White psychodrama

One might hope that philosophy could reconcile us to our social world and each other. To entertain this as plausible is think there some perspective one reach via philosophical enquiry shows life society be they are for good reason, allows see it all in sense rational. Hegel no doubt the great exponent of ideal, his system promising trace history's patterns conceptual development, while he so optimistic believe that, at its end, we would achieve whereby every agent's own actions situation can made intelligible themselves others. This was meant true readers, able ourselves how what do makes sense, given circumstances, plausibly tending towards a end.1 Of course, problem may not such perspective. Perhaps aright recognize jumbled mess, with progressive tendency greater coherence, satisfaction had achieving superior insight. end collaboratively working towards, possible reconciliation other; maybe perpetually on brink descending once more into Hobbesian nightmare. hoped reassure existence clarificatory guaranteed; free agents, self-awareness necessarily mutually another engaged fundamentally cooperative project justified ends.2 But, alas, have been convinced, kind existential anomie befall thoughtful person who surveys present socio-cultural situation.3 What if really just excuse things are, reason me carry on? We ought then make worthy reconciliation. The guiding idea here ideal underlying Hegelian thought desirable, yet arrangements, called upon change those arrangements until attained. clear, disagreement Hegel's deepest level; jumped gun rationally reconcilable order looks like, but mere detail compared deeper point proactively seek coherence reconciled to. Social political play dual role identifying points which will throw up obstacles attaining coherent view one's life, suggesting means by these removed.4 I shall illustrate rather abstract ideas constructing analysing narrative historical leading current culture war; especially plays out concerning race, black–white relations even especially, among middle class USA. US being culturally dominant global hegemon, terms structure war tend exported, worth understanding citizens. pastime chattering classes, understood set symbolic conflicts over emotionally highly charged issues du jour. Even particular topic discussion fleeting, ultimate resolution debates drastic effects lives How decide understand enforce norms around gender sexuality, instance, touch most intimate important aspects lives. Here am interested peculiar socio-economic conditions shape contours cultural debate race. characteristic responses order, describe through stylized character archetypes, impossible participants any lasting Instead, both generate constitute racialized psychopathology white psychodrama. Given analysis sources psychic incoherence, suggest way forward. My least help people colour caught midst work live and, seeing working, actual activities. cannot, to, wrapped contradictions, than should integrate burning house. But come knowingly self-consciously resolve quenching fire, laying foundations better wherein comfortably. Once time United States America de jure racist society. As much beyond borders, controlled European empires. There broadly explicitly codified enforced racial organization where, individuals interact, sort jobs were appropriate whom, law operate—or wouldn't.5 science,6 sport,7 artistic culture8 day largely carried conformity with, support of, norms. Gross or subtle line ran everything crossed only personal peril.9 mountains crumble rivers disappear, new roads replace old, stones buried vanish earth. Time passes changes. So eventually went things. Civil War overthrew slave regime. Racial immigration laws repealed. Rights Act various sorts practices impermissible. By latter half twentieth century, clear an officially endorsed caste longer hold sway American life. Likewise abroad, empires fell, their place sprang plethora nations governed formerly colonized peoples. All considered, century saw racism suffer world-historic defeat. Along legal institutional changes Casual use slurs became limited worst bigots, nowadays hear sentiment expressed overt expressions bigotry disqualify someone from public office.10 Over Americans steadily reported less opposition interracial marriage between blacks whites.11 Careers previously operated absolute bar opened non-white people.12 Various black Americans' contributions came define American, globe's popular culture.13 Mainstream right politicians ceased identify defending dominance interests,14 norm President Trump nominal effort respect.15 attitudes thus seemed adjust century's total. kicked off economist lamenting class's merger access capital.16 twenty-first began same way, gap total wealth assets owned versus again increasing.17 Black hit hard 2008 crash.18 setting crash aside, fact exists often tied housing property source vulnerability. tends less19 amid continuing residential segregation.20 segregation concentrate difficulties further hinder chances.21 And rarity contact induced related persistently low rates intermarriage.22 compounds inheritance intergenerational transfers maintain economic segregation;23 mobility propertyless difficult rare.24 What's more, finally, backdrop economy where ability inherit increasingly determines chances.25 Whatever else changed, stuff still white, must sell labour them get by. In domestic politics mirrored broader trends post-imperial world.26 despoiled depopulated nations.27 left wake underdeveloped economies28 structures ripe taken local elites simply continue pattern authoritarian extraction.29 formal colonization did generally lead reparations. For part, agents based former colonial metropoles retained ownership key resources infrastructure,30 anything, inefficiencies credit market led net capital flow colonies colonizers.31 Neither domestically nor internationally permissions correlate ownership. such, many material inequality bad old days regimes survived demise ideological superstructure. Returning US, persistent inequalities consequences occupational inequality. legacy goes long explaining income gaps Americans.32 contemporary facto generates networks opportunities education already prosperous, disadvantaging blacks.33 fulfilling employment ‘less skilled’ workers drying early century.34 far has response collapse opportunity, stepped prison system.35 rapid rise population incarcerated persons has, disproportionately affected people,36 despite mass incarceration concern, establishment unable effectively react.37 Finally, explicit appeal interests withered away, race continues powerful predictor vote.38 liberalization disappearance overtly stereotypes.39 intelligentsia arguably content focus work.40 This, then, history placed us. maddening ambiguity position leads titular cannot oneself because constantly pulls two directions—it presents speaks equality, witnesses rank At level, does itself, ideology whack plain facts existence. tempted positives, story triumphant progress justice post-racial future. inclined eternal recurrence, ever reinventing itself. perspectives too tidy capture phenomenon. nation contradiction After struggle, publicly declared, sincerely believe, hatred failure horrid defect. now welcome forms love, friendship, cooperation unthinkable. carefully divide pie ensure slaves kept poor ashamed. inevitable discord generated immiseration dealt brutality caging. lingering suspicion remains slaves' fault. respond relayed narrative, mean order? archetypes representations typical status quo. Each types below assumed driven fairly normal psychological motivations—they wish feel guilty, prefer less—and accordingly evidence, incentives, with. extent something like available roles facilitate intentional action,41 whose behaviour giving structural explanation.42 either case, allowing overly neat appearance picture, follows descriptively picture reactions politically switched-on shaped circumstances relayed. They caricatures sure, ones expect readers resemblances within discuss polarized fighting war. empirical evidence lets situate be. Partisanship phenomenon wealthier voters.43 These reinforcing categories; home ownership, predicts involved.44 Polarization encompasses party policy preference.45 It includes, significantly us, news media commentariat figures listen engage with.46 association consumption lifestyle differences polarization affectively charged.47 White likely engaged48—if voter turnout systematically over-reported.49 And, discussed, whites also wealthy. categories primarily elite (though entirely) Despite fight whites, turn very out. Measures job predicting candidates policies.50 Since election Barack Obama, measures level antagonism spiked.51 voters report divided.52 Plausibly, divides wracking section arose differing changing meaning whiteness following regimes.53 construct allow appreciate agent revolving behave ideologically themselves.54 always strike you fully coherent. expected having contradictory forces.55 That, after all, why conflict egalitarianism reality strict hierarchy tension, desire keep atop (or it) avoiding guilt thereby drives archetypes. common type majority Repenter. straightforwardly responds overwhelming guilt. group committed horrible crimes globally domestically, aware ways continued deprivation alongside relative comfort people. racially egalitarian ideologies tell be, hence unhappy state Repenter deeply, alleviate form repentance involves trying interpersonal habits consumer choices minimize contribution issue, interact doing self-work, admittedly unjust making little bit better, efforts honestly positive self-image. invests lessons sophisticated etiquette interactions.56 keen workplace celebrate diversity, satisfying tolerable workspace goods commentators call ‘woke capitalism’.57 best thinkers artists.58 Sometimes ostentatious, suspects moral kudos seen playing large motivations. need cynical; well result heartfelt required justice, genuine membership them. Another Represser. Much Repenter, broad situation, immune pangs Represser feels unreasonable—too negatives prone generating irrational self-hatred fellow whites. deny central earlier away potentially guilt-inducing elements. Progress happened too. return racism, instead is, considerably relaxed about fixate historic Such learning past, considering air cool detachment. draw past's lessons, salient success cases seem organized (say, law) de-emphasized suppressed. seeks intellectual altogether cynical.59 implement colour-blind policies avoid drawing attention try encourage embodies race-neutral virtues. mirror image sometimes impression discussing second-best alternative dislikes wishes remain ignorant anything induce it,60 or, worse, harbours anti-black animus, lacks courage challenge anti-racist mores. again, strategy conviction path unity de-emphasizing stressing encouraging along. Before moving third type, let's few First, Repressers Repenters diametrically opposed. Repenter's crucially depends exactly wants down. opposed strategies responding Du Boisian problem. finds ‘the organised realise ideals, inability adapt certain desired lines action life’.61 alike realize adopt acknowledge other suppress failure. near enough psychologically simultaneously both, Repressors share spaces resources. Second, above exhaust outlined narrative. thing, checked politics. another, (for example) supremacists fit neither group. classes personas. Third, neither's large-scale distribution stuff, including living arrangements. fundamental conflict, manage results materially deeply unequal society, whether reduce rest sit watch duke themselves. If nothing else, democratic majority, dependent living. How, PoC intelligentsia—people sufficiently tapped underpinning it—responded challenges presented thereby? With dextrous entrepreneurial spirit! Which say, cashing in. institutions academia, dominated opportunity mediocre sharp-eyed young bearers thinkers' insight.62 harder pull academia advocate views. demand, supply. audience thinker give voice intelligent version Sufficiently talented happy oblige.63 organizations groups likewise provide similar pseudo-spokespeople catering Repenters. majority's easily translates control institutions. bulk consumers newspapers magazines, children largest demographic colleges; write cheques basis endowments, tend, fact, sitting positions upper authority newsrooms university administration. demand intelligentsia. vital part alleviating voices. strategy, troubled accusations (and within), agree your interesting. Those catch retain bourgeois factions gain promoting view. attain leadership skills job,64 legitimacy purportedly speak for.65 A emerges, without situation,66 tastes representing perspectives. 'The deconstruct you: whiteness,’ Rao said. 'Whiteness harms color, worry yourself. Stop worrying us—that's paternalistic, too.’ Bond echoed sentiment. 'This we, people, go big external actions—that's supremacy,’ she internal work; it's never ends.’ deconstruction prerequisite work. Jackson explained, 'Until deal inner stuff—until “I'm coming thoughts, I'm it”—everything performing.’67 generally, grown small profitable industry self-help gurus, extract money exchange helping challenging situation.68 extent, hand per independently wealthy family backgrounds permit self-support. occupy minority, taste-makers direct drawn bourgeoisie's class, say Repressers. eat, filtered majority. seems disappointing, consider birthed engaging moralistic critique. sad interaction become entrenched, deviate from.69 change, causes embedded environment individual behavioural changes.70 concrete everyday let imagine hypothetical flashpoint. Considering sketched instructive. suppose extra-judicial killing man police officer. behaviours said them? overwhelmingly guilt, associated ills, live. brutal reminder vulnerability death hands first foremost activate visceral distress. signal extreme disapproval same—for perhaps issue statement affirming matter, committing uphold behaviour. look prominent question done since society's echelons, liable uncomfortable practical deemed extreme—that actually upset perform function protecting property. Hence, sloganeering piecemeal reform (supporting combine radical slogans tempting), unlikely sustained push change. Guilt assuaged disassociation animus. listened voices acting told. When next outrage, cycle repeated. unnecessary recognition lose valuable, suggestion personally responsible qua person) ills interacted Any framing racist, focuses disparities treatment police, annoy. satisfied proof specifically animus motivated officer, bemoan rushing judgement point, offer (race-neutral) explanations officer's decry comparison events past atrocities lynchings, highlight absurdity officers equivalents racism.