John McWhorter: Is America a failed experiment?

As America marks its 250th year, linguist, cultural critic, and commentator John McWhorter reflects on whether the United States has failed to live up to its ideals as a nation – unable to foster true equality and opportunity for its citizens. Or, whether America’s history of missteps and progress alike paints a more complex picture.

McWhorter is an associate professor of linguistics at Columbia University and delivered this lecture at Cornell University as part of the College of Arts and Sciences' America250 series.

Learn more about the America250 series: https://democracy.cornell.edu/democracy-news-and-events