Posted by
JDComments on Sunday, December 17, 2006 5:44:57 PM
John McWhorter is one of the most perceptive commentators on race in America today, and his independent , almost iconoclastic , ideas reflect a growing black viewpoint that includes Shelby Steele, Juan Wiliams , Larry Elders and perhaps the most preeminent of them all, Thomas Sowell.
In a great
article Mr. McWhorter takes a look at the Sean Bell affair in NYC, where the usual demagogues are shouting "racism" regarding the killing of Bell by police in a hail of bullets, and finds a different picture entirely. As opposed to the knee jerk Liberal response , he shows that , while it has to be investigated, it is not that unusual or unreasonable for young black males to be treated with great caution by the authorities given historical and practical facts and their behavior.
Regarding that behavior, McWhorter does what he does best, and that is dissect and critique what black culture has come to accept as "normal" which includes the idea that regular jobs are an exception and that making a living selling drugs is acceptable. Using historical facts as well as observations and pragmatism, McWhorter indicts black behavior for normalizing activity that other races would never accept.
And he especially criticizes the "identity" politics of the Black leadership which would rather blame racism than look at the true, underlying causes of the problems confronting their people, an accusation I have made in a previous
post. As an extremely intelligent Black writer, Mr. McWhorters conservative views are especially trenchant and probably carry more weight with the Black establishment and hopefully rank and file than if he were White. I hope so, for his insight and prescriptions are what Black society need to move beyond the Liberal plantation of ideology they have been stuck on for decades and finally give them the freedom and opportunity that will come from both being held responsible for their actions while at the same time enjoying the fruits of their efforts and talents.