Thread by @paulcrider

I'm surprised to find myself disagreeing with Lindsey's latest at @NiskanenCenter. Importantly, he pretty much accepts the slate of antiracist diagnoses, but argues we should address Black disadvantage obliquely with popular race neutral policies. THREAD

https://twitter.com/lindsey_brink/status/1384507929328455683

.@lindsey_brink argues that antiracist rhetoric is too zero-sum, too intent on white privilege. He presses the case for a positive sum framing. As it happens, I agree, and @hmcghee's the Sum of Us is an excellent case for a positive sum antiracism. 2/n

But note it is "positive sum antiracism," not "positive sum non-racism." Lindsey errs for two reasons: 1) there are intrinsically zero-sum racialized status contests, and 2) the popularity of Black disadvantage-dissolving policies is politically dynamic. 3/n

The problem here is that our first African American President religiously avoided racial controversy, pursued a positive sum healthcare reform, and still provoked a racist Tea Party movement, massive resistance GOP Senate, and a racist backlash in the form of Trump. 4/n

Similarly, the social status of whites as the dominant and majority race is under real threat from brown and Black immigrants. This simply *must* be met head on with a cultural antiracism. But that antiracism can be positive sum! 5/n

Second point. @lindsey_brink cites popular policies that could dissolve Black disadvantage while also benefiting many whites: abundant housing, more generous welfare, etc. @hmcghee's whole book is about popular positive sum policies that *become* racialized and lose support. 6/n

Just as Nixon originally supported a UBI, when the rubber meets the political road these positive sum race-neutral policies will *become* racialized, and if we fastidiously avoid talking about race ourselves, the only salient racial talking point is the dog whistle. 7/n

But @hmcghee correctly insists that these policies *do* advantage whites. A positive sum antiracism describes the benefits *for everyone* when we don't let ourselves get hoodwinked by racist framing. This doesn't mean we have to frame things *only* in terms of helping Blacks. 8/n

Even for the highest status whites, I believe in the long term we all stand to gain by ending racism. The vision of a society in which the full productive powers of all are developed & free to flourish is a profound expression of the liberal idea of a harmony of interests. 9/n

From my review of McGhee's book. 10/n goodreads.com/review/show/39…

.@lindsey_brink is always worth reading in full. I reiterate that he is onto something by pressing positive-sumness. But our history gives ample evidence that facially race-blind approaches will be warped by racist narratives either to Black disadvantage or to dead end. 11/11