This is a very fascinating article. Many points are made and backed up with data. I do not agree with everything but here are some takeaways for me.
- I have suspected for a while that liberal whites are more "woke" racially than people of color and even more than liberal people of color. This is the first time I have seen white liberals compared to black liberals and it offers evidence that I may be right.
- The observation on whether you see racial inequality as justified determines how you are going to react to attempts to shame whites. If you see them as unjustified then you will submit to the notions of white fragility. If you see them as just part of our larger economic system then you will resent it. So there are only so many whites who will be influenced by antiracism programs. The rest we have to have a real conversation with them that is mutually respectful. Where have I heard of that from?
- The correlations of the use of terms and attitudes of white liberals is fascinating. The author does not make a deterministic argument but it is hard to deny the power of the media in shaping our perceptions. Cultural power is often more powerful than political power.
- The degree to which people are now getting their information from social media is scary. Seeing what I sometimes see on social media does not fill me with a great deal of confidence. Maybe this is just a cohort effect but it is how I feel.
Warning it is a long read but if you get into it and like the use of statistical analysis to make real world points then I think you can enjoy this.