Review of WOKE RACISM
John McWhorter on today’s racial culture wars
From the US presidential election in 2016 to the summer 2020 protests that served as a catalyst for political organizations such as Black Lives Matter, there is virtually no escape from the politicization of our lives. Within this broad politicization, conversations on race have become increasingly prominent, publicly narrow, and difficult to accept nuance.
John McWhorter, a professor at Columbia University who happens to also be black, has not hesitated in being a strong dissenting voice in the public discussions of race in America. In one of his latest books, Woke Racism: How a New Religion Has Betrayed Black America, McWhorter makes the case that “woke” racial politics that closely align with far-left progressive political ideology has evolved beyond merely political positions into a religion akin to the early stages of Christianity.
McWhorter’s case that anti-racism politics has evolved into a religion rests on a few core observations about the political environment and those who ascribe to its positions– whom he calls the “Elect”. These observations (often contrasted with Christianity) include:
The Elect have a superstition – there are questions that are not to be asked and axioms not to be questioned.
The Elect have a clergy – there are “top-rate thinkers” that are popular parrots of key phrasing and axioms that few will question (in this area, these are people like Robin DiAngelo and Ibram Kendi)
The Elect have an original sin – this sin being “white privilege” which must be ritually acknowledged and is impossible to transcend.
The Elect are evangelical – there are a “correct” set of beliefs one must hold. To dissent or question is to be an enemy of progress.
The Elect are apocalyptic – there is a judgment day at some point in the future in which America “owns up to” or finally “comes to terms with” racism and finally fixes it.
The Elect ban the heretic – the “canceling” and punishment of those who are not Elect or dissent to Elect views.
I think he makes an interesting argument for the similarities between current “Elect” ideology on race and major religions like Christianity. His book is of course a bit hyperbolic as is usually the case on either political side of arguments. McWhorter is clear that his book is not written to change the mind of those who ascribe to Electism, but rather for those who do no, or are unsure if they do.
Woke Racism goes beyond just arguing that progressive race politics are actually a religion and makes two additional points. First, Electism is a problem precisely because it is bad for black Americans, with a prominent point being that Electism is condescending toward black Americans, rather than empowering (see also Thomas Sowell, a prominent black social theorist).
And, second, he proposes what we should do instead while “working around” the Elect. McWhorter argues for three simple political goals to help black America, three things I firmly agree with: 1. End the war on drugs, 2. Teach reading properly in schools, and 3. Get past the idea of “college for all”.
Overall, McWhorter’s book was an enjoyable quick read. It’s more of a summary of many of his public conversations on this topic, so those who are familiar with his work may not gain much new insight, but I still like to read the polished summary for myself. I think he makes many excellent points, but unlike him, I encourage my progressive readers to also read it.
Published: October 2021
Format: Hardcover
If you think this sounds interesting, bookmark these other great reads:
Maverick: A Biography of Thomas Sowell by Jason L. Riley (2021)
Self-Portrait in Black and White: Unlearning Race by Thomas Chatterton Williams (2019)
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