Tools of Knowledge

For John, BLUF:  Some would throw the baby out with the bathwater.  Nothing to see here; just move along.

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Scholars claim that statistics 'serve white racial interests'

From Campus Reform, by Reporter Toni Airaksinen, 11 January 2018, 5:19 am ET.

Here is the lede plus one:

Three British professors recently claimed that statistical analyses have been weaponized to “serve white racial interests” within academia and beyond.

Led by David Gillborn, a professor at the University of Birmingham, the professors argue that math serves white interests because it can “frequently encode racist perspectives beneath the facade of supposed quantitative objectivity.”

“Contrary to popular belief, and the assertions of many quantitative researchers, numbers are neither objective nor color-blind,” Gillborn and his team assert in their article for the journal Race, Ethnicity, and Education.

To address the racism numbers reinforce, the professors advocate for the adoption of “QuantCrit”—a portmanteau for “quantitative analysis” and “critical race theory.” Quantcrit, they say, has five key tenets, including that “numbers are not neutral.”

As Lord Wellington said:  "Lies, damn lies and statistics."

Mark Twain:  "Figures don't lie. but liars do figure."

Statistics is a powerful tool, but when people are not hoonest in their statistical collection or analysis it becomes another tool for misleading others.  To blame statistics and to try and recreate the tool with a new name is itself dishonest.  Statistics help us understand our world.  For example, while Blacks make up and 13.5% of the American population. they are 8.5% of the residents of Lowell.  Is there something to be learned there?  during COVID, after an initial spike the Black population of Lowell had a lower infection rate.  What was to be learned from that?

Statistics should be embraced, after being checked. and used to help elevate every discourse.

Hat tip to the InstaPundit.

Regards  —  Cliff