Charles Murray and Richard Herrnstein coauthored "The Bell Curve,"

1994 年，

an extremely controversial book

查爾斯·莫里

which claims that on average,

和理察·赫恩斯坦

some races are smarter and more likely to succeed than others.

共同寫下了《鐘形曲線》，

Murray and Herrnstein also suggest

這是本非常有爭議的書，

that a lack of critical intelligence explains the prominence of violent crime

聲稱平均而言，

in poor African-American communities.

有些種族比較聰明， 也較容易成功。

But Charles Murray and Richard Herrnstein are not the only people who think this.

莫里和赫恩斯坦也暗指

In 2012,

智力明顯較低的情況 能解釋為什麼大部分的暴力犯罪

a writer, journalist and political commentator named John Derbyshire

發生在貧窮的非裔美籍社區。

wrote an article that was supposed to be a non-black version of the talk

查爾斯·莫里和理察·赫恩斯坦 不是唯一這樣想的人。

that many black parents feel they have to give their kids today:

2012 年，

advice on how to stay safe.

身兼作家、記者 和政治評論員的德比夏爾

In it, he offered suggestions such as:

寫篇文章給非黑人族群，

"Do not attend events likely to draw a lot of blacks,"

但許多黑人父母覺得 這也適用於他們的小孩：

"Stay out of heavily black neighborhoods"

保持安全的建議。

and "Do not act the Good Samaritan to blacks in distress."

文章中，他說例如：

And yet, in 2016, I invited John Derbyshire

「別參加可能吸引 一群黑人的活動。」

as well as Charles Murray

「離黑人多的社區遠一點。」

to speak at my school,

及「別對處在 急難之中的黑人太好心。」

knowing full well that I would be giving them a platform and attention

而 2016 年，我邀請德比夏爾

for ideas that I despised and rejected.

和查爾斯·莫里

But this is just a further evolution

來我的學校演講，

of a journey of uncomfortable learning throughout my life.

他們完全清楚，我會給他們舞台，

When I was 10 years old, my mother was diagnosed with schizophrenia,

讓他們說那些我鄙視 和我拒絕的想法。

a mental illness characterized by mood swings and paranoid delusions.

但這只是我人生中 不舒服學習的演變。

Throughout my life, my mother's rage would turn our small house

當我十歲時，我媽 被診斷思覺失調症，

into a minefield.

這是一種精神疾病， 特徵是情緒波動和偏執妄想。

Yet, though I feared her rage on a daily basis,

我人生中，媽媽的憤怒 會把我們的小屋

I also learned so much from her.

變成地雷區。

Our relationship was complicated and challenging,

儘管我對她每天的憤怒感到害怕，

and at the age of 14, it was decided that I needed to live apart from her.

我也從她那學到很多。

But over the years,

我們的關係複雜且有挑戰性，

I've come to appreciate some of the important lessons

我 14 歲時， 被判定必須和她分開住。

my mother taught me about life.

幾年後，我開始欣賞

She was the first person who spoke to me about learning from the other side.

我媽教我的那些 有關人生的重要課程。

And she, like me, was born and raised

她是第一個跟我說 要從反面學習的人，

in a family of committed liberal democrats.

她跟我一樣，出身在 一個自由民主的家庭裡。

Yet, she encouraged me to see the world and the issues our world faces

然而，她鼓勵我把世界 及世界上正面對的問題

as complex, controversial and ever-changing.

看作複雜、有爭議及不斷變動的。

One day, I came across the phrase "affirmative action"

有天，我在一本書中看到 「平權行動」這詞，

in a book I was reading.

當我問我媽這是什麼意思，

And when I asked her what the term meant,

她說了彷彿一小時

she spent what felt like an hour

給我一個完整及深刻的解釋，

giving me a thorough and thoughtful explanation

而這能讓小朋友理解。

that would make sense to a small child.

她甚至讓這題目聽起來

She even made the topic sound at least as interesting

至少和我的教授上課一樣有趣。

as any of my professors have.

她解釋許多原因， 為什麼不同政治觀點的人

She explained the many reasons why people of various political views

挑戰或支持平權運動，

challenge and support affirmative action,

她強調，雖然她很堅持自己的主張，

stressing that, while she strongly supported it herself,

但同時很重要的，是把這議題 看成一個長期的爭議、

it was important for me to view the issue as a controversial one

一個有疑慮的未來

with a long history,

及一系列複雜的因素。

a questionable future

儘管平權運動能增加弱勢族群 在精英教育機構的比例，

and a host of complicating factors.

她認為這也對不同族群、 來自富裕背景的努力人士不利。

While affirmative action can increase the presence of minorities

我媽希望我了解，

at elite educational institutions,

我不該總是只寫下不同意 或不喜歡的意見，

she felt that it could also disadvantage hardworking people of different races

因為人總能從不同觀點學到東西，

from more affluent backgrounds.

儘管這麼做可能很難。

My mom wanted me to understand

和我媽相處的時光，

that I should never just write off opinions

不是唯一造就我又令我 感到不舒服的過程。

that I disagreed with or disliked,

四年級時，她決定讓我讀私立學校，

because there was always something to learn from the perspectives of others,

如此我能得到最好的教育機會；

even when doing so might be difficult.

身為黑人學生，進入 白人為主的私立學校，

But life at home with my mom

我面對一些反映了種族 刻板印象的態度和行為。

was not the only aspect of my journey that has been formative and uncomfortable.

有很多我朋友的爸媽 才見到我幾分鐘，

In fourth grade, she decided that I should attend a private school

就假定我最擅長的是籃球，

in order to receive the best education possible.

這讓我很挫折，因為 種族因素使其他人

As a black student attending predominantly white private schools,

認為我喜愛閱讀、書寫 和演講難以想像。

I've encountered attitudes and behaviors that reflected racial stereotypes.

這種經驗激發我不眠不休的工作，

Several of my friends' parents assumed within minutes of meeting me

來推翻別人的成見。

that my best skill was playing basketball.

我媽甚至說，為了更加往前邁進，

And it really upset me to think that my race made it harder for them

我要有耐心、機警及行為極為端正。

to see me as a student who loved reading, writing and speaking.

為了證明我並非圈外人， 我要展現優雅和自信，

Experiences like this motivated me to work tirelessly

以及表達和傾聽的能力。

to disprove what I knew people had assumed.

只有這樣我的同儕才會認為 我和他們一樣夠格待在那裡。

My mother even said that, in order to put my best foot forward,

儘管經常感到種族刻板印象和不適，

I had to be patient, alert and excruciatingly well-mannered.

我在菁英私立學校裡 學到不同的觀點，

To prove that I belonged, I had to show poise and confidence,

而這非常有價值。

the ability to speak well and listen closely.

我的老師鼓勵我探索感興趣的事物、

Only then would my peers see that I deserved to be there

用新方式挑戰自我，

as much as they did.

並增進有興趣科目的知識。

Despite this racial stereotyping and the discomfort I often felt,

進大學是下一步。

the learning I gained from other aspects of being at an elite private school

我很開心能把思想動力和興趣 帶進思想界的下一階段，

were incredibly valuable.

我渴望參與和同儕及教授的討論，

I was encouraged by my teachers to explore my curiosity,

以及和外來的講者對談，

to challenge myself in new ways

去聽、去學、以及更深刻 了解自我和他人。

and to deepen my understanding of subjects that fascinated me the most.

然而當幸運遇見喜歡 做同樣事情的同儕和教授時，

And going to college was the next step.

我投入困難想法的渴望 也碰到了阻力。

I was excited to take my intellectual drive and interest in the world of ideas

為了準備好自己參與 真實世界的矛盾，

to the next level.

我加入一個團體， 他們邀請爭議講者進校園，

I was eager to engage in lively debate with peers and professors

但許多人強烈反對這個團體，

and with outside speakers;

而我遭受巨大阻力，

to listen, to learn and gain a deeper understanding of myself

那些從學生、教職員 及行政部門來的阻力。

and of others.

對許多人來說，很難了解

While I was fortunate to meet peers and professors

把爭議講者帶進校園的價值，

who were interested in doing the same thing,

因為他們可能造成傷害；

my desire to engage with difficult ideas was also met with resistance.

對我來說，我很失望 要面對人身攻擊，

To prepare myself to engage with controversy in the real world,

行政部門取消講者

I joined a group that brought controversial speakers to campus.

並聽聞那些被旁人扭曲的初衷。

But many people fiercely opposed this group,

我的工作也傷害很多人的感受，

and I received significant pushback

我知道的。

from students, faculty and my administration.

當然，沒人喜歡被冒犯，

For many, it was difficult to see

我絕對不喜歡聽到爭議講者

how bringing controversial speakers to campus could be valuable,

爭論女性主義已經變成 一場對男人的戰爭，

when they caused harm.

或是黑人比白人智商低的言論。

And it was disappointing to me facing personal attacks,

我也了解，

having my administration cancel speakers

有些人經歷過創傷經驗。

and hearing my intentions distorted by those around me.

對有些人來說，聽到冒犯性的觀點

My work also hurt the feelings of many,

就像重新經歷創傷， 那些他們努力克服的創傷。

and I understood that.

許多人爭論給這些人 舞台是弊大於利，

Of course, no one likes being offended,

每當我聽到這個觀點

and I certainly don't like hearing controversial speakers

就覺得很反胃。

argue that feminism has become a war against men

然而，屏除反對觀點在外 並不會讓它消失，

or that blacks have lower IQs than whites.

因為仍有上百萬人認同。

I also understand

為了理解社會邁向進步的潛能，

that some people have experienced traumatic experiences in their lives.

我們要了解反對的力量。

And for some, listening to offensive views

藉由探討有爭議和有攻擊性的想法，

can be like reliving the very traumas that they've worked so hard to overcome.

我相信我們能找到共同點，

Many argue that by giving these people a platform,

除了演講者本身，

you're doing more harm than good,

也包括被他們吸引 或灌輸觀念的觀眾。

and I'm reminded of this every time I listen to these points of view

藉由參與，我相信我們能

and feel my stomach turn.

更加且更深入的了解

Yet, tuning out opposing viewpoints doesn't make them go away,

各自的想法，

because millions of people agree with them.

以及維持解決問題的能力，

In order to understand the potential of society

我們不能解決問題， 如果不和彼此溝通

to progress forward,

又不努力成為好聽眾。

we need to understand the counterforces.

但在我宣布

By engaging with controversial and offensive ideas,

德比夏爾要來校園演講不久，

I believe that we can find common ground,

學生在社交媒體上反彈，

if not with the speakers themselves,

事實上，抵抗潮非常強烈，

then with the audiences they may attract or indoctrinate.

我大學校長因此取消邀請。

Through engaging, I believe that we may reach a better understanding,

對此我很失望，因為我發現，

a deeper understanding,

在我們未來雇主的辦公環境中，

of our own beliefs

我的同儕或我都無法讓 與校長持有相同意見的人沉默。

and preserve the ability to solve problems,

當我看看大學校園 發生了什麼事時，

which we can't do if we don't talk to each other

我看到憤怒，

and make an effort to be good listeners.

且領受到了，

But soon after I announced

但我希望跟大家說， 不舒服是值得的，

that John Derbyshire would be speaking on campus,

聆聽是值得的，

student backlash erupted on social media.

而因為如此，我們變得 更堅強而非軟弱。

The tide of resistance, in fact, was so intense,

當我思考讓自己不舒服的學習經驗

that my college president rescinded the invitation.

並反思時，

I was deeply disappointed by this because, as I saw it,

我發現很難改變 我所屬知識社群的固有價值觀。

there would be nothing that any of my peers or I could do

但我感到一點希望，

to silence someone who agreed with him

當我想起自己的個人互動，

in the office environment of our future employers.

那些支持我工作的學生、

I look out at what's happening on college campuses,

那些感到受到挑戰的人 和那些反對者。

and I see the anger.

我了解到

And I get it.

改變一個團體的價值觀很難，

But what I wish I could tell people is that it's worth the discomfort,

但我們可以從個人互動中獲得很多。

it's worth listening,

儘管我沒辦法和德比夏爾對談——

and that we're stronger, not weaker, because of it.

因為校長取消邀請——

When I think about my experiences with uncomfortable learning,

我還是和查爾斯·莫里 在演講前共進晚餐。

and I reflect upon them,

我知道對話很困難，

I've found that it's been very difficult to change the values

我也不期待會很愉快，

of the intellectual community that I've been a part of.

但那晚很平順，且我確實 更了解他的論點。

But I do feel a sense of hope

我發現他和我一樣， 相信能建造一個更公正的社會，

when I think about the individual interactions that I've been able to have

關鍵是，他認知的正義

with students who both support the work that I'm doing

和我的非常不同；

and who feel challenged by it and who do not support it.

他想了解這議題的方式、

What I've found is that,

他想解決不平等議題的方式，

while it can be difficult to change the values of a community,

也和我的不同。

we can gain a lot from individual interactions.

我發現他對於像福利 和平權運動議題的認識

While I didn't get to engage with John Derbyshire

與他對自由主義 和保守信仰的理解緊密相連，

due to my president's disinvitation,

而它們或多或少存在社會裡。

I was able to have dinner with Charles Murray before his talk.

雖然他振振有詞地解釋他的觀點，

I knew the conversation would be difficult.

我依然沒被說服，

And I didn't expect it to be pleasant.

但對談後我確實有更深入的理解。

But it was cordial, and I did gain a deeper understanding of his arguments.

我相信，

I found that he, like me, believed in creating a more just society.

要在逆境中得到成長，

The thing is, his understanding of what justice entailed

我們需要真正的投入，

was very different from my own.

去更深入了解人性。

The way in which he wanted to understand the issue,

我想看到的世界是有更多領導者

the way in which he wanted to approach the issue of inequality

熟悉那些他們強烈反對的觀點，

also differed from my own.

如此他們能了解 每個人代表的細微差異。

And I found that his understanding of issues like welfare

我認為這是不斷學習的過程，

and affirmative action

且我有信心能不斷提升其價值，

was tied and deeply rooted

如果我一直嘗試 去建立同理心及理解他人，

in his understanding of various libertarian and conservative beliefs,

藉由探究那些不熟悉的觀點。

what diminishes and increases their presence in our society.

謝謝。

While he expressed his viewpoints eloquently,

（鼓掌）

I remained thoroughly unconvinced.

But I did walk away with a deeper understanding.

It's my belief

that to achieve progress in the face of adversity,

we need a genuine commitment

to gaining a deeper understanding of humanity.

I'd like to see a world with more leaders

who are familiar with the depths of the views

of those they deeply disagree with,

so that they can understand the nuances of everyone they're representing.

I see this as an ongoing process involving constant learning,

and I'm confident that I'll be able to add value down the line

if I continue building empathy and understanding

through engaging with unfamiliar perspectives.

Thank you.

(Applause)