So much of what Steve writes critically about 'antiracism' and overstated black victimhood applies as easily to feminism. White feminists and black antiracists have a helluva lot in common. I think Naomi Wolf nailed it best when she delineated between 'victim feminists' - those who identify with powerlessness and victimhood, and infantil…
So much of what Steve writes critically about 'antiracism' and overstated black victimhood applies as easily to feminism. White feminists and black antiracists have a helluva lot in common. I think Naomi Wolf nailed it best when she delineated between 'victim feminists' - those who identify with powerlessness and victimhood, and infantilize women, seeing them as weak and vulnerable and in need of constant protection - and 'power feminists' who identify with personal power and using it for the common good. I see exactly that within the antiracism movement - those who see blacks as constantly aggrieved and perpetual victims, and those who are tired of the self-infantilization and the constant finger-pointing at whites with no sense of personal responsibility for one's own life. One of my favourite black voices is John McWhorter, the language and race expert and commentator at Columbia University. Give his talks on YouTube's Bloggingheads a listen. Quite eye-opening to hear a black man (like Steve) talking about blacks as though they're adults with personal agency. I could take many of his talks, substitute 'women' for 'blacks', and it would be just as relevant.
I appreciate Steve’s rejection of binary narratives. I think it takes fortitude and compassion to accept the basic humanity of people on both sides and attempt to bridge the gap.
So much of what Steve writes critically about 'antiracism' and overstated black victimhood applies as easily to feminism. White feminists and black antiracists have a helluva lot in common. I think Naomi Wolf nailed it best when she delineated between 'victim feminists' - those who identify with powerlessness and victimhood, and infantilize women, seeing them as weak and vulnerable and in need of constant protection - and 'power feminists' who identify with personal power and using it for the common good. I see exactly that within the antiracism movement - those who see blacks as constantly aggrieved and perpetual victims, and those who are tired of the self-infantilization and the constant finger-pointing at whites with no sense of personal responsibility for one's own life. One of my favourite black voices is John McWhorter, the language and race expert and commentator at Columbia University. Give his talks on YouTube's Bloggingheads a listen. Quite eye-opening to hear a black man (like Steve) talking about blacks as though they're adults with personal agency. I could take many of his talks, substitute 'women' for 'blacks', and it would be just as relevant.
What do *you* get out of Steve's work?
I appreciate Steve’s rejection of binary narratives. I think it takes fortitude and compassion to accept the basic humanity of people on both sides and attempt to bridge the gap.