The American linguist and political commentator John McWhorter coined the term Woke Racism to refer to the latest wave of elite, radical, ‘anti-racist’ campaigners who posit that racism is so deeply embedded in the fabric of American life that it’s impervious to traditional civil rights and anti-racist legislation.
In order to level the playing field, liberal democratic systems of government – which aren’t up to the Utopian task of achieving perfect racial parity – must be radically re-constituted to allow for what Ibram X. Kendi, author of “How To Be An Anti-Racist”, refers to un-ironically as “anti-racist discrimination” against groups who are ‘disproportionately successful’.
The only thing that matters to such campaigners is the racial disparity in economic and social outcomes, which is viewed as sufficient evidence to demonstrate racism. Not only are all other possible factors for unequal results ignored, but it’s considered racist to even consider other explanations.
Thus, “privileged” whites and those labeled as “white adjacent” must accept a future where they will face ‘progressive bigotry’ until there’s complete racial parity in all areas of life.
Though the proponents of this Woke Racism typically focus only on the Black-White paradigm, the question of where Jews (and other successful, yet historically disadvantaged minorities) stand within this racial binary is rarely prominent within the public discourse.
In a chapter in his masterful and urgent book, Woke Antisemitism: How a Progressive Ideology Harms Jews, David L. Bernstein recounts a story about a Jewish friend who grew up poor, lost his father as a young child, was the target of antisemitic abuse in school and struggled with dyslexia. However, after working his way through college, he managed to earn his MBA and land a job a at a major consulting firm, where he worked diligently and received several promotions.
After the murder of George Floyd, his company decided, in order to advance the values of “equity and inclusion” (DEI), to make major staff changes. One of the changes involved CEO’s decision to lay off over-represented, white staff and to hire more people from “marginalized communities”.
One of the employees fired as the result of this racial restructuring was David’s friend.
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Adam Levick’s London talk on Critical Race Theory and antisemitism
Put rather simplistically one establishes that Jews are part of the white race (or white adjacent), and therefore must be institutionally advantaged over black people. Then make the linkage between Jews in western society and Jews in Israel as representing white privilege. Now , hey presto, the anti-racists can legitimately become Antisemites. This is the thinking of a discombobulated society.
excellent review. why is there no tweet button for this article?