One of the oldest lessons of social psychology is this: contact decreases prejudice. It seems that whatever you want to call it, for lack of a better word, "race consciousness" espouses the opposite principle which I find bizarre and disturbing. I thought the article was good, important to make the distinction. I wouldn't focus on evidence of less discrimination now as compared to the 1970s though as a way of detracting from the "race consciousness" position. I would focus, as the article notes, on the inherent racism in "race consciousness" ie the emphasis on essentialism, ethnocentricism, and segregation as a means to be "anti-racist" are seriously backwards, ridiculous, and offensive ideas to a hardcore, liberal progressive (albeit, historically) like myself. Hope that helps. Again, I thought the article was good.
A better anti-racism will help, but not much. Because the problem isn't racism. That's the left's Big Lie. The factors driving wide racial inequality are chiefly cultural. This culture problem could be divided into two categories: 1) Various anti-social, anti-societal attitudes and behaviors among poor blacks. 2) The progressive elites who enable those attitudes and behaviors in every conceivable way. They then capitalize on the dysfunction they helped created by blaming whites. Mr. Hughes knows all this perfectly well, I'm sure. I admire his work and there's certainly a place for his calm, measured reasonableness. But what's really needed is a fire and brimstone culture war against both the race-mongering progressive elites and the nihilistic subculture of poor blacks. The former should be given no moral credence whatsoever. They are socially destructive. On the latter front, a tough-minded grassroots leadership, stoking a cultural revolution of self-empowerment, is the only answer. I keep waiting for that leadership to emerge.
A Better Anti-Racism
One of the oldest lessons of social psychology is this: contact decreases prejudice. It seems that whatever you want to call it, for lack of a better word, "race consciousness" espouses the opposite principle which I find bizarre and disturbing. I thought the article was good, important to make the distinction. I wouldn't focus on evidence of less discrimination now as compared to the 1970s though as a way of detracting from the "race consciousness" position. I would focus, as the article notes, on the inherent racism in "race consciousness" ie the emphasis on essentialism, ethnocentricism, and segregation as a means to be "anti-racist" are seriously backwards, ridiculous, and offensive ideas to a hardcore, liberal progressive (albeit, historically) like myself. Hope that helps. Again, I thought the article was good.
A better anti-racism will help, but not much. Because the problem isn't racism. That's the left's Big Lie. The factors driving wide racial inequality are chiefly cultural. This culture problem could be divided into two categories: 1) Various anti-social, anti-societal attitudes and behaviors among poor blacks. 2) The progressive elites who enable those attitudes and behaviors in every conceivable way. They then capitalize on the dysfunction they helped created by blaming whites. Mr. Hughes knows all this perfectly well, I'm sure. I admire his work and there's certainly a place for his calm, measured reasonableness. But what's really needed is a fire and brimstone culture war against both the race-mongering progressive elites and the nihilistic subculture of poor blacks. The former should be given no moral credence whatsoever. They are socially destructive. On the latter front, a tough-minded grassroots leadership, stoking a cultural revolution of self-empowerment, is the only answer. I keep waiting for that leadership to emerge.
Perfect stated and beautifully explained.
Well written, thank you.