When progressives talk about race, it's usually in the same ways that just about all Americans talk about race. We often operate with the assumption that we shouldn't or even mustn't talk about race. After all, it's by talking about race that we keep racism alive, right? The goal, in short, is colorblindness - and we progressives shouldn't block the path to a post-race future by talking about race. This way of thinking is a huge mistake.
In fact, progressives who follow this line fail to ask the critically important question: Who benefits from so-called "colorblindness"? Even more important: How can progressives develop sustainable and effective coalitions without addressing race and racism?
These questions - which run deep in terms of history and strategy - are far beyond the scope of a simple blog post. But there's an urgently needed document on these questions from john a. powell and Stephen Menendian here.
powell and Menendian, in just 40 pages, trace the lineage of race and racism in American politics from the 1700s, and they offer a necessary corrective to progressive political strategies in 2007. Put simply, any successful and sustainable progressive coalition must take race into account. That's impossible so long as the conservative "colorblind" position remains ingrained in progressive strategy and thought.
"....The story of the fight for states rights, unions, our electoral system, and limited federal government is radically incomplete without being informed by race. Equally, the fragmentation in metropolitan space with our segregated neighborhoods and high poverty schools cannot simply be explained by local control. All of these arrangements and the resistance to change obstruct a progressive agenda with negative consequences for whites and non-whites alike. Race is the biggest reason that the United States, unique among advanced countries, is ruled by a political movement that is hostile to the idea of helping citizens in need.... Many assume in the United States that race and class are largely distinct or that race can be reduced to class. Under this view, race disparities should more appropriately be addressed by class. This is both an analytical position as well as a strategic position. These set of assumptions are almost articles of faith in much of the white progressive movement.... Class based alternatives are a misnomer and fundamentally conservative. They focus on advancing disadvantaged individuals to the status of middle-class rather than on transforming or restructuring the relations between classes on a more equitable basis. As a consequence, they are not a useful organizing mechanism for building a progressive coalition on the basis of shared interests or a sense of solidarity. While it is clear there needs to be a focus on class and economic issues, unless properly approached such an effort is not likely to be progressive or successful. A progressive alternative requires addressing race and building cross-class, multi-racial coalitions...." (emphasis added)
Racism isn't something that happens only when celebrities use epithets. Race and racism are all around us, and we need to acknowledge that in order to move to a post-racial America. Progressive activists must be aware of the history and strategy outlined by powell and Menendian. If you only read one 40 page PDF the whole year, make it this one.
From the Courage Campaign