SOCIAL MEDIA AND ALGORITHMIC AMPLIFICATION
Social media is identified as a key factor in amplifying these narratives, especially during events like the 2020 protests. Algorithms are blamed for burning certain, often negative, videos into people's minds, overwhelming statistical data and context. This creates a distorted perception of reality, where sensationalized incidents are taken as representative of broader systemic issues, contributing to what is described as "Kabuki" – a performance rather than a genuine reflection of facts.
FILTERING AND POWER DYNAMICS IN HIGH-STATUS FIELDS
A stark pattern is observed in high-status areas like academia, media, and Hollywood, where white men have been systematically filtered against. This trend is seen as a direct consequence of the dominant ideology's focus on battling perceived power differentials, particularly against "whiteness." This ideological lens is applied to various issues, from hiring decisions to interpreting geopolitical conflicts, shaping the landscape of influence and opportunity.
IDEOLOGICAL ADAPTABILITY AND THE "NEVER QUITE GOING OUT" FLAME
The ideology's core principle of challenging power differentials makes it adaptable to new issues, such as trans rights and geopolitical conflicts, showing a persistent "fury" and punitive impulse. Like a gopher popping up in different holes, the underlying ideology shifts its focus but maintains its presence. This adaptability means that even when one manifestation is challenged, the ideology finds new avenues to express itself, making it a difficult force to eradicate entirely.
THE CHALLENGE OF REASONED DIALOGUE AND PERSONAL IMPEDIMENTS
Engaging in reasoned dialogue on these topics is challenging, especially when core beliefs are based on what the speakers deem "faith" rather than evidence, as seen with the police brutality narrative. Both speakers acknowledge the personal cost and boredom associated with repeatedly addressing these issues, describing a sense of obligation to counteract the dominant narratives through writing and speaking. The desire for variety and the difficulty of finding new things to say add to this challenge.
POLITICAL LIABILITY AND HOPE FOR CALIBRATION
Despite the persistence, there is a glimmer of hope that the extreme nature of "wokeness" has become politically untenable, as evidenced by the failure of certain political movements. It is hoped that this political liability will force a broader recalibration in public thinking. However, the underlying cultural and institutional entrenchment of the ideology presents a significant hurdle to this hopeful outlook, suggesting a long-term struggle for a return to more pragmatic and evidence-based discourse.
Mentioned in This Episode
●Tools & Products
●Books
●People Referenced
Common Questions
John McWhorter suggests that while a peak 'woke' moment has passed, the ideology is adapting and being applied to new issues, especially in academia and the arts, where it may cause lasting damage. He believes it's hard to 'put the toothpaste back into the tube' once established in these fields.
Topics
Mentioned in this video
A linguist, anti-racist, and cultural commentator, and the author featured in the discussion.
A white individual who experienced a similar incident to George Floyd years prior, but did not receive widespread attention.
Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion initiatives, discussed as a euphemism for affirmative action and racial preferences.
A black musicologist who argues that music theory is inherently racist.
Mentioned as an example of a case where the initial narrative was widely believed despite conflicting facts.
Author whose book was discussed by McWhorter and Glenn Lowry, with differing reactions.
An author associated with anti-racist ideology, used as a comparison for the treatment of Philip Ule.
The university where John McWhorter teaches linguistics.
Author of an article detailing hiring patterns in academia, media, and Hollywood.
Mentioned in the context of how certain people discuss the actions of the group, linking it to 'woke' ideology.
A friend of John McWhorter with whom he has extended discussions on race and politics.
A book written by John McWhorter discussing wokeness and its impact.
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