#101 Musings Beyond the Bunker (Tuesday July 27)
Good morning!
There is a common fallacy in debate surrounding anecdote. Data is, of course, the accumulation of anecdotes in an orderly and controlled fashion. In middle school debate, we teach the debaters to “weigh” evidence, based upon the strength of the claim and the source of the evidence. A double-blind study conducted by Stanford University trumps an anecdote from Aunt Mildred.
These days, however, anecdote receives a disproportionate strength in the public marketplace of ideas, largely because it is highlighted, accentuated and repeated, all for the purpose of using that anecdote as, in fact, data. One such example is when someone cites the accomplishments of a single individual who has made it out of an underserved environment.
Peter Bain provides as example that the narrative of a Dr. Swain, an African American woman who, drawing from her successful life experience, seems to stand for the premise that all others who haven’t succeeded simply aren’t trying as hard. Her position, Peter says, is essentially binary. She maintains that because she accomplished what she accomplished, that there is no systemic racism in America. In his words:
“This gives great comfort to many Americans who…love this country and believe we really do represent humanity’s “last, best hope” of achieving genuine equality, freedom, and representative government. But the leap she makes is the problem. Just because she succeeded does not mean there is no systemic racism in this country. However, I want to be equally clear on the inverse: just because there is systemic racism in this country does not mean that we are not a great country worthy of celebration.”
“This is the core of the binary trap I hear far too often when this critical issue of race in America is discussed. One side inevitably descends into asserting that the existence of systemic racism in our country irrevocably condemns us as an evil nation. The other side invariably points out our great successes and concludes that systemic racism cannot exist in a country where so many rise above their circumstances to achieve greatness. Both are wrong. There is clear, fact-based evidence that one’s race in this country has an impact on opportunities provided and the likelihood of receiving certain kinds of treatment by our nation’s institutions. It is equally true, however, that we are perhaps the most aspirational nation that has ever existed, committed to a persistent pursuit of that “more perfect union” described by the Founders”
“We have fought many battles, suffered much pain, and made great progress towards equality from where we started. And it is not only correct and fair, but entirely appropriate to assert that we have much more progress to make. Every American should be proud to embrace this challenge, to take up the mantle of continuing to work to realize the ideals we have laid down for ourselves. When we fall short, it is our duty to face that shortcoming clear-eyed and headfirst. Acknowledging shortcoming is not saying we are inherently evil, bigoted, and hateful as a people. Rather, it is accepting that we must always be willing to call out those behaviors among us that do betray our ideals and take steps to remedy them. Nothing is more American than that.”
“Everything I have learned from our founders and those who came after has taught me that I have a duty to work to further our national aspirations. To do this, we must always be willing to listen, to learn, and to advance improvement. Dr. Swain, unfortunately, presents a narrative that enables those who would like to say simply, “See, there’s no problem here. Those who say so are wrong, and their message is toxic and therefore must not be allowed to be disseminated. I don’t need to hear it.”
Thanks, Peter. My sentiments exactly,
Glenn
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