Does Staying "Black" Spell Trouble in a "White Society"

In this article, Steven Warshawsky critiques John McWhorter’s latest esssay on black consciousness and what McWhorter calls “anti-authoritarianism.” Warshawsky argues that racial conciousness among blacks limits our ability to succeed in a “white society.” I (J) wonder whether Asians and Indians are suceeding by “losing” their racial identity? What say you?

“Where McWhorter’s analysis comes up short, in my opinion, is in failing to acknowledge the obstacles posed by black racial consciousness in a majority white society. Certainly he is aware of the problem. Indeed, he noted in his piece that many of the features of black urban life he criticizes are facets “of a larger phenomenon: a sense among black teens and 20-somethings that being aggressive toward the opposition is the soul of being authentic.” Although he does not say so explicitly, “the opposition” to which McWhorter is referring here is white society. The idea that black youths are simply “anti-authoritarian” (to use McWhorter’s description) is at best disingenuous. On the contrary, the problem McWhorter points to, but for some reason does not state openly, is that many black Americans are anti-white, and certain behaviors (e.g., refusing to report crimes to the police, who are seen as agents of white society) only make sense when explained in such grossly racial terms.”

He continues. . .

“Hence, I agree with McWhorter that the civil rights reforms of the 1960s created “more room for acting out” by blacks. But the resulting “acting out” — which has been so destructive for black individuals, families, and communities — should be understood as being motivated, at least in part, by the animosity that some blacks feel for the institutions and norms of “white society.” Unfortunately, since the 1960s, this animosity has been fostered and rationalized and institutionalized through the work of black nationalists and white multiculturalists alike. While such feelings may be understandable from a historical perspective, the social and economic consequences of such feelings have been harmful in the extreme. Consider, for example, the negative attitudes that many black students have towards academic success, which is seen as “acting white.” Such attitudes inevitably lead to academic failure. Not coincidentally, black academic achievement has declined since the 1960s. This is a clear example of the self-destructive consequences of black animosity towards “white society.”