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A review by notoriousesr
Elite Capture: How the Powerful Took Over Identity Politics by Olúfẹ́mi O. Táíwò
challenging
hopeful
informative
fast-paced
4.25
“Elite capture” is when political elites co-opt radical theory and terminology to serve the oppressive status quo. In this book, Táíwò delves into how “identity politics” went from being a radical Black feminist concept to a weapon of the very racial capitalism it originally critiqued.
Now this is a good book! Succint and readable, yet Táíwò does not sacrifice rigor for approachability. It’s well-sourced, drawing from a clear lineage of radical tradition, and I think it clearly adds to the literature. I especially appreciated the international focus. When it comes to racial politics, it’s easy to fall into US-centrism and ignore the way that white supremacy (and other oppressive systems) function outside of the American context. It is also both hopeful and practical, with clear examples of how we can start to build a “better room” rather than just try to manage the traffic within the room we’re already forced into. My only complaint is that it really could’ve been longer--when it ended, I was like, “That’s it??” Overall, 4 out of 5 radical educators.
Now this is a good book! Succint and readable, yet Táíwò does not sacrifice rigor for approachability. It’s well-sourced, drawing from a clear lineage of radical tradition, and I think it clearly adds to the literature. I especially appreciated the international focus. When it comes to racial politics, it’s easy to fall into US-centrism and ignore the way that white supremacy (and other oppressive systems) function outside of the American context. It is also both hopeful and practical, with clear examples of how we can start to build a “better room” rather than just try to manage the traffic within the room we’re already forced into. My only complaint is that it really could’ve been longer--when it ended, I was like, “That’s it??” Overall, 4 out of 5 radical educators.