Facing Reality: Two Truths about Race in America

Charles Murray

June 2021 · Encounter Books

About this eBook

The charges of white privilege and systemic racism that are tearing the country apart fIoat free of reality. Two known facts, long since documented beyond reasonable doubt, need to be brought into the open and incorporated into the way we think about public policy: American whites, blacks, Hispanics, and Asians have different violent crime rates and different means and distributions of cognitive ability. The allegations of racism in policing, college admissions, segregation in housing, and hiring and promotions in the workplace ignore the ways in which the problems that prompt the allegations of systemic racism are driven by these two realities.

What good can come of bringing them into the open? America’s most precious ideal is what used to be known as the American Creed: People are not to be judged by where they came from, what social class they come from, or by race, color, or creed. They must be judged as individuals. The prevailing Progressive ideology repudiates that ideal, demanding instead that the state should judge people by their race, social origins, religion, sex, and sexual orientation.

We on the center left and center right who are the American Creed’s natural defenders have painted ourselves into a corner. We have been unwilling to say openly that different groups have significant group differences. Since we have not been willing to say that, we have been left defenseless against the claims that racism is to blame. What else could it be? We have been afraid to answer. We must. Facing Reality is a step in that direction.

Ratings and reviews

The books tackles a painful (and very controversial) subject, especially from a person who was nastily attacked from writing something similar 25 years ago. This is about differences between races, and how they explain differences between outcomes, which is NOT due to systemic racism. As usual, Murray treats the subject both dispassionately, to get the information across, and passionately, because he really does not like where we are going. Highly recommended reading.

One of the best non-fiction books I've read in a very long time! Factually based with honest analysis which might offend those unwilling to accept basic truths. Not only were the stats revealing and sometimes alarming, but the way they were presented here left no doubt about the accuracy. But the most remarkable part of the book, in my opinion, was the last chapter, If We Don't Face Reality (Ch 7), wherein Murray makes his case of Americans needing to avoid identity politics as is the current trend especially by the media and far left if we are going to right this ship run amok. It's highly convincing and insightful. Anyone who truly enjoys fact-based text with unapologetic analysis and positive suggestions will enjoy this book. I simply cannot praise this book and Charles Murray enough. A MUST READ!

Except for the wrong opinion about (true) Progressivism, which rejects Democrats' (Liberal) Orwellian 1984 fascist cancel culture, Murray's thesis is correct.

About the author

Charles Murray is the Hayek Emeritus Scholar at the American Enterprise Institute. He first came to national attention in 1984 with the publication of Losing Ground, followed by the The Bell Curve in 1994 and Coming Apart in 2012. He lives with his wife in Burkittsville, Maryland.