AWARENESS LEVELS ON CLASS
“equal under law is incomplete. rich vs poor is the real filter.”
The Lesson
Four levels of awareness on group dynamics: (1) Racist. Believing one group is inherently better (mostly extinct). (2) American. Equal under law, up to you to succeed (incomplete because outcomes differ). (3) Woke. Certain groups are inherently biased (addresses inequality but creates new divisions). (4) Highest. The real division is rich vs poor, attractive vs less attractive. Dave Chappelle notes: once you're rich, race disappears as a factor. The class filter explains more than the race filter. Know which level you're operating at.
Real-World Example
A founder obsesses over diversity metrics. Level 2 thinking: 'We treat everyone equally.' Level 3: 'We need quotas to fix bias.' Level 4: 'The real issue is that we only hire from expensive schools, which filters for wealth, not talent.' Addressing class (paid internships, non-traditional backgrounds) might move the needle more than demographic quotas.
Watch Scott explain this lesson
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