Coleman John

Coleman Hughes, born February 25, 1996, is an American writer, podcast host, and academic. He has held fellowships at the Manhattan Institute for Policy Research and served as a contributing editor for City Journal. Hughes hosts the podcast "Conversations with Coleman" and is a visiting professor at the University of Austin.

His background includes African-American and Puerto Rican heritage, growing up in Montclair, New Jersey. After attending Newark Academy and the Juilliard School, he earned a B.A. in philosophy from Columbia University in 2020. Hughes has contributed to various publications, including The Spectator, The New York Times, and Quillette. He gained public attention for his testimony against reparations for slavery in 2019, advocating for solutions to contemporary issues like mass incarceration. His 2023 TED Talk, which defended racial color blindness, faced internal opposition before its release, leading to a moderated debate format.

Hughes is a prominent advocate for a colorblind approach to race, which he defines not as ignoring race, but as consciously disregarding it as a basis for differential treatment or public policy. This philosophy is articulated in his 2024 book, "The End of Race Politics: Arguments for a Colorblind America." He has stated that he formerly subscribed to the premise of Black Lives Matter, believing that racist police officers were killing unarmed Black individuals. However, he now contends that racial bias in fatal shootings does not hold up under scrutiny when other factors are considered, citing research from scholars like Roland G. Fryer Jr. and Sendhil Mullainathan. Hughes has also expressed skepticism about parallels drawn between the Israeli-Palestinian conflict and historical struggles like Jim Crow or apartheid, suggesting that such comparisons oversimplify complex histories.

Hughes has actively engaged in public discourse on race, politics, and social issues. He testified before a U.S. House Judiciary subcommittee in 2019, arguing that reparations for slavery would further divide the country and proposing alternative approaches. He has participated in debates, including one on iHeartRadio's Munk Debates regarding slavery reparations. His podcast, "Conversations with Coleman," features discussions on a range of topics. Hughes has been recognized for his contributions to public commentary, with writers like Megan McArdle and Nick Gillespie highlighting his insightful analysis. He was also included in the Forbes 30-under-30 list for 2021 in the Media category.

Beyond his academic and public commentary work, Coleman Hughes has demonstrated artistic inclinations. He began studying violin at a young age and is also a hobbyist rapper, releasing music under the moniker COLDXMAN. In 2021 and 2022, he released several rap singles and a music video for a track titled "Blasphemy." Hughes also possesses a musical talent for jazz trombone, performing with a Charles Mingus tribute band that played at the Jazz Standard in New York City prior to its closure in late 2020.

“If we were to pay reparations today, we would only divide the country further, making it harder to build the political coalitions required to solve the problems facing Black people today.”

“one-third of Black Americans who poll against reparations into victims without their consent.”

“racist cops are killing unarmed Black people”

“there was clearly reasonable doubt on whether Chauvin caused Floyd's death”