Reflections on “Acting White”

 

There is a well-documented phenomenon of high-achieving students in inner-city schools being accused of “acting white”, a crippling, pervasive notion that “authentic” black identity requires a rejection of academics and of a broader constellation of positive behaviors as “white.”  The wokerati deny this is an actual phenomenon and that in any case, it would be the canonical sin of “blaming the victim” to notice it even if true. There is also the pseudo-empirical response that this is no different from white nerds being ostracized by cooler but academically average white kids.  Of course, white nerds are not accused of being a traitor to their community and their race.

The always thought-provoking John McWhorter recently wrote about the “acting white” problem and Stuart Buck’s book Acting White (2010) in which Buck describes in detail the way in which heavy-handed school desegregation plans thrust black kids into a foreign and often overtly hostile environment.  That brought about the “acting white” notion as a reaction.  McWhorter then raised the hard question:  What can be done about adverse behavior patterns among blacks that evolved in response to tangible, real forms of racism now that those external racist pressures are long gone? 

Chasing an invisible new contrived form of racism as the solution is clearly not the answer and unquestionably makes it worse. The genuine residual damage from racial injustice is now situated in a place and manner that neither legislation nor contrived white good intentions can reach. 

Rather than start with a clear-headed assessment, we are instead living through a period of insanity in which white people are actually espousing the astonishingly condescending and overtly racist belief that patterns of self-destructive, self-defeating, antisocial behavior comprise “authentic” black culture while also declaring that virtually all of the habits and dispositions that foster academic, financial and personal success should remain unique to white people. 

Having then constructed a hopeless, eternally unjust, and very weird new ideational apartheid, the new woke religion compels white people to escape and transcend their whiteness as a spiritual duty.  In so doing, they become beings free of all cultural, historical, and social ties with their inherent evil.  In stark contrast, black people are obligated to remain in their sanctified victim status–they cannot be woke and cannot join white people on this new higher plane of moral and mental existence because they never committed the original sin of racism and are thus ineligible for redemption and enlightenment.  In the new openly racist “antiracist” religion, white people can transcend their whiteness into an enlightened state (and keep their lifestyles intact) but black people stay in victimhood forever.

My father was a DOJ attorney in the DOJ Civil Rights Division in the 1960s.  For a good part of my teen years, he was traveling back roads in rural Tennessee and Mississippi documenting details and conducting interviews for the federal actions that he and others brought.  He told me about all the alternative plans and suggestions that were rejected as a matter of law and policy—like integrating early grades first or various voluntary or other gradualist plans.  As a matter of law, most of that was not possible even though the social dynamics and likelihood of adverse outcomes were well understood.  For example, everybody knew that there was a threshold percent threshold of new black students that once crossed would trigger white flight.  That threshold number varied by community but it was always there. 

And everybody hated busing. Invariably poor whites, not the children of white doctors and lawyers wound up on the bus. [As an aside, I always thought the notion that black kids in Boston would be academically uplifted by being in class with the kinds of kids I knew from Southie (instead of the offspring of the Harvard faculty) was vaguely insulting.] 

But the law was the law.  And whatever the price, segregation had to go.  And even with 20-20 hindsight, I don’t see many viable alternative solutions to the problem as it existed and was understood at that time. It was time to end the old order.

It always irritates me when I hear vapid statements about the alleged lingering effects of slavery and Jim Crow when the problems under discussion as usually more likely to be the aftereffects of badly conceived and executed policies intended to help.  It also irritates me because that formulation of the problem is invariably used to justify a stupid solution.

I don’t have all the answers but I do know that this is one area where we don’t need to join the rich woke fantasy life that will only make things worse while making us stupid. We need ruthless honesty in equal measure with compassion and patriotic common cause for our mutual well-being.  Maybe the conspicuous sheer stupidity and immediate harm of wokitude will inadvertently hasten that needed outcome.  It is time.

 

 

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  1. Bob Thompson Member
    Bob Thompson
    @BobThompson

    Old Bathos:

    What can be done about adverse behavior patterns among blacks that evolved in response to tangible, real forms of racism now that those external racist pressures are long gone?

    Chasing an invisible new contrived form of racism as the solution is clearly not the answer and unquestionably makes it worse. The genuine residual damage from racial injustice is now situated in a place and manner that neither legislation nor contrived white good intentions can reach.

    Is what we are seeing a contrived disruption fostered by Marxists, the Black Lives Matter movement for example, to further now obvious Communist efforts to destroy the existent dominant American culture which has thrived under the concepts embodied in our republican form of governing free individuals?  This/our system is not conducive to collectivism and so must necessarily be destroyed. Destruction from within always works best.

    A more recent move for the same purpose was the Biden Administration’s Department of Defense directive to address political extremism within the military ranks. This type of move was never required for the military even in the 1960’s,

    • #1
  2. CarolJoy, Not So Easy To Kill Coolidge
    CarolJoy, Not So Easy To Kill
    @CarolJoy

    There probably is already such a corollary but here’s mine: inside every silver lining is a dark dark cloud.

    The silver lining of ending America’s apartheid policies was having policies that would further the employment of people of color into jobs they were qualified for. No longer would a black woman who held a master’s in music end up doing janitorial work.

    But the underbelly of many programs was such as you describe. As mentioned, when a certain percentage of African American kids ended up in white schools in a white neighborhood, white flight was the end result.

    I was amazed to read in the SF Chronicle  circa 2002 or so that the city of San Francisco was finally ending the busing program.

    Apparently these kids from an inner city ghetto area were spending 55 to 75 minutes each way sitting on a bus to get to a school in a better school district.

    Imagine all the pollutants those kids breathed, as buses for school kids are not air conditioned. Imagine all the time spent sitting in traffic, when other kids were outside playing around. Or goofing around in their homes.

    It is hard to imagine spending so much of one’s childhood sitting on a school bus.

     

    • #2
  3. Bob Thompson Member
    Bob Thompson
    @BobThompson

    CarolJoy, Not So Easy To Kill (View Comment):

    There probably is already such a corollary but here’s mine: inside every silver lining is a dark dark cloud.

    The silver lining of ending America’s apartheid policies was having policies that would further the employment of people of color into jobs they were qualified for. No longer would a black woman who held a master’s in music end up doing janitorial work.

    But the underbelly of many programs was such as you describe. As mentioned, when a certain percentage of African American kids ended up in white schools in a white neighborhood, white flight was the end result.

    I was amazed to read in the SF Chronicle circa 2002 or so that the city of San Francisco was finally ending the busing program.

    Apparently these kids from an inner city ghetto area were spending 55 to 75 minutes each way sitting on a bus to get to a school in a better school district.

    Imagine all the pollutants those kids breathed, as buses for school kids are not air conditioned. Imagine all the time spent sitting in traffic, when other kids were outside playing around. Or goofing around in their homes.

    It is hard to imagine spending so much of one’s childhood sitting on a school bus.

     

    You rightly describe the fact that there is still a problem, but it is not the same as existed previously under the apartheid policies nor is it the one being forced fed through Marxist propaganda today. It is the problem created mainly by Democrat urban policies in place for the last half-century designed to keep black votes in the Democrat column. 

    • #3
  4. Hoyacon Member
    Hoyacon
    @Hoyacon

    Rather than start with a clear-headed assessment, we are instead living through a period of insanity in which white people are actually espousing the astonishingly condescending and overtly racist belief that patterns of self-destructive, self-defeating, antisocial behavior comprise “authentic” black culture while also declaring that virtually all of the habits and dispositions that foster academic, financial and personal success should remain unique to white people.

    So well said.

    But then I’m from the generation where “acting white” meant Brooks Brothers cotton shirts, madras shorts, and Topsiders.

    • #4
  5. Gumby Mark (R-Meth Lab of Democracy) Coolidge
    Gumby Mark (R-Meth Lab of Democracy)
    @GumbyMark

    Excellent post.  I don’t know the answers either but the wrong answer is to pretend everything is still as it was in 1950. 

    • #5
  6. Jerry Giordano (Arizona Patrio… Member
    Jerry Giordano (Arizona Patrio…
    @ArizonaPatriot

    Interesting post, OB.  I am skeptical of some of the claims apparently made by McWhorter and Buck.  I know McWhorter, and he’s a pretty sensible fellow.  I don’t know Buck.

    Nevertheless, it seems to me that their argument, as you summarize it, is condescending to black folks.  Why are they absolved of any responsibility, either for a cultural pathology like rejecting academic achievement as “acting white,” or for the whole Wokeist/Critical Race Theory nonsense?  Why are these things blamed on whitey?

    To address these specific portions of the OP (emphasis added):

    Old Bathos:

    The always thought-provoking John McWhorter recently wrote about the “acting white” problem and Stuart Buck’s book Acting White (2010) in which Buck describes in detail the way in which heavy-handed school desegregation plans thrust black kids into a foreign and often overtly hostile environment.  That brought about the “acting white” notion as a reaction.  McWhorter then raised the hard question:  What can be done about adverse behavior patterns among blacks that evolved in response to tangible, real forms of racism now that those external racist pressures are long gone? 

    Chasing an invisible new contrived form of racism as the solution is clearly not the answer and unquestionably makes it worse. The genuine residual damage from racial injustice is now situated in a place and manner that neither legislation nor contrived white good intentions can reach. 

    Is there any empirical evidence presented, by McWhorter or Buck, to support their claim that this counterproductive aspect of black cultural — i.e. rejection of academic achievement as “acting white” — actually was a response to white racism?  This seems implausible to me.  The argument is basically: “racist white people resisted school desegregation because they didn’t think that black people should be educated, or were capable of being educated, and as a result, black people decided to prove them right by not trying and ridiculing anyone who tried.”

    Maybe that’s true, but maybe not.

    [Cont’d]

     

     

    • #6
  7. Jerry Giordano (Arizona Patrio… Member
    Jerry Giordano (Arizona Patrio…
    @ArizonaPatriot

    Old Bathos: Rather than start with a clear-headed assessment, we are instead living through a period of insanity in which white people are actually espousing the astonishingly condescending and overtly racist belief that patterns of self-destructive, self-defeating, antisocial behavior comprise “authentic” black culture while also declaring that virtually all of the habits and dispositions that foster academic, financial and personal success should remain unique to white people. 

    OB, my impression is that this is your argument, not McWhorter’s.  In any event, why is whitey to blame for Critical Race Theory?  I’m not a great expert on CRT, but my recollection is that the founding scholars — if they deserve that title — included folks like Derrick Bell, Angela Davis, and Kimberle Crenshaw.  These three are black.  I think that these are the three most prominent, along with a fellow named Richard Delgado.

    BLM was founded by three black women, I think.  Ibram X. Kendi is probably the most noteworthy current race-hustler, and he is black, though admittedly the white Robin DiAngelo is giving him a run for his money (actually, for other people’s money).

    Black Liberation Theology was largely advanced by black folks, from James H. Cone to Jeremiah Wright.

    I don’t want to come across as blaming these bad ideas exclusively on black folks.  I think that both black and white folks were involved, probably with some others, and that these bad ideas are held by people of many races.

    What I question is the assertion that the current insanity is exclusively the fault of white folks, which I think is suggested by the portion of the OP quoted above.

    If anything, I hypothesize that the current Wokeist nonsense, on issues of both race and sex, largely resulted from the admission of significant numbers of incompetent black and female professors into the academy, as part of so-called “affirmative action,” and the ensuing cowardice on the part of competent academics who did not question their deficient work for fear of being accused of racism or sexism.

    • #7
  8. Bob Thompson Member
    Bob Thompson
    @BobThompson

    Jerry Giordano (Arizona Patrio… (View Comment):

    I don’t want to come across as blaming these bad ideas exclusively on black folks.  I think that both black and white folks were involved, probably with some others, and that these bad ideas are held by people of many races.

    I know some of these names who are avowed Marxists, some I don’t know. The issue here as I see it is political ideology and they try to make it into a racial or diversity issue. America has a history of being the focus of the last great surge of slavery, a big negative point, and being the most open major world leader nation in dealing equitably with racial diversity. America should be receiving great praise for its achievements in these areas. The argument being presented is very faulty in its premises.

    As @arizonapatriot noted the view that seeking career or education excellence is “acting white” is belied by the performance and achievements of Asians in America.

    • #8
  9. kedavis Coolidge
    kedavis
    @kedavis

    Bob Thompson (View Comment):
    As @arizonapatriot noted the view that seeking career or education excellence is “acting white” is belied by the performance and achievements of Asians in America.

    The race hustlers would just say that’s because the Asians got suckered in, but THEY won’t!

    • #9
  10. Gumby Mark (R-Meth Lab of Democracy) Coolidge
    Gumby Mark (R-Meth Lab of Democracy)
    @GumbyMark

    Bob Thompson (View Comment):

    Jerry Giordano (Arizona Patrio… (View Comment):

    I don’t want to come across as blaming these bad ideas exclusively on black folks. I think that both black and white folks were involved, probably with some others, and that these bad ideas are held by people of many races.

    I know some of these names who are avowed Marxists, some I don’t know. The issue here as I see it is political ideology and they try to make it into a racial or diversity issue. America has a history of being the focus of the last great surge of slavery, a big negative point, and being the most open major world leader nation in dealing equitably with racial diversity. America should be receiving great praise for its achievements in these areas. The argument being presented is very faulty in its premises.

    As @ arizonapatriot noted the view that seeking career or education excellence is “acting white” is belied by the performance and achievements of Asians in America.

    If you look at Asian educational performance on metrics like SATs or admission to STEM high schools, the gap between them and white, blacks and hispanics is growing.  It might behoove all of them to “act more Asian”.

    • #10
  11. kedavis Coolidge
    kedavis
    @kedavis

    Gumby Mark (R-Meth Lab of Demo… (View Comment):

    Bob Thompson (View Comment):

    Jerry Giordano (Arizona Patrio… (View Comment):

    I don’t want to come across as blaming these bad ideas exclusively on black folks. I think that both black and white folks were involved, probably with some others, and that these bad ideas are held by people of many races.

    I know some of these names who are avowed Marxists, some I don’t know. The issue here as I see it is political ideology and they try to make it into a racial or diversity issue. America has a history of being the focus of the last great surge of slavery, a big negative point, and being the most open major world leader nation in dealing equitably with racial diversity. America should be receiving great praise for its achievements in these areas. The argument being presented is very faulty in its premises.

    As @ arizonapatriot noted the view that seeking career or education excellence is “acting white” is belied by the performance and achievements of Asians in America.

    If you look at Asian educational performance on metrics like SATs or admission to STEM high schools, the gap between them and white, blacks and hispanics is growing. It might behoove all of them to “act more Asian”.

    Whites used to “act more Asian” but with ipods and stuff now it’s getting to be “acting more black.”

    • #11
  12. Bob Thompson Member
    Bob Thompson
    @BobThompson

    kedavis (View Comment):

    Gumby Mark (R-Meth Lab of Demo… (View Comment):

    Bob Thompson (View Comment):

    Jerry Giordano (Arizona Patrio… (View Comment):

    I don’t want to come across as blaming these bad ideas exclusively on black folks. I think that both black and white folks were involved, probably with some others, and that these bad ideas are held by people of many races.

    I know some of these names who are avowed Marxists, some I don’t know. The issue here as I see it is political ideology and they try to make it into a racial or diversity issue. America has a history of being the focus of the last great surge of slavery, a big negative point, and being the most open major world leader nation in dealing equitably with racial diversity. America should be receiving great praise for its achievements in these areas. The argument being presented is very faulty in its premises.

    As @ arizonapatriot noted the view that seeking career or education excellence is “acting white” is belied by the performance and achievements of Asians in America.

    If you look at Asian educational performance on metrics like SATs or admission to STEM high schools, the gap between them and white, blacks and hispanics is growing. It might behoove all of them to “act more Asian”.

    Whites used to “act more Asian” but with ipods and stuff now it’s getting to be “acting more black.”

    You will need to give me some clues about what you are referencing since this language has no meaning for me.

    • #12
  13. Old Bathos Member
    Old Bathos
    @OldBathos

    Jerry Giordano (Arizona Patrio… (View Comment):

    Interesting post, OB. I am skeptical of some of the claims apparently made by McWhorter and Buck. I know McWhorter, and he’s a pretty sensible fellow. I don’t know Buck.

    Nevertheless, it seems to me that their argument, as you summarize it, is condescending to black folks. Why are they absolved of any responsibility, either for a cultural pathology like rejecting academic achievement as “acting white,” or for the whole Wokeist/Critical Race Theory nonsense? Why are these things blamed on whitey?

    To address these specific portions of the OP (emphasis added):

    Old Bathos:

    The always thought-provoking John McWhorter recently wrote about the “acting white” problem and Stuart Buck’s book Acting White (2010) in which Buck describes in detail the way in which heavy-handed school desegregation plans thrust black kids into a foreign and often overtly hostile environment. That brought about the “acting white” notion as a reaction. McWhorter then raised the hard question: What can be done about adverse behavior patterns among blacks that evolved in response to tangible, real forms of racism now that those external racist pressures are long gone?

    Chasing an invisible new contrived form of racism as the solution is clearly not the answer and unquestionably makes it worse. The genuine residual damage from racial injustice is now situated in a place and manner that neither legislation nor contrived white good intentions can reach.

    Is there any empirical evidence presented, by McWhorter or Buck, to support their claim that this counterproductive aspect of black cultural — i.e. rejection of academic achievement as “acting white” — actually was a response to white racism? This seems implausible to me. The argument is basically: “racist white people resisted school desegregation because they didn’t think that black people should be educated, or were capable of being educated, and as a result, black people decided to prove them right by not trying and ridiculing anyone who tried.”

    Maybe that’s true, but maybe not.

    [Cont’d]

    I have only read summaries of Buck’s book.  Stephen Frye at Harvard also went into the history of the phenomenon. The difficulty of adjusting and the prospect of failure in a strange system prompted this outlook as a defense. It is not an excuse but not an implausible or unexpected outcome. I knew a guy who was one of about 90 black freshmen at Duke in 1968, the school’s first foray into affirmative action admissions. At the end of the first semester all but 12 were flunking out. Some stressed out and tried hard to  the bitter end. Some gave up and partied. Many were radicalized—they seized the admin building. To be a good student at a segregated black high school and then get thrown in with high achievers from elite programs in classes pitched to those advanced students is a recipe for failure, frustration and resentment. 

    • #13
  14. Stina Inactive
    Stina
    @CM

    Bob Thompson (View Comment):
    You will need to give me some clues about what you are referencing since this language has no meaning for me.

    White culture is denigrated in America and most of youth culture is some variation of black culture. The most prominent is music and dance culture, most accessible through music streaming and easily portable streaming devices.

    • #14
  15. Hang On Member
    Hang On
    @HangOn

    The city I grew up in may be atypical in that there have always been predominately African-American neighborhoods interspersed around town where the residents owned their own homes. At the same time the post WW2 predominantly white neighborhoods had African Americans living there. I never went to a segregated school (started in 1960) though predominantly white with kids from one of the black neighborhoods in my school area. The last year of high school they took all the black kids from the traditionally black high school, divided them up and bused them to the other three high schools. It didn’t go so well. Fights. Fires almost daily. A couple of knifings. There were also two school presidents based on race. It took school administration three attempts to shove that one down the student’s throats. The thing was where did Asian kids fit in with the  segregated brave new world the administration had created? Not an academic question as the white president was of Chinese heritage the year after I graduated.

    Oh, I grew up in the south.

    • #15
  16. kedavis Coolidge
    kedavis
    @kedavis

    Bob Thompson (View Comment):

    kedavis (View Comment):

    Gumby Mark (R-Meth Lab of Demo… (View Comment):

    Bob Thompson (View Comment):

    Jerry Giordano (Arizona Patrio… (View Comment):

    I don’t want to come across as blaming these bad ideas exclusively on black folks. I think that both black and white folks were involved, probably with some others, and that these bad ideas are held by people of many races.

    I know some of these names who are avowed Marxists, some I don’t know. The issue here as I see it is political ideology and they try to make it into a racial or diversity issue. America has a history of being the focus of the last great surge of slavery, a big negative point, and being the most open major world leader nation in dealing equitably with racial diversity. America should be receiving great praise for its achievements in these areas. The argument being presented is very faulty in its premises.

    As @ arizonapatriot noted the view that seeking career or education excellence is “acting white” is belied by the performance and achievements of Asians in America.

    If you look at Asian educational performance on metrics like SATs or admission to STEM high schools, the gap between them and white, blacks and hispanics is growing. It might behoove all of them to “act more Asian”.

    Whites used to “act more Asian” but with ipods and stuff now it’s getting to be “acting more black.”

    You will need to give me some clues about what you are referencing since this language has no meaning for me.

    A lot of white kids are also going with the “not acting white” thing by their attitudes towards education etc.  There was a movie not too long ago where the white kids were always listening to gangsta rap and saying “libarry” and “aks” (instead of “ask”) etc but I can’t think of the name.

    • #16
  17. kedavis Coolidge
    kedavis
    @kedavis

    Stina (View Comment):

    Bob Thompson (View Comment):
    You will need to give me some clues about what you are referencing since this language has no meaning for me.

    White culture is denigrated in America and most of youth culture is some variation of black culture. The most prominent is music and dance culture, most accessible through music streaming and easily portable streaming devices.

    That’s a lot of it, yes.

    • #17
  18. Old Bathos Member
    Old Bathos
    @OldBathos

    Jerry Giordano (Arizona Patrio… (View Comment):

    Old Bathos: Rather than start with a clear-headed assessment, we are instead living through a period of insanity in which white people are actually espousing the astonishingly condescending and overtly racist belief that patterns of self-destructive, self-defeating, antisocial behavior comprise “authentic” black culture while also declaring that virtually all of the habits and dispositions that foster academic, financial and personal success should remain unique to white people.

    OB, my impression is that this is your argument, not McWhorter’s. In any event, why is whitey to blame for Critical Race Theory? I’m not a great expert on CRT, but my recollection is that the founding scholars — if they deserve that title — included folks like Derrick Bell, Angela Davis, and Kimberle Crenshaw. These three are black. I think that these are the three most prominent, along with a fellow named Richard Delgado.

    BLM was founded by three black women, I think. Ibram X. Kendi is probably the most noteworthy current race-hustler, and he is black, though admittedly the white Robin DiAngelo is giving him a run for his money (actually, for other people’s money).

    Black Liberation Theology was largely advanced by black folks, from James H. Cone to Jeremiah Wright.

    I don’t want to come across as blaming these bad ideas exclusively on black folks. I think that both black and white folks were involved, probably with some others, and that these bad ideas are held by people of many races.

    What I question is the assertion that the current insanity is exclusively the fault of white folks, which I think is suggested by the portion of the OP quoted above.

    If anything, I hypothesize that the current Wokeist nonsense, on issues of both race and sex, largely resulted from the admission of significant numbers of incompetent black and female professors into the academy, as part of so-called “affirmative action,” and the ensuing cowardice on the part of competent academics who did not question their deficient work for fear of being accused of racism or sexism.

    All of those black authors you list were promoted, often coddled and hand-picked by white leftist academic and activist establishments. There is nothing whiter than Marxist tripe. All of this crap is traceable to Derrida and Foucault. There was no independent black philosophical channel apart from this larger current whose adherents really like having non-whites at the fore to better make the use of race instead of class sound more authentic. How else do mediocrities like Nikole Hannah-Jones (1619 project) gain prominence?

    • #18
  19. Bob Thompson Member
    Bob Thompson
    @BobThompson

    kedavis (View Comment):

    Stina (View Comment):

    Bob Thompson (View Comment):
    You will need to give me some clues about what you are referencing since this language has no meaning for me.

    White culture is denigrated in America and most of youth culture is some variation of black culture. The most prominent is music and dance culture, most accessible through music streaming and easily portable streaming devices.

    That’s a lot of it, yes.

    This sounds a lots like Jordan Peterson’s thesis that we need to be addressing responsibilities and stop harping on rights all the time.

    • #19
  20. Hang On Member
    Hang On
    @HangOn

    Stina (View Comment):

    Bob Thompson (View Comment):
    You will need to give me some clues about what you are referencing since this language has no meaning for me.

    White culture is denigrated in America and most of youth culture is some variation of black culture. The most prominent is music and dance culture, most accessible through music streaming and easily portable streaming devices.

    I don’t consider it denigration. And hardly new. Ever hear of Elvis? 

    • #20
  21. kedavis Coolidge
    kedavis
    @kedavis

    Hang On (View Comment):

    Stina (View Comment):

    Bob Thompson (View Comment):
    You will need to give me some clues about what you are referencing since this language has no meaning for me.

    White culture is denigrated in America and most of youth culture is some variation of black culture. The most prominent is music and dance culture, most accessible through music streaming and easily portable streaming devices.

    I don’t consider it denigration. And hardly new. Ever hear of Elvis?

    Did Elvis ever “sing” about “shooting the cops?”

    • #21
  22. Bob Thompson Member
    Bob Thompson
    @BobThompson

    Hang On (View Comment):

    Stina (View Comment):

    Bob Thompson (View Comment):
    You will need to give me some clues about what you are referencing since this language has no meaning for me.

    White culture is denigrated in America and most of youth culture is some variation of black culture. The most prominent is music and dance culture, most accessible through music streaming and easily portable streaming devices.

    I don’t consider it denigration. And hardly new. Ever hear of Elvis?

    Well, I don’t either, since my son has been a performing blues musician for 30 years.

    • #22
  23. Bob Thompson Member
    Bob Thompson
    @BobThompson

    I still say this whole story is just the communists making their big move for the takeover they have sought for a century, nothing more or less.

    • #23
  24. Hang On Member
    Hang On
    @HangOn

    kedavis (View Comment):

    Hang On (View Comment):

    Stina (View Comment):

    Bob Thompson (View Comment):
    You will need to give me some clues about what you are referencing since this language has no meaning for me.

    White culture is denigrated in America and most of youth culture is some variation of black culture. The most prominent is music and dance culture, most accessible through music streaming and easily portable streaming devices.

    I don’t consider it denigration. And hardly new. Ever hear of Elvis?

    Did Elvis ever “sing” about “shooting the cops?”

    Nor did he talk approvingly of rape. But the story is more complicated than that.

    • #24
  25. Bob Thompson Member
    Bob Thompson
    @BobThompson

    We should not be fooled that we are trying to uncover racism among whites but we should be looking for communists among Democrats

    • #25
  26. Gossamer Cat Coolidge
    Gossamer Cat
    @GossamerCat

    Old Bathos:

    The genuine residual damage from racial injustice is now situated in a place and manner that neither legislation nor contrived white good intentions can reach.

    Eloquently stated and  my favorite line in your excellent piece.  It is what I firmly believe as well.  The things that could be legislated were legislated.  White good intentions for the past 50 years have done more harm than good.  The path to success for all Americans is tried and true:  graduate high school, get a job and marry before you have children.

    • #26
  27. kedavis Coolidge
    kedavis
    @kedavis

    Gossamer Cat (View Comment):

    Old Bathos:

    The genuine residual damage from racial injustice is now situated in a place and manner that neither legislation nor contrived white good intentions can reach.

    Eloquently stated and my favorite line in your excellent piece. It is what I firmly believe as well. The things that could be legislated were legislated. White good intentions for the past 50 years have done more harm than good. The path to success for all Americans is tried and true: graduate high school, get a job and marry before you have children.

    Yes, but if you try to tell black people that, you’re racist and stuff.

    • #27
  28. Gumby Mark (R-Meth Lab of Democracy) Coolidge
    Gumby Mark (R-Meth Lab of Democracy)
    @GumbyMark

    kedavis (View Comment):

    Gossamer Cat (View Comment):

    Old Bathos:

    The genuine residual damage from racial injustice is now situated in a place and manner that neither legislation nor contrived white good intentions can reach.

    Eloquently stated and my favorite line in your excellent piece. It is what I firmly believe as well. The things that could be legislated were legislated. White good intentions for the past 50 years have done more harm than good. The path to success for all Americans is tried and true: graduate high school, get a job and marry before you have children.

    Yes, but if you try to tell black people that, you’re racist and stuff.

    The bigger immediate problem is it is white progressives who will give you that label and it is white progressives, or those intimidated by them, that now run most of the institutions in our society.  If you try to have a conversation in which white supremacy is not the sole explanation for everything you run the risk of losing your job, your career, your educational opportunities and it is white progressives who will do that.

    • #28
  29. Bob Thompson Member
    Bob Thompson
    @BobThompson

    Gumby Mark (R-Meth Lab of Demo… (View Comment):

    kedavis (View Comment):

    Gossamer Cat (View Comment):

    Old Bathos:

    The genuine residual damage from racial injustice is now situated in a place and manner that neither legislation nor contrived white good intentions can reach.

    Eloquently stated and my favorite line in your excellent piece. It is what I firmly believe as well. The things that could be legislated were legislated. White good intentions for the past 50 years have done more harm than good. The path to success for all Americans is tried and true: graduate high school, get a job and marry before you have children.

    Yes, but if you try to tell black people that, you’re racist and stuff.

    The bigger immediate problem is it is white progressives who will give you that label and it is white progressives, or those intimidated by them, that now run most of the institutions in our society. If you try to have a conversation in which white supremacy is not the sole explanation for everything you run the risk of losing your job, your career, your educational opportunities and it is white progressives who will do that.

    These are the ones serving the Marxist objectives.

    • #29
  30. Henry Racette Member
    Henry Racette
    @HenryRacette

    Old Bathos: We need ruthless honesty in equal measure with compassion and patriotic common cause for our mutual well-being.  Maybe the conspicuous sheer stupidity and immediate harm of wokitude will inadvertently hasten that needed outcome.

    I think that is our best hope.

    • #30
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