False Black Power? The Persistence of Racial Disparities Despite Increased Black Political Clout

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When Wednesday, February 14, 2018
12:00 PM - 1:00 PM
Location Wolf Law 307
For Public; Faculty; Staff; Students; Alumni

Please join the CU Law Federalist Society in welcoming Jason Riley, a Senior Fellow at the Manhattan Institute, columnist for the Wall Street Journal, and Fox News contributor. Mr. Riley is the author of “Let Them In: The Case for Open Borders” (2008) and “Please Stop Helping Us: How Liberals Make It Harder for Blacks to Succeed” (2014). Black civil-rights leaders have long supported ethnic-identity politics and prioritized the integration of political institutions. Recent decades have seemingly validated this strategy, as a wave of black politicians have swept into office, culminating in the presidency of Barack Obama. Yet rising black political power has done little to lift up the great majority of African Americans: large gaps between blacks and whites—in employment, income, home ownership, academic achievement, incarceration, and many other measures—persist and, in some cases, have widened. As other racial and ethnic groups in America prioritize economic advancement, the continued focus on political capital for African Americans is a serious mistake, argues Jason Riley in False Black Power?. So long as blacks are encouraged to neglect the cultural capital that has so successfully powered upward mobility among other minorities, says Riley, no number of elected African-American officials or special treatment will help blacks catch up. It promises to be an engaging discussion and, as always, food will be provided.

More Information

Contact Blake Herron
blhe0336@colorado.edu
Sponsored By CU Law Federalist Society
Speakers Jason Riley