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White Lies & Statistics: How Bad Stats are a tool of White Power

In Search of Black Power

English - May 25, 2022 16:00 - 37 minutes - 25.6 MB - ★★★★★ - 29 ratings
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There is an old saying that there are three types of lies: lies, damned lies, and statistics. This statement is especially true when these statistics are applied to Black/African people. 

While claiming to be "objective", data and statistics are often used to obscure power relations and to reflect or shape public opinion around Black folks. We discuss how seemly neutral statistics, especially around issues of education, falsely propagate negative stereotypes around the Black community, including "there are more Black folk in jail than in college". 

This episode is guided by the work of Howard University professor Ivory Toldson and his book "No B.S. (Bad Stats): Black People Need People Who Believe in Black People Enough Not to Believe Every Bad Thing They Hear about Black People."

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In Search of Black Power is a Black-owned internet show and podcast. This podcast is sponsored and produced by Leaders of a Beautiful Struggle (LBS).

The internet show is published in collaboration with Black Power Media (BPM).