11 Sharp Black Commentators You Should Be Following
John McWhorter
Website: The New Republic
Excerpt: On the recent hoopla over Jesse Jackson’s comments on the Cleveland Cavaliers owner…”To treat Jackson as unique in this, worthy of news for statements which, big surprise, do not dovetail with modern America, is like blaming the recession on one Wells Fargo branch in Connecticut. Jesse Jackson is a microcosm.”
About: The conservative columnist for The New Republic integrates his background in linguistics in his lucid commentary on race and politics. One of his many, many published books, for example, is titled “Word On The Street: Debunking The Myth of a “Pure” Standard English.” What sets McWhorter apart from many conservative talking heads is that he simply doesn’t subscribe to a single paradigm but thoughtfully entertains varying views. With each and every column, you can sense you’re getting a thoughtful and well-examined take on the news rather than just a rant strangled with bias. We especially appreciate McWhorter’s analysis of race and education.