Black Lives Matter’s critical stance toward America's claims on democracy and justice is, in my view, disastrously misguided. So why is it so popular? In this excerpt from our recent conversation, John McWhorter, Ian Rowe, and I discuss the mainstreaming of BLM and ask whether there is any way to change course.
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Black Lives Matter came about as a result of police homicides involving unarmed Black men. The Conservative response to those homicides was to downplay them by quoting statistics. There was no move by Conservatives to assess use of force by police. We end up, predictively, with riots in Ferguson. MLK obviously did not condone riots, but knew they were the voice of those unheard. BLM has moderate support among Black people, but more support than Conservatives.
Most Black people, do not live lives of fear in high crime neighborhoods. But, those law abiding Black people see Eric Garner choked to death, Breonna Taylor murder by police, and George Floyd suffocated by police. We recently saw a Black man strip searched in public by police. The natural response among among law-abiding Black people is to not put their full trust in police.
If you criticize the actions of police, Conservatives will say that you want to defund the police. Conservatives are not serious people on this issue. Enter BLM, Ben Crump, and Al Sharpton. Black people are beyond the point where they will waste time trying to find common ground with Conservatives
Black people do recognize the need for police, but they want police held accountable. Conservatives sent Tim Scott out to waste Cory Booker’s time trying to find common ground on police reform.
Because Conservatives by nature, are resistant to change, Blacks do not see them as part of the solution.
Politics in a nation of over 330mm people with a history like America's--and an ethos like America's--is difficult. Particularly on issues surrounding "race".
I am not sure it has to be this way, but I get it. I get Black people who think there's unfinished business on the table. I get White people who think we're long past that stuff. I get how people from various racial groups feel unfairly attacked from time to time, and as a result, feel compelled to respond in some way. I even get how non-racial groups also fall into a narrative of identity politics: It's very American; and even practical in many ways, albeit (sometimes) pernicious in others.
We are a country that behaves as such while clinging steadfastly to a principle of individual liberty. Again, not a simple task.
Even though I don't respect the man anymore--because like so many others, this tiger changed his stripes like a damned chameleon--Bill Bennett once coined a phrase, "The more we talk about race, the more we talk about race."
Truer words have never been spoken. But how do we not talk about race in AMERICA?
As for politics? Short-term? It's practically impossible.
Of course, long-term, as the celebrated historian Arthur Schlesinger once said, sex is the answer. Meaning, over time, we will blend; miscegenate; intermarry.
In other words, get to the point where race REALLY doesn't matter. Happens to be my favorite solution. The *only* solution if you ask me, even though there's a gang of folk who will go to their graves before they agree to it.
Allow me to abruptly leapfrog to my point: I am just now beginning to understand how much political junkies like us are motivated by very different issues. Some of these divides are deeper and wider than I realized.
Some issues are quite real; some aren't. Some issues are exaggerated; some are understated. Some issues are misunderstood. Some issues are used for political self-aggrandizement. And yes, sometimes very real issues are ignored, which can sometimes redound to everyone's detriment.
Right now, I am thinking about violent crime. Specifically, the kind we all think about when we hear that term: Murder, rape, robbery, burglary, vandalism.
These are not Black issues in my mind. But don't get me wrong. I understand (kinda, sorta) why people label them as such. If you look at the overrepresentation of African-American victims and perpetrators of violent crimes in various cities, it screams at you. But I still think it's a mistake to call it a Black thing.
The average Black American is not perpetrating or being victimized by violent crime on any kind of regular basis. I don't know if most people understand this.
But again, let us not run from the real issues. How DOES violent crime affect Black citizens in many Black neighborhoods? That's probably obvious. General quality of life: Fewer businesses willing to set up shop. People with the means to move leaving asap. Property values decrease. An internalized culture of neglect and apathy festers. Those are real issues to me.
Do I honestly think that voting Democrat or Republican is the key to bettering these conditions? I would be one lying blankety-blank if I said "Yes". For I do not see the government as the key component in solving such problems. Call me a conservative.
I believe that a child's early development is fundamental. I believe instilling better values in people is fundamental. Frankly, I still believe decriminalizing drugs would help. But two out of three don't require government.
Last point: When critics suggest that African-Americans reflexively vote against their interests, which African-Americans are they talking about? The folks at the bottom rung catching the most hell? Does that make sense?
Are those people dependable voters? Has a study ever been done? I kinda doubt it.
Had to get it off my chest. Signing off.