Shelby Steele offered some interesting thoughts on the subject of “white guilt” observing that in post-white supremacist America it can be very damaging to a person or institution’s reputation to be labeled as a racist. Consequently, people and institutions put a lot of emphasis on avoiding having that happen. This, according to Steele, often crowds out pragmatic consideration of issues like “is this actually helping people.” He gives vintage AFDC and affirmative action as practiced at most institutions of higher education as examples — practices aimed at shoring up the legitimacy of elite institutions rather than aimed at actually solving problems of poverty and structural inequities in education.

Don’t get me wrong, I’m just trying to see things dealt with in an honest, accurate manner. Jesse is hardly high in my esteem. And, though I’ve said the same thing about Steele and Jesse being cut from the same tree, if we’re honest, putting him in the same sentence as Steele really does disrespect what Jesse has at least tried to do and the actual contributions he’s made.

I’d have no problem with Jesse being all against racism only (though he’s not and never been) if I thought he went far enough. I’d have no problem with Steele being all personal responsibility, if I thought the mf was serious and not just putting on a show (which Jesse arguably does at times).

I don’t know why anyone would have a problem with people having those focuses. People complain about the NAACP and old guard civil rights leaders, etc. but they built the organizations and movements to do what they saw fit/see fit to be done. People in our generation have no excuse.

They saw something that was needed and they filled the void or at least made an attempt.

Beyond that… I absolutely agree with you about white guilt not doing a damn thing for anybody but sorry and cynical Whites (and the Blacks they pay) who use it to paint themselves as victims (you know, since that’s a bad word).