Summary
Historically, American conservatism has often embraced their central themes such as anti-communism and freedom movements even beyond their boundaries (West 73). However, American conservatives have strongly resisted a proactive enhancement of the Black American civil rights movement as a sincere freedom movement that fully need their support. Cornel West believed that, like a new black conservative, he had a response to the crisis of liberalism that was in Afro-Americans (West 74. However, he faced stiff resistance from Glenn Loury in particular who wanted to distance himself from mainstream conservatism.
In chapter 4, Cornel examines the root of black conservatism, which he defines as an ideology that braces personal responsibility, independence, and traditional American values. Contrary to his point of view, Glenn Loury had three firm arguments that are used by black conservatives to assault black liberal ideas (West 75. Glenn stated that black liberals possessed the idea that most black people blame their flaws on white racism since they have a victim mentality. In addition, he stated that black liberals blinded themselves to dysfunctional and pathological aspects of black behavior (West 75. Finally, Glenn stated that black liberals only address a portion of concerns regarding poor blacks.
Opposing to Glenn rhetorical strategies West elucidates that Loury's arguments are expressed as a personal attack on black liberals (West 76). Moreover, West believes that mass media strongly contributes to waning of traditional values among the blacks. He indicts the mass media for encouraging violence and sexual activities thus leading to increasing crime rates and chaos among the black community caused by the decay of black youth. He also censures the black conservatives disregarding the notion that people are inclined to act based on their situations.
In chapter 5, West explains the limitations and possibilities of utilizing affirmative action, the role of affirmative action in the effort to lower discrimination in the American society, and affirmative action that specifically deals with African Americans. In Race Matters, West defines affirmative action as a part of the redistributive chain, and that needs to be reinforced (West 94). According to West, the vital goal of the redistributive chain is creating an equality of all races, genders and social classes in American society. Affirmative action is used to help people who are affected by injustice in different sectors of the society as well as bringing the truth out and confront issues such as race and gender equality.
Other concerns of affirmative action highly affecting the middle class and poor include poverty, and racial and sexual discrimination that are mostly against Blacks (West 95). West also believes that affirmative action is an essential aspect of the society but also has limits. In this movement, White racism, black middle class, and White Peer approval are topics that should be highly considered (West 98). West concludes that there is room to expand affirmative efforts. However, there is strenuous fight to end this discrimination. Therefore, an effort such as affirmative action needs to be enhanced to make a change (West 99).
The relationship between Race Matters and Foundations: slavery and abolitionism, 1768-1861
Both books reflect on the lives of the African Americans and the atrocities they had to go through in the hands of the whites. In the case of West, for instance, he debates on how the black American civil rights have been overlooked. He also argues on how the media has played a major role in degrading black ethics and contributing to factors such as an increase in crimes and sexual activities. West, therefore, recommends that the only way to address these issues is through affirmative action, which is strenuous and calls for many efforts.
On the other hand, the book Foundations: slavery and abolitionism, 1768-1861 strongly confirms what West says in his book (Stewart, 41). It documents the lives of the African-Americans as slaves, showing the treatment they had to go through and how their needs, both physical and emotional, were ignored. It also displays slavery years after the slavery period ended; the injustice that black Americans went through as slaves in the hand of their masters: being sold to other masters, mistreated, gender discrimination among others.
Just as the African-Americans fight for freedom and issues such as equality, putting an end to racism, discrimination both socially and concerning gender in the book Foundations: slavery and abolitionism so does West advocate for affirmative action(Stewart, 46). He believes that this will bring to an end concerns such poverty, racial and gender discrimination that are mostly seen against the black people.
Are we in a world with racism without racists?
I second Cornel West that racism is not a victim mentality it requires us to understand the new form that it has taken. I have been observing a colorblind racism for a long period, but I cannot put my figure on. This calls for black conservatives to respond to the crisis of liberalism that is in America. Except for the members of White Supremacist Organizations, many Whites declare they do not see any color but just people. However, in a real sense, the ugly face of discrimination is still within us. Most of the Whites assert that the African-Americans are the responsible for whatever race problem is in America. The Whites claim that blacks play the race card when they demand the conservation of divisive and unnecessary race-based programs, for instance, affirmative action. According to West, we need to enhance on affirmative action for us to be the change that the world requires.
Works Cited
Bonilla-Silva, Eduardo. Racism without racists: Color-blind racism and the persistence of racial inequality in the United States. Rowman & Littlefield Publishers, 2006.
Stewart, M. W. "What if I am a woman?" Foundations: slavery and abolitionism, 1768-1861. N.p., n.d. Print.
West, Cornel. Race Matters. Boston: Beacon Press, 1993. Print.
