In which Sly and the Family Stone is contextualized within the struggle for equality of all humans in the classical liberal tradition and contrasted to the BLM vision of racial essentialism. Very thoughtful essay!
Truly a shame, but completely understandable, that a humanities professor would feel the need to use a pseudonym to write an article defending basic human equality.
I liked this overall. However, I'm at odds with your assertion that MLK's allegorical "Promise Land" alludes to American Nationalism. I'm not seeing the connection. MLK is a preacher and Promise Land almost always refers to a state of joy, thriving, and/or end of suffering. I understanding your interpretation refers to Manifest Destiny.
Thank you for the essay. In the UK, we need some anchoring in the centre ground that articles like this offer, and which the legacy of the US civil rights offers. At the moment, we have a populist right wing govt determined to use BLM campaigning to play culture wars for electoral gain, and left of them, no one until BLM and CRT advocates, whose ideas dominate academia and centre/left politics. The centre is missing in action.
TY (thank You) M. "O'Hara." I found Your links as fascinating as Your essay!
"By contrast, the present use of “Blackness” as an exclusively racialized identity renders it one that is not meaningfully framed by the dynamic political telos, or end, that is foundational to America."
The only thing I would change in the essay is "not meaningfully framed by" -> "diametrically opposed to". Rest, PERFECTO!
May comment more later, or may not. TYTY, again. :)
"the new trajectory of Black identity situates itself racially rather than politically, and thus poses a challenge to liberal humanism and its traditions of democracy, natural rights, and equality under the law."
Yah, poses a challenge and THEN some.
"If I’m correct that the BLM variant of “Black” now breaks from earlier American notions of liberty actualized through modern individualism,"
Yah, You're correct, sir.
"BLM considers the idea of universal humanity anathema to their political goals."
In which Sly and the Family Stone is contextualized within the struggle for equality of all humans in the classical liberal tradition and contrasted to the BLM vision of racial essentialism. Very thoughtful essay!
Truly a shame, but completely understandable, that a humanities professor would feel the need to use a pseudonym to write an article defending basic human equality.
I liked this overall. However, I'm at odds with your assertion that MLK's allegorical "Promise Land" alludes to American Nationalism. I'm not seeing the connection. MLK is a preacher and Promise Land almost always refers to a state of joy, thriving, and/or end of suffering. I understanding your interpretation refers to Manifest Destiny.
One small critique in a great piece.
A very satisfying and enlightening read this early morning. Thank you, "John O'Hara." #fairforall.org
Thank you for the essay. In the UK, we need some anchoring in the centre ground that articles like this offer, and which the legacy of the US civil rights offers. At the moment, we have a populist right wing govt determined to use BLM campaigning to play culture wars for electoral gain, and left of them, no one until BLM and CRT advocates, whose ideas dominate academia and centre/left politics. The centre is missing in action.
TY (thank You) M. "O'Hara." I found Your links as fascinating as Your essay!
"By contrast, the present use of “Blackness” as an exclusively racialized identity renders it one that is not meaningfully framed by the dynamic political telos, or end, that is foundational to America."
The only thing I would change in the essay is "not meaningfully framed by" -> "diametrically opposed to". Rest, PERFECTO!
May comment more later, or may not. TYTY, again. :)
"the new trajectory of Black identity situates itself racially rather than politically, and thus poses a challenge to liberal humanism and its traditions of democracy, natural rights, and equality under the law."
Yah, poses a challenge and THEN some.
"If I’m correct that the BLM variant of “Black” now breaks from earlier American notions of liberty actualized through modern individualism,"
Yah, You're correct, sir.
"BLM considers the idea of universal humanity anathema to their political goals."
Critical Race Theory the same. I proposed what to do about it here: https://bariweiss.substack.com/p/everybody-hates-the-jews/comments#comment-2979083
(Thank You for link to M. Cullors, although I mebbe spelt it wrong.)