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A review by allibroad
Woke Racism: How a New Religion Has Betrayed Black America by John McWhorter
2.0
I got beyond the clickbait title and decided to read this book after listening to an interesting interview on the NYT Books podcast with McWhorter. He identified and expounded on some real contradictions in (what he terms) third-wave anti-racism. I read it with an open mind, but he relied too much on anecdotes and straw man arguments.
See the section on school suspensions, in which McWhorter made up a policy position (Black boys should never be punished or suspended?), and then argued against it. He bypassed the actual thorny conversations: What are the consequences of the suspensions/arrests in schools? What kind of early interventions or supports can be provided for kids whose behavior is deteriorating? Whither disparate funding for schools or poverty..?
Finally, the criticisms of Ta-Nehisi Coates and others are bizarre, somehow praising and resentful. I think McWhorter wrote this in good faith, but I wonder his aim.
See the section on school suspensions, in which McWhorter made up a policy position (Black boys should never be punished or suspended?), and then argued against it. He bypassed the actual thorny conversations: What are the consequences of the suspensions/arrests in schools? What kind of early interventions or supports can be provided for kids whose behavior is deteriorating? Whither disparate funding for schools or poverty..?
Finally, the criticisms of Ta-Nehisi Coates and others are bizarre, somehow praising and resentful. I think McWhorter wrote this in good faith, but I wonder his aim.