It seems to me that Mr McWhorter and I must be twins separated at birth, or some such thing. I have long held the belief that identity groups of all stripes have one overwhelming Achilles heel, and that is their complete lack of a plan, including what ultimate success would look like. When is it tools-down time, let's all congratulate each other for the great progress, and let's disband and enjoy our hard-earned status as societal equals? Apparently that time is never, since it is seemingly impossible to relinquish the one thing you erroneously believe makes you special and important: your victimhood.
Now, having said that......I've never been made a victim, or felt like a victim either personally, or as part of a larger group. In an attempt at empathy (I believe true empathy is literally impossible since you cannot truly put yourself in anyone elses shoes) I try to understand the fear that might drive such vehement adherence to the role of the oppressed. Many cultures and "races" have been brutally, and also subtly oppressed for many, many years, and have then (often grudgingly) been given incremental improvements through legislation and general shifts in social attitudes. But ask any abuse victim, such as a female victim of domestic abuse, and they will tell you that trusting someone who swears they've changed, and they're really sorry isn't an easy thing to do. The original aggressor/oppressor is still present, still bigger and stronger and their motivations and future intentions are somewhat unknown. Any time that it feels like doing so the original aggressor can simply undo all their promises, and the original victim takes the fallout. Through this lens it becomes easier (speaking for myself) to see how these things may take far longer to fully shake out than we might find comfortable. For example, ask me if I think the Mexica/Spanish horror show has fully shaken out. I do not. As much as I dislike the rhetoric of the race hustlers I do try to keep in mind that their mileage has varied (had to, sorry) and maybe they have a particularly gruesome family history with parents and grandparents telling stories of trauma. Maybe the trust that their neighbours and country won't turn on them just will not be gained in their lifetimes. Or maybe they're just doing it for limelight and book sales or the sheer joy of shouting down Jordan Peterson. It is very cringey to listen to, and I disagree with most of what they say, but I still feel that it might just need more time. That's a difficult concept, because as I said earlier, there is no specific end goal or finish line where everyone can agree to stop fighting for what most common sense folks think has already been achieved. It is especially difficult to grant more time when you see your city getting rolled up for no good reason.
Solutions, you ask? Well, my ideas are pretty pedestrian and can be found in almost any , but here goes: check your biases when dealing with an identity group, try to make sure you're being the fair person you believe yourself to be, and stay the course. No need to self-flagelate, confess to things you didn't do, apologize for things you never even heard of. Just be a decent person and wait it out, because decency and middle-of-the-road normalcy should always prevail.
I’ve always pseudo-joked that the best way to not be a bigot is that I have come to recognize that people of any race are equally capable of being selfish pieces of shit as white people are, and no one is unique in that respect 😂
That said, very good observations. I’ve started building up my McWhorter library for a reason!
Haha! I happened to have my phone in my hand and laughed out loud at that one. I totally agree. I've had the same uncomfortable epiphany over the years.
It seems to me that Mr McWhorter and I must be twins separated at birth, or some such thing. I have long held the belief that identity groups of all stripes have one overwhelming Achilles heel, and that is their complete lack of a plan, including what ultimate success would look like. When is it tools-down time, let's all congratulate each other for the great progress, and let's disband and enjoy our hard-earned status as societal equals? Apparently that time is never, since it is seemingly impossible to relinquish the one thing you erroneously believe makes you special and important: your victimhood.
Now, having said that......I've never been made a victim, or felt like a victim either personally, or as part of a larger group. In an attempt at empathy (I believe true empathy is literally impossible since you cannot truly put yourself in anyone elses shoes) I try to understand the fear that might drive such vehement adherence to the role of the oppressed. Many cultures and "races" have been brutally, and also subtly oppressed for many, many years, and have then (often grudgingly) been given incremental improvements through legislation and general shifts in social attitudes. But ask any abuse victim, such as a female victim of domestic abuse, and they will tell you that trusting someone who swears they've changed, and they're really sorry isn't an easy thing to do. The original aggressor/oppressor is still present, still bigger and stronger and their motivations and future intentions are somewhat unknown. Any time that it feels like doing so the original aggressor can simply undo all their promises, and the original victim takes the fallout. Through this lens it becomes easier (speaking for myself) to see how these things may take far longer to fully shake out than we might find comfortable. For example, ask me if I think the Mexica/Spanish horror show has fully shaken out. I do not. As much as I dislike the rhetoric of the race hustlers I do try to keep in mind that their mileage has varied (had to, sorry) and maybe they have a particularly gruesome family history with parents and grandparents telling stories of trauma. Maybe the trust that their neighbours and country won't turn on them just will not be gained in their lifetimes. Or maybe they're just doing it for limelight and book sales or the sheer joy of shouting down Jordan Peterson. It is very cringey to listen to, and I disagree with most of what they say, but I still feel that it might just need more time. That's a difficult concept, because as I said earlier, there is no specific end goal or finish line where everyone can agree to stop fighting for what most common sense folks think has already been achieved. It is especially difficult to grant more time when you see your city getting rolled up for no good reason.
Solutions, you ask? Well, my ideas are pretty pedestrian and can be found in almost any , but here goes: check your biases when dealing with an identity group, try to make sure you're being the fair person you believe yourself to be, and stay the course. No need to self-flagelate, confess to things you didn't do, apologize for things you never even heard of. Just be a decent person and wait it out, because decency and middle-of-the-road normalcy should always prevail.
I’ve always pseudo-joked that the best way to not be a bigot is that I have come to recognize that people of any race are equally capable of being selfish pieces of shit as white people are, and no one is unique in that respect 😂
That said, very good observations. I’ve started building up my McWhorter library for a reason!
Haha! I happened to have my phone in my hand and laughed out loud at that one. I totally agree. I've had the same uncomfortable epiphany over the years.