This Christmas, ask yourself: What's the matter with white people?
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This Christmas, ask yourself: What's the matter with white people?
Have you ever wondered to yourself, what's the matter with white people? Some days it's hard not to. Like today, when South Carolina senator and Tea Party hero Jim DeMint abruptly resigned from the Senate to take a ridiculously well-paying job running the Heritage Foundation. and talk of his replacement immediately turned to Rep. Tim Scott. He's almost too perfect, an up-and-coming Christian conservative in that very Christian and very conservative state, who happens to be an African-American, right when the Republican Party is eager to show it can sell its message to blacks, Latinos and other minorities.
So, of course reports say that Gov, Nikki Haley, who names a replacement to serve until the 2014 election, is thinking about naming...some guy who runs a chain of barbecue restaurants (seriously), or maybe even former Gov. Mark "Appalachian Trail" Sanford. It's classic "what's the matter with white people" moment, just like that time that white people voted against an international pact for the handicapped (oh yeah, that happened yesterday).
Anyway, one of the best books of 2012 tries to answer these questions. It's called, appropriately, "What's the Matter With White People," and even more appropriately the tome was authored by a white person, Joan Walsh, the editor-at-large of Salon.com and a frequent talking head on MSNBC.
In fact, the book was so good I read it on the beach this summer as soon as I got a review copy, but I thought I'd wait until the book was for sale to blog about it -- and then the election pushed things around and now here it is, a bit past beach season, even with global warming. No matter, because the book is even more relevant now that we know who won the 2012 election. (Spoiler alert: It was Obama.)
Clearly, 2012 was the year that decades of demographics-meets-politics trends in America finally came together. The conservatiive coalition of working-class whites seems to have had one last hurrah in the 2010 mid-terms, but the Obama coalition remains ther ascendent one. Some of this story of how our political divisions of race and class came to be has been told elsewhere (including my 2010 book "The Backlash" which is quoted here and acknowledged, for which I am most grateful). But it's told better here because Walsh infuses her tale with the story of her extended family, Irish-Americans from New York who rode the New Deal into the middle class -- only to divide into factions with the soclal unrest of the 1960s and early 1970s.
Indeed, the book starts with a fascinating tale of what is now recalled as an epic turning point, and rightfully so: The so-called Hard Hat Riot in Lower Manhattan in May 1970, when blue collar workers wailed on hippies protesting the Vietnam War and the shooting at Kent State. Walsh's fairly liberal dad happened upon the scene and saw his brother -- Walsh's uncle -- who was a steamfitter, in the center of the fray. It was an apt metaphor for what was to come over the next four decades.
One interesting digression is Walsh's discussion of how Irish immigrants, before the mid-19th Century, nearly found common cause with blacks, until the Man helped plant the seeds of division that would come to full bloom a century later. Writes Walsh: "The fact is, colliding at the bottom of industrializing American society in the mid-1800s, the Irish and African Americans had different enemies and different friends. The poorly understood legacy of being pitted against one another persists to this day."
Walsh then uses her family history to illustrate her broader point: That over time middle-class white families (not just Irish ones) came to forget the roll that government aid in the era of the New Deal helped them get to where they were, and how that forgetfulness emboldened the racial and class tensions that exist today. It's a story I'll be thinking of a lot as we watch a re-energized Obama and a new Congress try to find a way out of our current multiple messes. And so Walsh's book would make a great holiday stocking stuffer. But what better conversation ice-breaker around the family turkey this Christmas than, "What's the matter with white people?"
On that note, have a great weekend.
...are you ashamed of your whiteness Will?...— flank steak
"Walsh then uses her family history to illustrate her broader point: That over time middle-class white families (not just Irish ones) came to forget the roll that government aid in the era of the New Deal helped them get to where they were, and how that forgetfulness emboldened the racial and class tensions that exist today."
Say what?— r a leon- Rep Tim Scott is just right.....for the Libs like Bunch to beat down like they did to Condeleeza Rice, Clarence Thomas, Allen West, Colin Powell (when he was a republican). This is disgusting to think that a tried and true Liberal is pitting race against one another. Then again the double-standard is fair in Liberal life.— keapitreal
- "That over time middle-class white families (not just Irish ones) came to forget the roll that government aid in the era of the New Deal"...a better question is why haven't blacks figured out that there should be a time limit on government assistance. Welfare was not meant to be a career option. Barring that the least they could do is hide and spread out their trash in WV and the Pine Barrens like whitey does. Storing their trash too close together leads to a disproportionally high rate of gun crime that flummoxes the Loony Left.— 2ndNlong
- Exhibit A: Not knowing there's been a time limit on public assistance since 1998. Surely your rectum gets hoarse from time to time.
- So, when the great depression hit, the government did mobilize to assist in ways that were needed to address the immediate problems and they kind of helped, but please don't forget that it was WWII that ended the great depression and NOT government assistance programs! White people spend so much time now worrying about being politically correct with regards to race. Most whites just accept quotas / affirmative action that benefit minorities are OKAY but profiling to aide in law enforcement is 'wrong'. So what's the point? When do we have a 'white person' month? Is that what Will wants?— elbrewador
- When do we have a 'white person' month? When you're a distinct minority, segregated and alienated from your heritage by the majority for so long by reason of your skin color, that you begin to accept your perceived inferiority, such that some libs might begin to feel sorry for you and try to rebuild your self-esteem. Anyway, various white ethnic tribes have long celebrated their own unique heritage with parades and festivals, e.g., italian-americans, irish-americans, and so on, for those very same reasons.
- The mobilization for total war was the greatest government stimulus program the world has ever seen so it was the government intervening in the economy that pulled the country out of the Depression. Who do you think was ordering the planes, tanks, munitions, etc? — abendteuer
- Fact is, what's wrong with whitey is the browning of America, a phenomenon as coined by Richard Rodriguez a decade ago. Whether you're a liberal or conservative, there's no denying it. The coda to Rodriguez's thesis is Obama himself, who is only 'black' by reason of quaint views on miscegeny. The 'hiding' that 2ndnlong pines for (pun intended) will be in our grandchildren's genes.
- Divide & conquer appear to be the common theme in any story depicting American politics. America's greatness is fueled with diversity. But to vote based on color and race while disregarding issues should appear to be political blasfamy. The next time someone is discriminated because of color or race they should look to their own moral sense of right and wrong to discover they are no better then there tormentors. Retirerees, children and the disabled should get government money. Everyone else should find work. Disgraceful.— SocialReject
- If you haven't, go see Lincoln, which nicely captures the the disgrace. The irony to your last comment is the fear that blacks would find and steal work from whites once liberated. Sound familiar?
- Don't buy the book. Wait for the Federal Government to buy it for you.— Mr. Smith
- Unemployment down to 7.7%......bad news for that drunk Boehner— The Fundamentals of the Economy are Fine
- ===]]] This is disgusting to think that a tried and true Liberal is pitting race against one another. [[[===
You know what steams me even more? That "the blacks" don't even realize that they're being duped by Dems, and fooled into voting against their own best interests. If "the blacks" weren't so stupid (and lazy too, of course, but I'll get to that in due time), then they'd realize that it is the Republicans who really respect them and have their best interests at heart. Us smart Republicans are able to see how stupid "the blacks" are - but "the blacks" just won't listen to us and accept our explanation that reality isn't how they see it, but how we see it.
What I have the most trouble figuring out is why, after years of us smart Republicans explaining the situation to "the blacks," they haven't yet understood reality and started to vote Republican. It just makes no sense!— Talking point sleuth - ===]]] When do we have a 'white person' month? [[[===
Front runner for Attytood quote of the month.— Talking point sleuth - Lol. Did RufusG change his screen name??
— wokmaster - ==]] a better question is why haven't blacks figured out that there should be a time limit on government assistance. [[==
Ah, well, "the blacks" are pretty stupid (see previous comment), but it isn't only that their stupid. You see, "the blacks" are also lazy. It isn't that they don't understand that there should be a time limit on government assistance - it's that they're just too lazy to care. You see, "the blacks" would rather just live in poverty, subsisting on low levels of government assistance to those who poor. They have no interest in earning more money and holding better jobs. I mean sure, the vast majority of "the blacks" do work, but they obviously prefer minimum wage jobs with no benefits to higher paying jobs with good benefits.— Talking point sleuth - ===]]] Retirerees, children and the disabled should get government money. Everyone else should find work. [[[===
Just curious, do you realize that along with the disabled, children, and retirees, WORKING POOR make up the vast majority of government assistance recipients?
Is it that you didn't realize that, or is it that you just don't let reality interfere with your thinking process?— Talking point sleuth - Why are people on the left repulsed by people from the south?
I mean, Nikki Haley (real name Nimrata Nikki Randhawa Haley) is thinking about naming a guy who runs barbeque joints... it's barbeque, so what?
Why the scorn? I guess if he ran a chain of fair trade coffee joints he'd be OK, right?
hypocrites, all.
— michael_b - Well, at least he ain't one of them repulsive community organizers, eh b? I think it's a Yankee thing about southerners myself, ideology notwithstanding. Note 2ndnlong's disdain for WV below. Care to explain your scorn for fair trade coffee joints?
- A question for the discerning Attytood reader: Did the FBI finally catch up with bile.atkins - or is he still despondent about the election and unable to summon the strength to write his typical stream of scatological comments?— Talking point sleuth
- "a better question is why haven't blacks figured out that there should be a time limit on government assistance. Welfare was not meant to be a career option." Thats --- AWESOME. Just don't call them racist. Look at it this way, 2ndnlong, at least you are not burdened with the curse of self-awareness.— Murrayman
- "Wait for the Federal Government to buy it for you." Otherwise known as libraries, where people go for handouts.— Murrayman
- "Unemployment down to 7.7%......bad news for that drunk Boehner". Everybody knows thats not the REAL number. So add 'Hurricane' to the list of excuses. We have Bush, tsunamis, fiscal cliffs, superstorms. What else can we use as an excuse for why Obama has been a dismal failure?— Murrayman
- "Exhibit A: Not knowing there's been a time limit on public assistance since 1998. Surely your rectum gets hoarse from time to time."...classic MSL ignoring reality. The limit isn't strictly enforced. Unlimited extensions or transfers to other assistance programs undermine the limit. Typical liberal, no need for action once the talking is done.
"Unemployment down to 7.7%......bad news for that drunk Boehner"...even worse news for those that have quit searching for work, artificially lowering the rate.
Is it true Obama has been looking around for Rithmetics after he heard Clinton saying he brought arithmetic to DC during his presidency? Once he gets frustrated I'm sure he will nominate another czar to find them.— 2ndNlong - Only in GOP LaLa Land would the lowest unemployment rate in 4 years be something to complain about. — wokmaster
- Bottom rail on top, Massa, bottom rail on top...— Hamlet
- ==]]] Everybody knows thats not the REAL number. [[===
Dude. You forgot. The Bureau of Labor Statistics rigs those numbers anyway.— Talking point sleuth - "Thats (sic) --- AWESOME. Just don't call them racist."...woohoo, like a Medieval hag threatening the Evil Eye, Murray whips out "racist". Any negative statements about blacks earns one this moniker, regardless of the validity of the statements. Redefining the problem to make it sound prettier leads to ineffective actions because one is trying to solve the wrong problem. Maybe your kindergarten class can read "The Boy Who Cried Wolf" after the Christmas break.
"Only in GOP LaLa Land would the lowest unemployment rate in 4 years be something to complain about."...only a math-challenged liberal (redundant, I'm sure) could celebrate inaccurate data.
"How do you write liberals so well?" "I take a conservative, and I take away reason and responsibility".— 2ndNlong - "Maybe your kindergarten class can read "The Boy Who Cried Wolf" after the Christmas break."
Lol look who's talking. When was the last time you were right about anything? You were one of the low-information guys complaining about the BLS figures before the election. You were talking about how the polls were biased for Obama. You told us that Romney would be the next President. Clown.
You never seem to tire of being wrong...but don't you ever tire of rooting against America?— wokmaster - "...a better question is why haven't blacks figured out that there should be a time limit on government assistance"
Since you're so hung up on the color of the people getting assistance, tell me, 2nd, what is the skin color of the people in America who receive the most assistance?
But, oooooh, nooooo, you're not racist!— Hamlet - ".even worse news for those that have quit searching for work, artificially lowering the rate. " Yo, you Libs don't know the REAL definition of unemployment. Its quantum quality, baby. If I don't like the rate, because its fallen and makes Obama look good, I'm gonna just say that the quality of the jobs has decreased, and every single person dropping out of the labor force is due to discouragement. Forget about the Baby Boom generation being at retirement age. Baby boom, schmaby moom. Worst. President. Ever. (I guess I should be happy the right wingers have learned absolutely nothing from the recent Election about the extent of their delusion but it still feels cheap).— Murrayman
- Any negative statements? That's hilarious. You suggested most or all welfare recipients are b1ack AND have no intention of EVER getting off the program. "woohoo, like a Medieval hag threatening the Evil Eye, Murray whips out "racist"" What does this even mean? Anyone? Lol. Oh and don't forget to answer the question posed by Hamlet - which race receive the most welfare?— Murrayman
- Well, one thing about the outcome of this election that has me laughing is that the right wanted a civil war and they got one - Republicans vs. Republican. The Mean and Nastys vs. the Bat$#%& Crazies! Rove vs. DeMint. Can you believe that the party has gotten so bad that Karl Rove is the moderate in this fight?— Hamlet
- Anyway, it won't be long before Americans look back in sad wonder of how we used to believe in a 19th century pseudo-science called race, born of another called eugenics. People will look back and think of the barbarism of looking down (or up, for that matter) on anyone because of slight ethnic differences such as eye shape or skin color. And the people who promoted it will be written to history in infamy.— Hamlet
- 2nd you must miss the good ole days of bleeding 750,000 - 800,000 jobs per month, huh?
Your party did that...— wokmaster - I thought the good ole days was pre-1964 - the year the Civil Rights Act was passed.— Hamlet
- Hamlet, the goobs have been saying whining every month. I don't think they realize the unemployment rate is always calculated the same way, which means it's always been comparing apples to apples, every month, since as far back as they to care to go, including W's unemployment rate. I'm actually starting to enjoy their squealing.— wokmaster
- Yeah, Wok. It reminds me of the movie Animal House.
The Republicans are Doing The Tuna...— Hamlet - "Did the FBI finally catch up with bile.atkins - or is he still despondent about the election" Nah, he's holed up with sarah89 (LOL!!!) in Chuck Norris' bunker, awaiting the 1000 years of darkness. Those dopes don't know it doesn't begin until inauguration day.— one_eyed_jack
- Shared Sacrifice:
http://www.ocregister.com/opinion/one-380032-president-royal.html— Phishface - 2ndNlong, your comment is as your display of ignorance about WV. We laugh at ignorant, uneducated fools such as you.— mulford71
- Will is ashamed that he is white. I'm not. Obviously him and many people of his political party continually chooses to ignore the speech made By Dr. King, which included judging people by the content of their character and not by the color of their skin... or political affiliation.— mulford71
- Who are we kidding? Racists don't care about being called racists.— high water
- I've been asking myself that question all my life and not just at Christmas.
And the freakin' Irish are the worst!— carl and sons 
Rural America love (LOVED) socialist Roosevelt Democrats until July 2, 1964.— Cuddles- Hamlet...since it involves math I'll type slowwwwly. As a percentage of the population...blacks, it isn't even close. For homework and penance you should post the percentage ratio (get Murray the rah rah to help carry the one).
high water...I don't care when the liberal dolts on this site use the term. To them it is like breathing. When a term is so broadly defined it loses any impact. I define a racist as a person who dislikes all blacks because they are black. Liberals define it as anyone who doesn't coddle all segments of black culture. Tough cr@p, there are self-inflicted problems in urban black communities that will not be cured by platitudes and a soccer trophy month. Failure to admit that is the main reason they are still are, and will continue to be, stuck on the bottom rung. Being lousy at math liberals miss that point. If I recall I do believe math was once labeled racist, probably during the Eubonics craze.
mulford...tell it to your your sister-mother...twang— 2ndNlong 
Comment removed.- Not surprising that Will jumps on the bandwagon and makes overt references to "white people." The perfect character trait for a talentless hack is to also be a pathetic suck up.— Jack Klompus
- Let me guess, Will, that when you were reading this book on the beach this summer you were surrounded by.........thought so.— tudorcity
- Just like when you were growing up in leafy Westchester, attending private High School with Olbermann and matriculating at Iv(or)y league Brown U. In all these cases, Will, you were surrounded by "those people"....— tudorcity
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