Woke Racism

1. The "Elect" are adherents of a new religion, not a political movement

To see them this way is not to wallow in derision, but to genuinely grasp what they are.

A new faith emerges. The "Elect" represent a modern secular religion, complete with sacred texts, clergy, and notions of sin and salvation. This ideology, often labeled as "wokeness" or "social justice," has roots in academic theories but has evolved into a belief system that shapes worldviews and behaviors. Like traditional religions, it offers comfort, community, and a sense of purpose to its adherents.

Key religious elements:

• Sacred texts: Works by authors like Ta-Nehisi Coates, Robin DiAngelo, and Ibram X. Kendi
• Clergy: Academic and cultural figures who interpret and spread the ideology
• Original sin: "White privilege" and systemic racism
• Rituals: Public confessions of privilege and antiracist "work"
• Heresy: Questioning or critiquing core tenets of the ideology

Understanding the "Elect" as a religious movement helps explain why rational debate often fails to sway true believers and why the ideology has spread so rapidly through institutions and culture.

2. Third Wave Antiracism harms black people while claiming to help them

Third Wave Antiracism, in its laser focus on an oversimplified sense of what racism is and what one does about it, is content to harm black people in the name of what we can only term dogma.

Unintended consequences. While Third Wave Antiracism claims to fight for black empowerment, its policies and rhetoric often have detrimental effects on the very people it aims to help. This approach tends to infantilize black Americans and discourage personal responsibility and achievement.

Examples of harmful effects:

• Lowering academic standards in the name of equity, leading to underprepared students
• Discouraging assimilation into mainstream culture, limiting economic and social opportunities
• Promoting a victim mentality that can be psychologically damaging and demotivating
• Alienating potential allies by labeling all disagreement as racism

The focus on systemic racism and white privilege, while important to acknowledge, can overshadow more immediate and practical solutions to improving black lives.

3. The "Elect" ideology is based on contradictory and illogical tenets

Each component by itself serves to condemn whites as racist. To apologize shows your racism; to be refused the apology, too, shows your racism.

Logical inconsistencies abound. The core beliefs of the "Elect" often contradict each other or defy common sense. This internal inconsistency is a hallmark of religious thinking rather than rational political discourse.

Examples of contradictory tenets:

• Encouraging diversity while discouraging cultural appropriation
• Demanding recognition of racial differences while claiming race is a social construct
• Insisting on the importance of black voices while dictating what those voices should say
• Calling for colorblindness and race-consciousness simultaneously

These contradictions make it difficult to engage with the ideology on a rational level, as any critique can be met with an opposing tenet. This flexibility allows the belief system to persist despite logical challenges.

4. Unequal outcomes do not always indicate unequal opportunities

Social history is too complex to yield to the either/or gestures of KenDiAngelonian propositions.

Complexity of causation. The "Elect" often attribute any disparity in outcomes between racial groups to systemic racism. However, this oversimplification ignores the multitude of factors that contribute to individual and group success.

Factors influencing outcomes beyond racism:

• Cultural values and norms
• Family structure and stability
• Education quality and approach
• Economic conditions and opportunities
• Individual choices and efforts

While racism undoubtedly plays a role in some disparities, addressing other contributing factors may be more effective in improving outcomes for black Americans. Focusing solely on racism as the cause of all inequality can lead to misguided policies and missed opportunities for meaningful change.

5. Claims of racism and victimhood should be scrutinized, not automatically accepted

As often as not today, what the person "feels" is based on what they have been taught to "feel" by a paradigm that teaches them to exaggerate and even fabricate the "feeling."

Critical thinking required. The "Elect" ideology often insists that all claims of racism or racial victimhood must be accepted without question. However, this approach can lead to false accusations, misallocation of resources, and a breakdown of trust between racial groups.

Reasons to scrutinize claims:

• Some claims may be exaggerated or fabricated for attention or personal gain
• Misunderstandings or cultural differences can be mistaken for racism
• Accepting all claims without question can trivialize genuine instances of racism
• Uncritical acceptance can lead to policies that harm rather than help

Encouraging critical thinking and open dialogue about racial issues, rather than automatic acceptance or dismissal, can lead to more productive and honest conversations about race in America.

6. Three practical steps to improve black lives: end the war on drugs, teach phonics, promote vocational training

What ails black America in the twenty-first century would yield considerably to exactly three real-world efforts that combine political feasibility with effectiveness.

Actionable solutions. Instead of focusing on abstract concepts of systemic racism, McWhorter proposes three concrete policy changes that could significantly improve the lives of many black Americans:

1. End the war on drugs:

   • Reduce incarceration rates for non-violent offenses
   • Decrease violence associated with illegal drug trade
   • Allow for regulated, safer drug use

2. Teach phonics in schools:

   • Improve reading skills, especially for disadvantaged students
   • Enhance overall academic performance and opportunities
   • Address the achievement gap at its root

3. Promote vocational training:

   • Provide alternative paths to economic success beyond four-year colleges
   • Address skills gaps in the labor market
   • Reduce student debt burdens

These practical steps focus on addressing specific barriers to success rather than attempting to dismantle abstract systems of oppression.

7. Stand up to "Elect" ideology by treating it as a religion, not unquestionable truth

Standing up to this performance art will be easier if we always keep in mind that Elect philosophy is actual religion, pure and simple.

Resist ideological pressure. Recognizing the "Elect" ideology as a form of religion allows individuals to resist its demands more effectively. Just as one might respectfully disagree with religious proselytizing, it's possible to engage with "Elect" ideas without accepting them as unquestionable truth.

Strategies for standing up to "Elect" pressure:

• Politely but firmly decline to participate in ideological rituals or confessions
• Question the logical basis for claims and policies
• Advocate for viewpoint diversity and open dialogue
• Support those who face cancellation or professional consequences for dissent

By treating "Elect" ideas as one perspective among many, rather than as revealed truth, it's possible to create space for more diverse and productive conversations about race and social justice.

8. Focusing on impact over intent can lead to misguided policies and accusations

The idea is to strike a happy medium between the poles? But there's no way that the people promulgating this "race thing" litany would ever allow that anyone had.

Intentions matter. The "Elect" often argue that impact matters more than intent when it comes to racial issues. While this principle can be valuable in some contexts, taking it to an extreme can lead to unfair accusations and counterproductive policies.

Problems with focusing solely on impact:

• Innocent mistakes or cultural misunderstandings can be labeled as racism
• Well-intentioned policies with unintended negative consequences are demonized
• The complexity of human interaction is reduced to a binary of oppressor and oppressed
• Dialogue and understanding between groups becomes more difficult

Balancing considerations of both impact and intent allows for more nuanced and fair assessments of racial issues, fostering an environment where people can learn from mistakes and work together toward positive change.

Last updated: November 7, 2024