What do You think about White Guilt: How Blacks And Whites Together Destroyed The Promise Of The Civil Rights Era (2007)?
Giving account of his personal history and journey and how he became, over time, a self-accepting 'black conservative', Steele confronts the civil rights debacle and insightfully deconstructs how it went wrong and why. Citing 'white guilt' and the ensuing reverse-style racism in the battle for social morality, Steele reveals how whites and blacks have together ruined the promise of the 1960's. In frustration, Steele says that the American left uses dissociation to apear morally authoritative. He claims that 'white guilt' comes predominantly from the left via entitlements, affirmative action, and 'ethnic-based' college courses."At least when they called you a nigger [before the civil rights movement], they didn't expect you to thank them," Steele says of whites who are motivated simply by white guilt. This guilt tells those on the Left that blacks simply cannot be held responsible for their own lives, successes, and failures because of the past sins of the American collective. Further, he writes that when entitlement programs like the Great Society go wrong, white America still feels like they deserve a pat on the back, even though they don't see how telling blacks that they are in need of help from whites is, ultimately, as infuriating as it is racist.I highly recommend this book. DJ
—DJ
Steele accounts his life long journey as a freedom loving, well educated man, who upholds the principles of hard work, personal responsibility and meritorious efforts. The "catch" is Shelby has black skin. Steele takes the reader through his personal evolution from a young man in the radical 60's and how societal, cultural, and legislative forces influenced his behavior and actions. Steele was able to recognize these forces and understand that both blacks and whites are to blame for continuing black victimization and "White Guilt". I get the sense that Steele is all about "content of character" and uniting around the concept that we are all Americans despite our skin color. Have blacks been unfairly treated in American history? Unequivocally, YES! Unless we can all find a way to put it behind us and focus on those principles of hard work, personal responsibility, and owning our own futures, many blacks will continue to blame the circumstances of their past as a justification of why America should continue to be punished with taking collective responsibility for their future.
—Andrea
I started reading this book after reflecting a bit on events in Ferguson, MO and my own home of Madison, WI. This book has given me a vocabulary for grappling with the shortcomings of a "progressive" mindset when dealing with racial matters.If racial equality is the goal, one should ask1) What are dominant current strategies?2) Are they working?3) If not, have they been given enough time to work?Before I read this book, I identified cultural regression on race and gender issues. I didn't have any concrete theories of my own, but given the long-term trends in media and academia, I suspected the decline wasn't solely due to "those darned conservatives." This book posits that progressive strategies that aim to eliminate racial disparity are actually, at best, counter-productive, and at worst, a form of narcissism and self-delusion.It reads like an extended essay, and its brevity is helpful given the heaviness of the subject matter. Even if you don't agree, I recommend it for anyone who is interested in examining or reexamining his thoughts and prejudices.
—Brian O'Callaghan
