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Grow Some Labia's avatar

Reading Thomas Sowell's book "Black Rednecks & White Liberals," and he makes the point that encouraging a black sense of victimhood helps keep them, on some level, down. An idea which I'm sure many white liberals would hotly deny (and honestly believe) but I think there may be some truth to that, especially for the DiAngelos of the world.

In the '60s sociologists identified what they called the 'Tarzan/Amazon Queen' complex in which white liberal civil rights activists saw themselves as white leaders leading the poor, oh-pressed black people to liberation, centering the kudos on themselves, and unconsciously assuming they were too stupid or oh-pressed to do it themselves. I see that complex *still* in white liberals who buy into the racist notion that black people can't help themselves (and which the Kendis et al of the world happily encourage). That way if you fail, it's not your fault. It's *never* your fault.

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Miguelitro's avatar

I need to read the Sowell book. Thank you.

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Grow Some Labia's avatar

You might also like The Content of our Character - Shelby Steele. A short read at <200 pages but way too insightful to race through.

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Lightwing's avatar

Both books are fabulous! And, what you described above is paternalism, writ large. I say, stop patting these people on the head. Look them in the eye and shake their hand instead.

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