2016 Postmortem
In reply to the discussion: White progressive analysis of politics is fundamentally broken. [View all]Garrett78
(10,721 posts)The point of this thread is to recognize what's really at the root of those "concerns and issues." If "progressives" can't even recognize the primacy of racism and keep propping up this "working class whites/economic messaging" dog whistle, we won't bring about the unity necessary to change the economic structure of society. That's the irony of suggesting we should dismiss the role racism plays.
Now, does that mean we scold people for being racist and demand that they stop being bigots? Of course not. But we have to recognize the role racism has played since the founding of the US in enabling economic conditions that we decry. Recognize and address. Not deny and address. I think Reverend Barber, NAACP President in North Carolina, is probably on the right track. And there are organizations like one I'm a part of that are working on building a multiracial alliance through recognition of the role racism has played in our nation's history.