Losing the Race: Self-Sabotage in Black America

I have just gotten around to reading this two-decades-old book, but the issues – with or without 20/20 hindsight - are still as relevant as ever (perhaps even more so, given how much more divided our society has seemingly become, sadly enough, even compared to 20 years ago).John McWhorter – himself black (and a professor of linguistics) - has written one hot-potato of a book!I greatly admire people who don’t toe the party line by mouthing what is “expected” of them, and John McWhorter is one such person. His views on the controversial topic covered in this book are rather against the grain, but he should be given his due. He writes about a long-standing and entrenched societal problem, but with an iconoclastic and breathtakingly new perspective. I would like to shake his hand!Starting with the premise that blackness and poverty (or disadvantage) do NOT necessarily go hand-in-hand, he questions the cause of the scholastic performance gap between blacks and whites in our schools. In a nutshell, his claim is that this gap is not due to racism per se (or perhaps I should say *current* racism), but to the remnants of (*past*) racism. (In fact, he makes the bold assertion that compared to the true horrors of slavery and segregation extant before the Civil Rights Act went into effect, racism is today on the wane.) The basic tenets of his theory are three-pronged: Victimology, Separatism, and Anti-Intellectualism. Being made to feel like second-class citizens in a historical sense (referring, of course, to 350 years of institutionalized slavery) has damaged the black psyche and shaped black culture, to the point where many blacks have become accustomed to seeing themselves as perpetual “victims.” This in turn spawns a perceived need for “separatism.” Further – and this is the crux of the tragedy – the theory is that blacks have come to view school and books as something alien or “other” (i.e. something white people engage in), resulting in a “cultural disconnect” with scholastics. The author implies that blacks have a racially and culturally conditioned inferiority complex, through no fault of their own, of course, but instead owing to centuries of slavery, segregation and racism.In sum, and as the subtitle of the book suggests, blacks are committing (quite unwittingly) self-sabotage.The problem lies not in poverty or disadvantage exclusively; rather, the author’s conclusion is that “our task is to work on the culture from the bottom up” (p. 246).He also discusses Ebonics and affirmative action, taking the audacious position with reference to the latter that it is time to dismantle it, at least in the halls of higher learning, where blacks are quite enough ready to compete on an even playing field. He claims that affirmative action served a clear purpose at one time, but diversity (“headcounts”) for its own sake really does no one any good and should instead take a backseat to free competition and its ultimate goal of achieved excellence. He claims that while affirmative action does not *cause* a sense of victimhood, it does enable it, and as such, he opposes it because “it is obstructing African Americans from showing us that they are as capable as all other people” (p. 256).Mr. McWhorter is a staunch advocate for the black race, although perhaps in a way that some unfortunately can’t recognize. I can imagine how some might even see him as a traitor. But to the open-minded among us, this is an extremely important book of great educational and social significance and one that should not be shunted off to the side.I came away from reading this book feeling that the author could not have made many fans in writing it. Consider me an exception. I found his views thought-provoking, logical, novel, courageous, refreshing and definitely – DEFINITELY – worthy of serious contemplation. I only wish this book had included some “questions for discussion” at the end, as this subject is certainly one that should be open for worthwhile and (hopefully) productive dialogue.BTW: I thought the double-entendre title of this book to be most clever, although it could just as easily have been titled “The Emperor’s New Clothes,” as the author exposes certain potential truths that some might want to deny, or pretend they don’t see while they look the other way. He covers sticky topics that some might find uncomfortable and might not care to acknowledge. He traverses territory that some might not care to tread with him.The book is far from a criticism (of black or white), but rather an analysis, and – most significantly – offers some heartfelt pointers as to how to correct the wrongs of history without wasting precious time dwelling on those wrongs. I love that he does NOT play the blame-game, which is simply counter-productive and already far too ubiquitous in our society.Basically, he admonishes us as a nation (a nation with a sometimes shameful history) to stop lamenting the past – something that not even the best-intentioned can change – and start moving into a better and more equitable future. And that is a sentiment with which I heartily agree. He concludes on a hopeful note: “Today we serve our interests best by being honest with ourselves as well as with mainstream America about the progress that has been made and the opportunities available to all of us” (p. 275). Amen to that!One complaint about this book: It is definitely not “lite” reading. Yes, the subject is heavy, but unfortunately sometimes the prose is as well. I appreciated every point that the author made, but sometimes getting that point across necessitated several re-readings of his often convoluted writing style. Nevertheless, great book! A finely astute analysis of an extremely complex subject. Definitely one of those “food for thought”-type books. It is a healthy thing to be exposed to alternative viewpoints. I’m a big fan of debate, dialogue and open discussion, even where difficult subjects are concerned. This book fit the bill for me.

This is a book that needed to be written and I am only sorry that I did not read it when it was first published. McWhorter has taken the bull by the horns and he has demonstrated courage and bravery in writing this book. His argument is simple: Black Americans are engaged in a process of Self-Sabotage due to the three evils of Vicimology,Separatism and Anti-Intellectualism. He defines these concepts in the following way:Victimology: 'calling attention to racism where it barley exists, if at all' and 'to foster and nurture an unfocused brand of resentment and sense of alienation from the mainstream.' McWhorter identifies a number of Articles of Faith to which blacks subscribe in order to demonstrate how Victimology works.1 Most Black people are poor.2 Black people get paid less than whites for the same jobs.3 There is an epidemic of racist arson attacks on black churches.4 The U.S. government funnelled crack into South Central Los Angeles.5 The number of Black people in prisons is due to a racist Justice System.6 The police stop and frisk more black people than whites because of racism.7 Police brutality against blacks reveals the eternity of racism.Blacks in the U.S. believe that all of the above are real factors that hold them back and oppress them. However McWhorter deconstructs and demolishes all of these myths and shows that they have very little reality if any at all. These things are believed in because of the ideology of Victimology rather than any empirical data that supports their existance.Mc Whorter then identifies the second problem that holds the race back and this is Separatism. He defines it in the following way: 'Seeing mainstream culture as white culture,' the ghettoisation of academic work and moral absolutism. These manifestations of Separatism mean that in relation to seeing culture as 'white' this 'alienates black people from some of the most well-wrought, emotionally stirring art and ideas that humans have produced-miring the race in a parochialism that clips its spiritual wings.' Blacks only ever seem to study black subjects seeing all other histories / subjects as not having relevance for them.In relation to the ghettoisation of academic work separatism means that a 'considerable amount of black academic work down plays logical and factual evidence in the service of filling an idealised vision of the black past and present, which is founded not upon intellectual curiosity but upon raising of group self esteem' eg the history of Afro-Centrism. Afro-Centrism is laughable and not taken seriously as an academic subject by any historian outside of the black community. There is no evidence to support any of its claims yet blacks believe it because it promotes black Self Esteem! This cuts them off from serious peer reviewed academic work based on the historical critical method. Because of this they leave themselves open to derision.Next McWhorter argues that moral absolutism is an outcome of both Victimology and Separatism and this 'creates a sentiment that black people are still so mired in oppression that to express any real criticism of them is to kick them while they are down' e.g. The O.J. Simpson and Tawana Brawley cases. Simpson was clearly guilty yet blacks refused to condemn his actions because of 'payback justice'and Tawana Brawley lied about being raped by white men and was discovered to have concocted a tissue of lies yet was applauded by the black community wherever she spoke!Lastly McWhorter argues that Anti-Intellectualism prevents blacks from achieving their potential both as individuals and collectively. He argues that the 'cult of Anti-Intellectualism infects black America. Blacks have a wariness of books and learning for learning's sake as 'white' and this has become ingrained in American culture'McWhorter demolishes all the arguments which blacks use to try and blame poor black performance as being due to racism and discusses the real reasons for black underperformance e.g. teasing, lower parental expectations, classroom attitudes etc.Blacks must see,if they are to make the breakthrough that McWhorter already believes thay have, that their successes are now the norm in American society and not just anecdotes.They must reject Victimology if they are to achieve their full potential. He argues that blacks must recognise that occasional inconvenience is not oppression and stop crying wolf all the time. He suggests that Affirmative Action and racial preferences be abolished so that the race can compete on an equal footing with other groups. Only by rejecting the peddlers of Victimology, e.g. Al Sharpton and Jessie Jackson, can blacks compete effectively with every other group in American society.As I said at the beginning of this review McWhorter has demonstrated bravery and courage in writing this and it is so very refreshing to hear an alternative voice rather than the tired and tedious excuse of racism. I would like to have seen McWhorter make some comparisons with other countries here as blacks seem to have the same problems as he identifies in most european societies. How would he explain this? I would also like to have seen him deal more with the work of Charles Murrey's the 'Bell Curve' as he seems to have dismissed this work without any real critical evaluation. However this is an excellent book which should be read by all peddlers of victimology.

John McWhorter's book is in some ways more relevant now than when it was written, especially in light of the furore generated by the death of George Floyd.The book is easy to read and his arguments are based on empirical evidence not bogus victimhood , today's currency of choice.That , black intelligentsia vilified it in the main is ample proof that he touched a nerve everybody knew was exposed.Professor McWhorter continues to be a radical voice of reason along with other black thinkers like Glenn Loury, Coleman Hughes and Jason Riley. These people are trying to be constructive and unifying in putting forward balanced arguments , borne of deep thought and not political grandstanding . A welcome counterpoint to narcissistic bigots like the empty vessel called Michael Eric Dyson.

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