When Race Trumps Merit

How the Pursuit of Equity Sacrifices Excellence, Destroys Beauty, and Threatens Lives

By: Heather Mac Donald

Narrated by: Olivia Lewis

Does your workplace have too few Black people in top jobs? It’s racist. Does the advanced math and science high school in your city have too many Asians? It’s racist. Does your local museum employ too many White women? It’s racist, too. After the Black Lives Matter protests of 2020, prestigious American institutions, from the medical profession to the fine arts, pleaded guilty to “systemic racism”. How else explain why Blacks are overrepresented in prisons and underrepresented in C-suites and faculty lounges, their leaders asked?

The official answer for those disparities is “disparate impact”, a once obscure legal theory that is now transforming our world. Any traditional standard of behavior or achievement that impedes exact racial proportionality in any enterprise is now presumed racist. Medical school admissions tests, expectations of scientific accomplishment in the award of research grants, the enforcement of the criminal law—all are under assault, because they have a “disparate impact” on underrepresented minorities.

When Race Trumps Merit provides an alternative explanation for those racial disparities. It is large academic skills gaps that cause the lack of proportional representation in our most meritocratic organizations and large differences in criminal offending that account for the racially disproportionate prison population. When Race Trumps Merit breaks powerful taboos. But it is driven by a sense of alarm, supported by detailed case studies of how disparate-impact thinking is jeopardizing scientific progress, destroying public order, and poisoning the appreciation of art and culture. As long as alleged racism remains the only allowable explanation for racial differences, we will continue tearing down excellence and putting lives, as well as civilizational achievement, at risk.

©2023 Heather Mac Donald (P)2023 DW Books

Amazing and eye opening!

An amazing and eye opening read! This book should be mandatory reading for every person in a political position of power.

probably the most important topic today

this was a very well researched, very well supported, amd wonderfully argued takedown of modern day diversity obsession.

A must listen / read

It is astounding that the facts in this book are ignored by the mainstream media, then again, not really. Seeing as the left wants to destroy the US of A in every effort and divide the people. Give this a listen, or share it with someone who only gets their news from MSM. People are to ignorant to facts these days.

A Must-Read in a DEI World

Heather Mac Donald is an unbelievably thorough researcher. Her chapter on diversity, impacting the music and orchestras is spot on. It is unfortunate that, some of the most talented musicians will miss opportunities to play in great orchestras because of boards that are fearful of being labeled racist. I will be re-reading this book again.

Outstanding

Loved this. It won’t be popular with the left, but tells the truth which needs telling.