The Best and the Brightest by David Halberstam

But we all know that language and narratives matter in how we see the world.

Of course, it’s easier to change language than it is to change reality. Halberstam’s use of the title was intended to be ironic, but the alliterative shorthand stuck and has become a crutch phrase. One of my favorite journalists, David Halberstam, had helped the phrase enter our vernacular when he published his book, “ The Best and Brightest” about the hot-shot business and academic leaders who counseled President John F. (Photo illustration: Naka Nathaniel/2023)

The “best and brightest” phrase has contributed to the issue of ohana versus individualism. I told the Vibrant Hawaii fellows that I’ve always thought the label “the best and the brightest” was a terrible label for “high achievers.” They helpfully included conversation starters that can help parents and teachers counseling students finishing high school and college. Hopefully, it will help kickstart the needed change. Those fellows have written an article for Civil Beat’s Community Voices section and it will run later this week. She told me that the fellows at her nonprofit organization had been working on changing the narrative that “the best and the brightest were destined to leave Hawaii.” In that process, I had my mindset changed and began having a series of discussions about how those of us who graduated in the last several decades should revamp the counsel and support we give to young people here in Hawaii who have just weathered the difficulties of the pandemic.Īs I was having these conversations, I heard a profound idea from Janice Ikeda, executive director of Vibrant Hawaii. I’ve been very interested in this issue since I was drawn into one of these discussions this spring.

The Best and the Brightest by David Halberstam