First published 2021
John McWhorter confronts a paradox troubling Americans across the political spectrum. Contemporary antiracism has transformed into something resembling religious doctrine rather than progressive politics. McWhorter examines how this ideology operates through concepts like white privilege as original sin and cancel culture as enforcement mechanism. The linguist argues that this framework infantilizes Black Americans, sabotages Black students, and promotes policies that damage Black communities. He contends that current antiracism employs racial essentialism nearly identical to historical racist thinking. McWhorter provides practical guidance for those seeking to challenge these ideas in personal relationships. He concludes by proposing alternative approaches to racial justice that would genuinely benefit Black Americans rather than perpetuate harm through misguided good intentions.
Genres: american, african-american, contemporary, non-fiction, activism, academic
Vibes: critical, intimate, thought-provoking
Tropes: critical-analysis, social-commentary
224 pages · Hardcover · Portfolio
Content warnings: racism