How White Victimhood Fuels Republican Politics

[Guno צְבִי]

On Nov. 4, 2008, Barack Obama, then a senator from Illinois, was elected the first Black president of the United States. His election was seen as a hopeful moment in America and ushered in lots of think pieces and reporting that his presidency was the start of a new “post-racial” society. At long last — in the eyes of many, at least — there was hope that the racial wounds that have long divided Black and white Americans would heal.

Trump’s election killed any illusions anyone might have had about a “post-racial” America. Indeed, Trump was successful in finding a predominately white audience who lapped up his overt racism toward people of color and who were eager to embrace a rising sense of white victimhood.

Trump may be out of power, but those feelings aren’t. They may even be growing.

With President Biden having just passed one full year in office, public opinion research shows that white Americans — and especially Republicans — see whites as victims of discrimination more than, say, Hispanic or Black Americans.


“Black success beckons the mob.” There is a phenomenon Mitchell calls “know-your-place aggression” whereby U.S. culture celebrates the success of straight white men (regardless of their merit) but discourages, diminishes or destroys the achievements of members of other groups.


https://fivethirtyeight.com/features/how-white-victimhood-fuels-republican-politics/

 

[Guno צְבִי]

In other words, for a “post-racial” America to exist, white people would need to see people of color ascending to higher political offices and an increasingly multiracial nation as a win for all of America. Instead, many take these things as a personal attack and view it as a loss of their own status at the top of America’s racial hierarchy.

 

[Jack]

I thought 'Black Victimhood' and 'White Oppressor' were the Woke talking points?

 

[archives]

On Nov. 4, 2008, Barack Obama, then a senator from Illinois, was elected the first Black president of the United States. His election was seen as a hopeful moment in America and ushered in lots of think pieces and reporting that his presidency was the start of a new “post-racial” society. At long last — in the eyes of many, at least — there was hope that the racial wounds that have long divided Black and white Americans would heal.

Trump’s election killed any illusions anyone might have had about a “post-racial” America. Indeed, Trump was successful in finding a predominately white audience who lapped up his overt racism toward people of color and who were eager to embrace a rising sense of white victimhood.

Trump may be out of power, but those feelings aren’t. They may even be growing.

With President Biden having just passed one full year in office, public opinion research shows that white Americans — and especially Republicans — see whites as victims of discrimination more than, say, Hispanic or Black Americans.


“Black success beckons the mob.” There is a phenomenon Mitchell calls “know-your-place aggression” whereby U.S. culture celebrates the success of straight white men (regardless of their merit) but discourages, diminishes or destroys the achievements of members of other groups.


https://fivethirtyeight.com/features/how-white-victimhood-fuels-republican-politics/

And it continues today with the likes of Tucker Carlson promoting the "White Replacement" theory

 

[cawacko]

In other words, for a “post-racial” America to exist, white people would need to see people of color ascending to higher political offices and an increasingly multiracial nation as a win for all of America. Instead, many take these things as a personal attack and view it as a loss of their own status at the top of America’s racial hierarchy.

Why do liberals fight against/vote against minority Republicans for office then? The answer to me is ideology trumps race but if your argument is white people need to see more minorities in office, and liberals desire more minorities in office, then how do you justify it?

 

[Matt Dillon]

On Nov. 4, 2008, Barack Obama, then a senator from Illinois, was elected the first Black president of the United States. His election was seen as a hopeful moment in America and ushered in lots of think pieces and reporting that his presidency was the start of a new “post-racial” society. At long last — in the eyes of many, at least — there was hope that the racial wounds that have long divided Black and white Americans would heal.

Trump’s election killed any illusions anyone might have had about a “post-racial” America. Indeed, Trump was successful in finding a predominately white audience who lapped up his overt racism toward people of color and who were eager to embrace a rising sense of white victimhood.

Trump may be out of power, but those feelings aren’t. They may even be growing.

With President Biden having just passed one full year in office, public opinion research shows that white Americans — and especially Republicans — see whites as victims of discrimination more than, say, Hispanic or Black Americans.


“Black success beckons the mob.” There is a phenomenon Mitchell calls “know-your-place aggression” whereby U.S. culture celebrates the success of straight white men (regardless of their merit) but discourages, diminishes or destroys the achievements of members of other groups.


https://fivethirtyeight.com/features/how-white-victimhood-fuels-republican-politics/

Oh! That's not racist, gimpo? Barack Obama ain't no American black, brah.

His dad is a Kenyan Muslim and his mom is/was a white kookadoodle inbred Commie-American.

What does he have in common with black Americans? Not a damn thing.

 

[ThatOwlWoman]

On Nov. 4, 2008, Barack Obama, then a senator from Illinois, was elected the first Black president of the United States. His election was seen as a hopeful moment in America and ushered in lots of think pieces and reporting that his presidency was the start of a new “post-racial” society. At long last — in the eyes of many, at least — there was hope that the racial wounds that have long divided Black and white Americans would heal.

Trump’s election killed any illusions anyone might have had about a “post-racial” America. Indeed, Trump was successful in finding a predominately white audience who lapped up his overt racism toward people of color and who were eager to embrace a rising sense of white victimhood.

Trump may be out of power, but those feelings aren’t. They may even be growing.

With President Biden having just passed one full year in office, public opinion research shows that white Americans — and especially Republicans — see whites as victims of discrimination more than, say, Hispanic or Black Americans.


“Black success beckons the mob.” There is a phenomenon Mitchell calls “know-your-place aggression” whereby U.S. culture celebrates the success of straight white men (regardless of their merit) but discourages, diminishes or destroys the achievements of members of other groups.


https://fivethirtyeight.com/features/how-white-victimhood-fuels-republican-politics/

They have some outstanding writers and writing at 538. Thanks for posting this.

The white victimhood has been a thing for at least a couple of decades if not more. #TRE45ON just capitalized on it. I recall one of my brothers-in-law complaining, at least 25 years ago, how he was passed up for a promotion after having been at the company for 20+ years, in favor of a black woman who had only been there for maybe half a dozen years. Never mind that he had an associate's degree in electronics, and she had a bachelors in electrical engineering.

 

[Taichiliberal]

In other words, for a “post-racial” America to exist, white people would need to see people of color ascending to higher political offices and an increasingly multiracial nation as a win for all of America. Instead, many take these things as a personal attack and view it as a loss of their own status at the top of America’s racial hierarchy.

I never bought that "post-racial" stuff, given the actions of the GOP and corporate America on day 1 of the man's first term. And like you said, the election and actions of the Orange Oaf put the nail in the coffin on that issue.

 

[ThatOwlWoman]

Why do liberals fight against/vote against minority Republicans for office then? The answer to me is ideology trumps race but if your argument is white people need to see more minorities in office, and liberals desire more minorities in office, then how do you justify it?

That's easy. Because having candidates who support the same values is why we pick this guy over that guy. So another Hispanic guy gets elected to Congress. If he's an (R) will that help the (D)s when legislation comes up?

 

[Taichiliberal]

This guy gets it. He just burns the collective butts of folk like our resident oathers/threepers/neocons/alt right/teabaggers/fibbertarians because they can't logically or factually fault what he says. Check it out:


Tim Wise on the Myth of White Victimhood and the Reality of White Fragility (AM Joy, MSNBC, December 2016)


http://www.timwise.org/2016/12/tim-...f-white-fragility-am-joy-msnbc-december-2016/

 

[cawacko]

That's easy. Because having candidates who support the same values is why we pick this guy over that guy. So another Hispanic guy gets elected to Congress. If he's an (R) will that help the (D)s when legislation comes up?

I agree completely but Guno's point (or the portion of the article that he posted) said white people need to see more minorities in office. Is the implication these minority candidates should only be Democrats?

 

[evince]

Why do liberals fight against/vote against minority Republicans for office then? The answer to me is ideology trumps race but if your argument is white people need to see more minorities in office, and liberals desire more minorities in office, then how do you justify it?

Your whole shit is based on no people of color are qualified at an equal or higher level as the white prospects



That is where the racism makes its self evident in your take


You deep down don’t believe people of color like that exist


They do


And making sure all types of Americans make up your team means your team will have more success in a nation of all kinds of people is a no brainer


You think those people don’t exist so if someone hires them they hired a less qualified candidate for the position


Your take is dripping of racism

 

[Nordberg]

White victimhood from the right? Of course. How about Trump bleating about being mistreated? How about Alex Jones crying about how he is being unfairly attacked for saying Sandy Hook was a lefty false operation? Trump had the stage and the bully pulpit and cried every day about how he was getting abused. Rightys are hyper-sensitive to imaginary slights.

 

[evince]

I agree completely but Guno's point (or the portion of the article that he posted) said white people need to see more minorities in office. Is the implication these minority candidates should only be Democrats?

Hiring a Latino guy say as a judge who disagrees with what the vast majority of Latinos believe is not going to increase a better understanding of the Latino experience huh



Its YOU who only see this through skin color

 

[Phantasmal]

This guy gets it. He just burns the collective butts of folk like our resident oathers/threepers/neocons/alt right/teabaggers/fibbertarians because they can't logically or factually fault what he says. Check it out:


Tim Wise on the Myth of White Victimhood and the Reality of White Fragility (AM Joy, MSNBC, December 2016)


http://www.timwise.org/2016/12/tim-...f-white-fragility-am-joy-msnbc-december-2016/

As they say: “nailed it”

 

[gfm7175]

Ahhhhhhh, so guno is being a racist still??? Got it.

 

[Guno צְבִי]

If we want to address the inequities that continue to plague and divide our society, white Americans — and in particular, white Republicans — will need to move away from the victimhood narrative and acknowledge our current reality. And the extent that the inequities can be muted or even mitigated depends heavily on what politicians choose to emphasize in the narratives that they construct about the state of our union. The success of minorities does not mean victimization for white Americans. Without recognition that we can all succeed — and that the nation will be better off for it — the patterns of disparities we have discussed throughout will continue to persist, and we will all be worse off for it.

 

[Hawkeye10]

WOKE is 100% sold on victimology....dont forget that part.

"That they accuse you of they are doing themselves, everytime."
Tucker

 

[Gondwanaland]

On Nov. 4, 2008, Barack Obama, then a senator from Illinois, was elected the first Black president of the United States. His election was seen as a hopeful moment in America and ushered in lots of think pieces and reporting that his presidency was the start of a new “post-racial” society. At long last — in the eyes of many, at least — there was hope that the racial wounds that have long divided Black and white Americans would heal.

Trump’s election killed any illusions anyone might have had about a “post-racial” America. Indeed, Trump was successful in finding a predominately white audience who lapped up his overt racism toward people of color and who were eager to embrace a rising sense of white victimhood.

Trump may be out of power, but those feelings aren’t. They may even be growing.

With President Biden having just passed one full year in office, public opinion research shows that white Americans — and especially Republicans — see whites as victims of discrimination more than, say, Hispanic or Black Americans.


“Black success beckons the mob.” There is a phenomenon Mitchell calls “know-your-place aggression” whereby U.S. culture celebrates the success of straight white men (regardless of their merit) but discourages, diminishes or destroys the achievements of members of other groups.


https://fivethirtyeight.com/features/how-white-victimhood-fuels-republican-politics/

What "overt racism toward people of color"? Give examples.

Was it the record low black unemployment he ushered in that was racism toward people of color? The prison reform he pushed, in an attempt to undo some of the damage Crazy Joe's 90s policies did?

 

[Gondwanaland]

Why do liberals fight against/vote against minority Republicans for office then? The answer to me is ideology trumps race but if your argument is white people need to see more minorities in office, and liberals desire more minorities in office, then how do you justify it?

We saw the likes of Politico playing this game, trying to declare Ketanji Brown Jackson as someone who would be the 'first black justice' on SCOTUS (guess Clarence Thomas and Thurgood Marshall didn't vote Biden so they ain't black!)