THE PROBLEM OF RACE AND THE PROGRESSIVE STRUGGLE AGAINST RACISM
by Gennady Shkliarevsky
Racism is the central issue in the current turmoil that has engulfed America. This issue drives the protest movement in many American cities. It dominates the ongoing presidential race. Racial politics preoccupies American media. Many American educational institutions make a concerted effort to address the problem of race by reshaping their curriculum.
The progressives and their allies—BLM, Antifa, and others—play the leading role in this struggle against racism. They boldly state their determination to remake America in the way that will end racism in this country—a very tall order, indeed.
In light of the attention that the problem of race attracts these days, the fact that this problem is on the mind of many Americans hardly comes as a surprise. Those who are concerned about this problem realize that it can only be resolved through a better understanding of racism and its source.
There is a general agreement in America that racism is fundamentally about the domination of one group over another. Exclusion is at the heart of domination. Therefore, racism is ultimately about exclusion. Racism is a manifestation of exclusion; it is one of many forms that exclusion may take
In fact, the progressives and their allies acknowledge as much when they connect racism with other forms of discrimination—social, political, economic, as well as discrimination based on sexual orientation and gender identity. The progressive agenda relates the struggle against racism with the struggle against other forms of discrimination. BLM, for example, proudly states its support for “queer and trans folks” in its principal documents.
If exclusion is the source of racism, as is universally recognized, then the only way to end racism is to eliminate its source—exclusion. The eradication of racism is impossible without the elimination of exclusion. If the struggle against racism does not address the problem of exclusion, it will not achieve its goal; on the contrary, it will preserve exclusion with all its manifestations, including racism. Many progressives embrace the logic, if not the letter, of the argument that if one does not combat exclusion, one actually perpetuates it. Ibram Kendi, one of the most prominent commentators on racism and the author of the well-received book How to Be an Antiracist, displays a similar logic when he argues that if one does not become an antiracist and does not actively engage in combating racism, one is actually preserving and perpetuating it.
The progressives and their allies who claim leadership in the struggle against racism do not engage in solving a more general problem of exclusion that is the source of racism. The evidence of their exclusionary stance is, for example, the fact that they reject important traditional American values: religion, nuclear family, the sanctity of life, and others. It is interesting that progressive allies—such as for example, BLM—also do not include in their discourse the traditional values and norms that have cemented the black community in America and are integral to its cultural heritage. Their general attitude to this traditional culture is one of condescending derision embodied in the derogatory name “Uncle Tom” that radical black activists use for those who show any tolerance toward whites. Kendi’s book on racism also offers many examples of his dismissive and condescending elitist attitude toward the older generation of his parents.
Thus the ideology and practice of the progressives and their allies is exclusionary. As a result, the progressive agenda cannot put an end to exclusion; on the contrary, it preserves and perpetuates exclusion and all its manifestations, including racism. Their failure to eliminate exclusion will preserve discrimination, domination, and elite rule that serves it. The inevitable result of the implementation of the progressive agenda will be the continued presence of racial and other forms of discrimination in America.
Attempts to end racism without eliminating exclusion will not solve the problem of racism. It will not benefit those who suffer from exclusion and discrimination. It will benefit only the progressive liberal elites and their allies who advocate this agenda. In other words, their struggle against racism will not lead to liberation. It will only perpetuate exclusion and domination. Their success will allow them to dictate their will to the American people and assert their domination over this country.
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Gennady Shkliarevsky is a Professor Emeritus at Bard College, New York.
By the way, both Marxism and Liberalism are elitist theories. They come from the same source: the Enlightenment tradition.
Exclusion may appear simple, but it goes to the heart of the survival of our civilization. As I have written above, creative process is essential in sustaining our universe and our civilization. Creation is impossible without inclusion. So, the issue only appears simple but it is very fundamental. Christians understand that. God is about creation.
I agree.
Electing Donald Trump was (and is) Trump supporters’ rejecting DC Elitists, but certainly not a war. Electing change an agent of change, as is the president, is the exactly the very definition of what it means to take your opinions and ideals PEACEFULLY to the voting booth as the Founders imagined it.
Burning down cities, destroying statues, using explosive devices, bottles of frozen liquids, aiming fireworks at police, sharpened sticks and PVC pipes, hurling rocks, marching in the streets with assault rifles, store owners dragged from their businesses and murdered, THAT IS war. But it is not about race relations, it IS about anarchists, many on Soros’ payroll, attempting to overthrow our republic.
Soros has poured $billions into destroying our criminal justice system. He OWNS many State AGs, prosecutors who are defending anarchists, prosecuting law abiding citizens for the sins of not wearing masks, not social distancing and God Forbid, opening their businesses while looters run wild, no repercussions. That St. Louis couple, a perfect example.
The Floyd even, merely the excuse they were waiting for. The day the video of Floyd’s death appeared on TV, there was not a single person who was not appauled… the nation was in complete agreement. THAT could NOT be allowed to remain, a nation in agreement. And so the fuse was lit all assisted, fomented by the left’s greatest co-conspirators, the MSM.
The MSM has been ordered to NOT televise, report on or feature the massive riots, and they dutifly comply.
It has not been missed by the Left, by Democrats millions of black Americans are #WalkingAway from the DNC. Why the Left is trying to make this about race relations but sadly, it is not.
Interesting as these philosphies are, I must disagree, it is FAR more plain than mere exclusion.
LBJ signed the (Republican) Civil Rights Act and declared a, “war on poverty.” He stated to a few gov friends, “I’ll have those niggers voting Democrat for the next 200 years.”
Since then, almost 70 years and $22+ Trillion later, the needle has barely moved. In fact, citiies long under Democrat control are in worse condition than they were back then.
And let’s not forget, “affirmation action,” where whites have been, “excluded,” in college, jobs. They provided a horrible K-12 education, put black students into ivy league schools where they failed miserably. It was devised to fail.
The only actual, “switch,” was Democrats going from the physical bondage of blacks to psychological and economic bondage, their New Plantation. Many Inner city schools have ZERO HS students able to pass proficiency tests in reading, math. Yet, Democrats fight like hell against school choice, charter schools.
What we ARE seeing now are carefully, patiently laid plans of a Marxist take over of America. This has been in the plans since about 1900 when progressives targeted America (and Argentina). Argentina fell quickly, it’s taken far longer in America thanks to our Constitution (why that too is under constant assault).
Meanwhile, Progressives have taken control of our MSM, Education, Entertainment and of late, major corporations. It is EXACTLY what Kruschev meant when he foretold, “we will bury you from within, not a shot fired.”
No ma’am, I disagree. This is the result of the infiltration of Marxism in America, spread like a metastisizing cancer. All just waiting for an excuse to light the fuse. President Trump’s success AND his absolute refusal to “conform,” made it necessary to light that fuse now.
We can ONLY HOPE AND PRAY Donald Trump is exposing all of this in time to stop them. While the jury is out on this, there are millions of us who will NOT comply, nor will we EVER surrender. More than 3 million souls bled and died for our freedom. Those sacrifices will only be in vein if we let it be.
I just do not see where you find fault with the argument. You basically say the same thing. I do not find anything in what you write with which I disagree. There is only one point that you make with which I disagree. It is a civil war between the people and the elites. People who support Trump are opposed to elite rule.
While this article provides an interesting angle to racism, it is at it’s core, faulty.
Nearly 70 years LBJ signed the (REPUBLICAN) Civil Rights Act, declared a “War on Poverty.”
$22+ TRILLION later, the needle has barely moved. In fact, many cities controlled by Democrats for decades are in WORSE shape than when LBJ declared his war.
LBJ could have handed every man, woman and child $1 million, there’d be $21+ trillion left over.
We have also seen decades of, “affirmative action.” THAT is where white people were “excluded,” from schools, jobs, it provided NO CURE. Remember, when you GIVE to one group of ppl, it is at the expense of others.
No, this is all about Democrats, the true racists during slave years and STILL the racists now. They merely transformed from the physical bondage of black America to psychological and economic bondage. Why in all these many years, with all those $trillions, schools in black communiies are more useless than ever. Why they fight so hard against alternatives like charter schools, school choice. THOSE would provide superior education and a way off the DNC New Plantation.
What we are seeing right now actually has little to do with racism, with George Floyd and has EVERYTHING to do with the careful, patiently laid plans of Progressive, Marxist, take over of America.
Progressives targeted America (and Argentina) about 1900. It took longer to work their will in America thanks to our Constitution but, they have been planning this for more than 100 years. They have slowly infiltrated and taken control of our MSM, our Education, Entertainment industry and now, major corporations.
Yes, this has LONG been in the works, all they needed was a excuse to light the fuse, The Floyd incident was that excuse.
What we are experiencing is not a war about race, it IS a Civil War, Marxists vs a Constitutional Republic.
Dear Sieg,
Your answer has a philosophical depth. You state your view in categorical terms. It is not just about black Americans. It is about exclusion. You see exclusion as a general solution to all problems, including racial one. Who else do you propose to exclude? Where will your exclusion stop? My response to your philosophical statement is also philosophical. Our civilization survives because we can create new levels of of organization of reality. Creation is impossible without inclusion. In other words, what you say goes against one of the most important processes that sustains our universe. You need to think about what you say. You maybe frustrated with something. I understand this. But would you place your frustration against something that is so universal that it relates to our entire Cosmos? Aren’t you throwing the baby out with the bath water? As an aside, I want to tell you that according to the latest data, a growing number of African Americans support Donald Trump. I hope you will do as much thinking about my response as I have done about yours.
Exclusion is the problem?
No, exclusion is the solution!
We need to exclude blacks from our country, period. They have made contributions to our culture, surely. Entertainment, sports, administration, any job that doesn’t require highly critical thinking. If a black person IS in a highly technical job, doctor, lawyer, etc., then they most assuredly have a high proportion of White ancestry.
No one wants to admit that. No one wants to wear that evil ‘racist’ label.
Trouble is, our Nation is being torn apart, and the communists won’t rest until they are killed. They use the backs as cannon-fodder, the notion of ‘racism’ as a means to convert and dupe the young fools they gather around them.
Deport the blacks, seal the borders, kill the communists.
The Goal of Democrat run cities traced back to Yugoslavia.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ixBsVodyJP0&feature=youtu.be
I’ve had a great deal of concern for what the Black population have to go through, especially in Democrat urban areas. It is that situation people like Lynn Patton seeks to improve, but she has been faced with attacks by the media. She doesn’t do a “Ted Wheeler” photo op, no. She went and took up residence in the projects in order to see for herself.
But, now, when groups take a city and turn it into a ghetto slum, I could care less what happens to them. If the rioters cannot even muster enough common sense to realize people like Ted Wheeler, et.al., are encouraging the riots to protect themselves from scrutiny, then who should care About them. Let them turn the entire city into Their ghetto slum.
I totally agree. Their goal is to dominate people, not to serve them.
The supreme irony…these progressive idiots are too stupid to realize that they ARE stupid !!!
The worst part is that they confuse and mislead others. So many people, particularly young people, follow their flawed thinking.
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