The

The Hi everyone and welcome to another episode of Conversations with Coleman. Before we get started today, I just wanted to say thank you for the support that I got

for the first episode. It was really overwhelming, and I'm humbled by the level of support I'm

receiving. A lot of people were wondering how they can support the podcast, and now I have an answer for you

all. That answer is Patreon. Go to the description and click on the link, donate at the $5 level, and you'll get a special

episode each month, audio only, where I talk about a different topic that might be in the news

or not in the news, and that will only be available to people who support the show. But I'm

never going to put any of the main interviews behind a paywall because I want as many people to have access to the work I'm doing as possibly can.

So with that said, my guest today is John McWhorter, who is a professor of linguistics, also teaches a bit of philosophy and music at Columbia University. One of my favorite commentators

on the issue of race in America, also just a really observant person and an amazing critic of

American culture. He writes for the Atlantic. He's written probably over 10 books.

And we talk about a lot of different topics, including how he came to have the views he did on race,

which are sort of quote unquote heterodox or a contrarian.

And we talk about the relationship between the decline of religion and race.

We talk about his thesis that anti-racism in America has taken on the character of a religion,

and much more. So without further ado, John McWhorter.

The first book I read of yours was called Authentically Black.

It was an essay collection.

You read that one first?

That was the first one I read.

That's interesting.

Yeah.

...