At an Obama Foundation summit on Tuesday, former President Barack Obama spoke out about “woke” culture and the dual phenomena of “canceling” and “calling out.” He doesn’t like that stuff much, declaring, “That’s not activism.”
That’s not helpful.
I have great respect for Obama. His dignity and grace during his presidency and since are admirable, especially in the Trump era, where neither dignity nor grace abounds. But he was not, is not, a progressive icon.
His remarks were greeted with praise, including from the odious Ann Coulter, who tweeted, “Good for Obama. (Not sarcastic!)” Any remarks praised by Ann Coulter are remarks to be reconsidered.
My last column drew criticism for the statement that I was “baffled” by rural Americans who support Trump, who intends nothing good for them. I didn’t call them “ignorant” or “deplorable,” although I believe many of them are indeed both of those things. But some folks suggested that we liberals or progressives should be more understanding and conciliatory toward those Americans who are frustrated and angry. No thanks.
There were, certainly, some Americans who voted for Trump because of frustration and anger toward — well, someone. During the 2016 election I had a sliver of empathic appreciation of why many such voters lashed out at their (inaccurate) perception of “elites” and at a system that seemed to ignore their wants and needs.
But supporting Trump now is willfully ignorant and represents something far different than the “Make America Great Again” form of populism that was neither populist nor intended to make America great. Supporting Trump now is explicit endorsement of anti-immigrant bigotry, destruction of democratic norms, racism and a level of corruption that may exceed any in American history. To this we needn’t say, “I feel your pain. How can we have a more productive dialogue?”
The conservatives of the Trump ilk take great pleasure in hammering political correctness, as though graciously and generously considering one’s language and actions is to be a sucker. They conflate calls for civility with restriction on freedom of speech, as though reminding others to be sensitive is an unconstitutional gag order. Only in this cultural and political climate can protecting Ann Coulter’s right to be viciously offensive even be a thing. And they’re winning. Even among supposed progressives, notable among them the comic Bill Maher, political correctness and “woke” culture are characterized as immature and silly.
According to the chin-rubbing experts, political correctness and so-called “identity politics” will be the Achilles’ heel of the Democrats. Whether LGBTQ groups, women or folks of color, we must stop the focus on “identity” and quit bitching so much. It is divisive and pushes away all of those undecided or independent voters who might turn our way if we just weren’t so damned sensitive.
It is, of course, instructive to note that almost all who deride identity politics are white, mostly male, and have never suffered a moment’s discomfort because of their “identity.” We in the privileged majority don’t have to have an identity.
As a recently retired head of a school, I learned a great deal from hundreds of students of color, gay and trans kids, and their families. It is they, not the coddled men and women of privilege in politics and the media, who hold the moral high ground. When they moderate their own social milieu by challenging insensitivity and bigotry it is social progress, not political correctness run amok. Words matter. How you address people matters. Pronouns matter. If one is in the cisgender (look it up), heterosexual majority, it seems like such a petty contrivance. If you are nonconforming or ambiguous, it is at the center of your sense of self and your place in the world. I choose to honor that and it costs me absolutely nothing. My pronouns are he, him, his.
Obama does a disservice when he dismisses call-out culture and other manifestations of cultural sensitivity. Yes, of course, it can be overdone and there are zealots who make even me uncomfortable. But the last thing we need is a much-admired black leader to give ammunition to the smug right wing. He offers a false contrast between call-out culture and activism. Those who he accuses of calling out and canceling are also the ones leading a youthful surge of activism addressing racism, homo- and transphobia, climate change and gun violence.
In the last decade we have fallen far back in the national commitment to diversity, equity and dignity for all. The pushback on identity politics is not an overdue course correction for a society that has gone too far toward the ideal of liberty and justice for all. It is the resurgence of white, hetero-normative privilege and an expression of resentment.
Neither Obama nor the rest of us should fall for it.
Steve Nelson lives in Boulder, Colo., and Sharon. He can be reached at stevehutnelson@gmail.com.