70 years after Gunnar Myrdal's An American Dilemma, it's time to let go of the idea that America's morality will overcome its history of discrimination.
Many contemporary foundations would want to tell you that, yes, unlike their predecessors, they would. But is that right?
This isn't America's first time seeing an infusion of personal wealth getting poured into research, but the last time around, it was done more democratically.
Once, it was elite donors who courted the president. Today, it's precisely the reverse.
For the foundations that have pledged millions to resuscitate Detroit, does the funding commit them to a long-term engagement or is it a one-time rescue mission?