Episode 76: Dr. Erec Smith on Diversity, Anti-Racism, Critical Race Theory, and EMPOWERMENT

Dr. Erec Smith is a professor of rhetoric and composition at York College and former Chair of the York YWCA Racial and Social Justice Committee. Today, he and I talk about racism in America, and what he believes are the best ways to make this country a fair, diverse, and thriving one. Smith appreciates much of the sentiment behind Critical Race Theory (CRT) and anti-racism curriculum, but believes these movements (and their rhetoric)-- as they have been mainstreamed-- are headed in the wrong direction. He offers a new idea about how we might make progress, which he calls the Empowerment Model. In addition to his position at York College, Smith is Associate Director of the Institute for Civic Arts and Humanities, co-founder and co-editor of "FreeBlackThought", a writing fellow for Heterodox Academy, and author of the book, "A Critique of Anti-racism in Rhetoric and Composition: The Semblance of Empowerment." - - - - - - - - - -  SUPPORT THE SOCIAL EXCHANGE Donate to PayPal: https://paypal.me/zrhoads Contribute to Patreon: https://patreon.com/thesocialexchange Use our Audible Link for a free audio book: http://audibletrial.com/socialexchange *****RATE / REVIEW The Social Exchange https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-social-exchange/id1333527133 - - - - - - - - - -  THANK YOU to all of our Patrons! - Pat Casey -Dora -Jeffrey Singer - Steven Rabinowitz - Jessie Dunleavy  - Andrew Tatarsky - Dean LeMire - Christy McPherson  - Nunzio De Martino (Courtesy of "Don Nunzio Limos" https://donnunziolimos.com/)  - Susan Lennon - James Stacks - Chris L - W Leon Naufahu  - Sherry Chandler - Dee-Dee Stout - Christopher Hanlon  - André Pampel - CARTER Vermont https://www.cartervermont.org/ - Rick Barnett  - Anne M. Earle - Inigo - Jon Holt - Laila Ferguson - Mary Kay Villaverde - Michelle - NANCY - Sean Holt - Regina Ferguson - Timmy Tucker - Christian - Thomas Rhoads - Kathleen Cochran - Marjorie Israel - Diane T - Trevor  - Sue Mathieu - Linda Rhoads