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Hoover Institution Senior Fellow Shelby Steele on Louis Farrakhan’s comments and race’s impact in the current political system.
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The NAACP.
Goes before the UN human rights commission demanding an investigation into what it charges are.
Racially discriminatory election laws in this country.
While the nation of Islam leader.
Louis Farrakhan offers his final solution is he puts it to the difficulty.
Between blacks and whites his solution.
Racial separation.
Here to discuss all of that and much more Shelby Steele.
01 of the country's leading thinkers and authors senior fellow the Hoover institution specializing in the study of race relations.
Multi cultural -- and affirmative action -- -- great to have you with us.
-- this is -- division I don't often use the word surreal but when.
When one awakens to Louis Farrakhan talking about separating.
Whites and blacks as part -- final solution.
When the NAACP.
Is trotting off to the united -- with the United Nations.
Our Human Rights Council with claims of racial discriminatory election laws in this country.
I I I find that surreal what's your reaction.
Well it's kind of a measure of of half a loss.
Black American leadership is at this point.
One of things it's fascinating about the the election.
Laws -- which don't allow felons to vote.
And their claim that this constitutes racial discrimination.
Without looking at the fact that -- -- -- so many black felons in the first place.
Or as wires it's such a disproportionate.
Number of of felons who are -- lose the vote you can.
As far as I'm concerned you can you can reexamine the law if you want to book that the elephant in the room the real problem.
Is -- so many blacks are in federal prison and and and commit felonies that is.
That's where our real the real hard work needs to be done.
And of course their focus is always to -- shift to the other way and say no it's it's it's quite racism it's it's American racism and and and avoid the issue that's I think why there's so irrelevant.
And and you know it's interesting to watch and I I wanna turn to troubles Farrakhan.
But I -- also going to another point here where concerning.
-- -- the Republican Party principal.
In how it is its seemingly scared to death of discussing anything racial.
I was one of those people deeply offended when Eric Holder in 2009 said we're nation when it comes to raise basically a nation -- cowards.
There when it comes to the Republican leadership I think he had it right.
I didn't realize it the timing senate because that is reacting to.
You know as -- a citizen.
And I know my fellow citizens are not cowards.
But the idea that the Republican party's -- and that.
On the issue of race it is.
To meet disappointing disabled.
I would agree with I think I think -- far more timid.
Then then they need to be I think America is much farther evolved.
Then they realize.
And is capable of having serious and frank discussions about about racial issues.
Certainly in the presidential campaign these are issues that ought to be openly discussed.
Debated.
And I think they miss an opportunity.
And today they might even.
Be surprised.
To see themselves generate appeal in the black community in America if they talked more frankly and openly about these -- It's it's it's -- old expression -- friends this.
It's an old expression from the sixty -- but.
If things are gonna -- was gonna have to change and and that's the way it is in this instance.
Let's let's play for our audience.
If we may.
Louis -- can.
And and as the saying goes we're going -- share with you his.
His thoughts and everybody can divine what he meant -- ago.
This note due to fill us in fact if you look around -- has already dropped us.
The question is -- we -- and drop him.
And decide to do something and five theft.
No no you going to be separate read -- all right because that is the final solution to the problem between black.
And white.
What I think shoving.
Well I think he made one good statement and all of that and that is that so what are we gonna do something for ourselves.
I think his his profound mistake is to suggest that we have to separate from whites in order to do that.
I think that's silly it's an idea that's been -- at various times in American history -- always fails it cuts us off from.
From all sorts of opportunities and resources we ought to be going exactly in the opposite direction.
Which is to join the modern world to join society to -- can't think of ourselves more as Americans.
Rather than to actually have the idea that that racial identity is somehow.
-- some -- but activate your life.
Now your racial identity is is -- relevance.
In in in this society is very nice -- prime I'm black and proud of -- and and benefit from that culture.
But I take that culture with me into the American mainstream.
That's where we all ought to -- we we ought to be headed.
-- that is is a throwback.
In that sense and when you when you -- -- separated it's it's that it's almost a confession of inferiority it's it's saying.
-- we're -- separate because we're afraid we can't compete and you know to your point.
It is also.
A paternalistic.
-- you and value on the part of the national media if a white person had been sitting there.
Making the same statement saying we should have separation of the races.
That person would be accused of white supremacy.
If if it is -- for -- can.
Well in it's crazy old Louis -- can.
Without.
Response but it it but it nonetheless less power and impact.
-- we still as always it does CE.
Were so far out of time but and ours are about.
Another twenty minutes or are -- about something that -- war continue the conversation -- and I appreciate it.
Thanks so much look forward to a thanks a lot -- Shelby Steele he's.
A terrific.
Terrific.
Thinker.
And then we'll put our provision.
