POLI 366 Chapter Notes - Chapter 0: Real Change, Intersubjectivity, White Guilt
1 May 2016
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Document Summary
Looks at how feeling bad might be an important method of changing our common sense ideas of race and gender. I argue that accepting a certain kind of bad feeling can be important for producing meaningful solidarity across difference, particularly for individuals who benefit from racist social/political structures. It is important and appropriate for white people to feel uncomfortable about our own and other people"s individual racism. Sees negative affect as useful only when it is an appropriate response to loathsome social conditions and when it makes us take action to change those conditions. Negative affect for white people relating to race often includes shame, guilt, embarrassment, etc. Often are inarticulate and help form our attitudes and feelings about race. Negative affect can only be useful in those for whom it is possible to experience little or no discomfort related to race and who benefit most from our racial structures.
