Believe racism, talk race less?

Updated: 2025.10.03 19D ago 1 sources
If you accept that racism strongly structures American life (a Coates‑style view), the practical political response is to de‑emphasize race in messaging and policy framing to build broader coalitions. This means welcoming converts (e.g., ex‑Republicans) and foregrounding universal, classed policy rather than identity appeals. — It reframes progressive electoral strategy by arguing that effective anti‑racism in politics requires lowering racial salience to win majorities.

Sources

The paradox of progressive racial politics
Matthew Yglesias 2025.10.03 100% relevant
Yglesias cites Ta‑Nehisi Coates’s truth‑telling stance and links it to MLK/Rustin/W.J. Wilson’s race‑deemphasizing approach, then points to Geoff Duncan (ex‑GOP running as a Democrat in GA) and Andrew White (a moderate 'Independent Democrat' in TX) as tent‑expanding examples.
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