Britain is Being Racialised by the Left Through Toxic Identity Politics & Victimhood Mentality

Name: Britain is Being Racialised by the Left Through Toxic Identity Politics & Victimhood Mentality
Uploaded: 2020-09-25T09:00:11.000Z
Duration: 1 h 18 min 56 s

Introduction

In this section, Peter Whittle introduces his guest, Inaya Folarin Iman, and they discuss her work on free speech and identity politics.

Introducing Inaya Folarin Iman

Peter Whittle introduces his guest, Inaya Folarin Iman.

They discuss Inaya's work on free speech and identity politics.

Inaya talks about her interest in issues of freedom of speech, Brexit, democracy, identity politics and the big picture questions that are shaping public discourse at the moment.

The Equiano Project

Inaya talks about the Equiano Project which is an attempt to respond to the difficulty of having nuanced conversations about race and racism without it being too heated or generalizing.

She explains that the project aims to bring together honest thinkers on these subjects and have really nuanced and interesting conversations while championing a universalist response to race and racism based on enlightenment principles.

Peter asks if her views are considered eccentric in the media. Inaya responds by saying that sensationalism in the media often leads to a narrative that is very simplistic, black-and-white, reactionary and conflicting.

Rejecting Identity Politics

Inaya rejects the conception of society where race is seen as the primary organizing principle of society. Instead she champions a universalist one based on enlightenment principles such as "all men are created equal" even in terms of character not skin color.

She argues that recent years have seen a re-racialization of society where race is now viewed as the defining way we should view the world whether through white privilege or black victimhood. This homogenizes people based on race and is a massive step backwards.

First Encounter with Woke Politics

Inaya says that she first encountered woke politics in university.

Emergence of Racial Politics

In school, there was an emergence of racial politics where black kids hung out together and discussed what it meant to be black. This concept became more defining in university with the emergence of decolonizing curriculum and critical race theory.

Emergence of Racial Politics

In school, there was an emergence of racial politics where black kids hung out together.

The concept became more defining in university with the emergence of decolonizing curriculum and critical race theory.

Critical race theory argues that racism is embedded and endemic in our society.

University was where the most palpable conception of this work politics emerged.

Trump's Speech on Critical Race Theory

Trump's speech on critical race theory has been a topic of discussion. He banned funding for bias training or things like unconscious bias. The 1619 project is trying to rewrite American history to argue that its roots were racist to the core.

Trump's Speech on Critical Race Theory

Trump made a speech about stopping critical race theory by defunding it.

The 1619 project is trying to rewrite American history to argue that its roots were racist to the core.

Critical race theory which argues that racism is embedded and endemic in our society is incredibly divisive.

It goes through old-fashioned liberalism and comes out the other end in a very extreme form.

Collapse of Political Authority

There has been a collapse of political authority, especially during the Black Lives Matter protests. Political elites lack confidence in defending basic history and democratic values.

Collapse of Political Authority

There has been a collapse of political authority, especially during the Black Lives Matter protests.

The church was boarded up, and there was no political authority willing to defend basic history.

In an ideal situation, people in positions of authority that create culture or define politics would have the confidence to say no to racism.

We should be grateful for fundamental democratic values and liberal values.

The Speed of Cultural Change

In this section, the speaker discusses the speed at which cultural changes occurred during the Black Lives Matter movement and how it reflects the erosion of fail-safes that would have put brakes on rapid transformation.

The Erosion of Fail-Safes

The erosion of fail-safes over a long period of time has led to a lack of accountability in institutions.

Media failed to hold political movements accountable by not asking difficult questions.

Institutions that would have put brakes on rapid change capitulated quickly due to a lack of faith in liberal values and enlightenment ideals.

Conservatives Need to Start Conserving Again

The right lost the culture war a long time ago, and conservatives need to start conserving again.

Conservatives have not been able to stand up for their beliefs, showing that conservatism's philosophical basis has not been powerful enough for a long time.

Until conservatives start defending their beliefs without fear of being called racist or other derogatory terms, cultural changes will continue.

Why Are Politicians So Lackluster?

In this section, the speaker discusses why politicians are so reluctant to defend conservative values against cultural changes.

Historical Reasons

Strong right-wing politics were associated with destruction and negativity after authoritarianism and Nazism rose in the 20th century.

Communism's fall caused the left to lose its belief in an alternative.

Struggling Philosophically

Both left and right are struggling philosophically because they cannot find what they really mean.

The Problem with Identity Politics

In this section, the speaker discusses how identity politics has become a disempowering form of politics that demands recognition and external forces to act on behalf of individuals rather than advocating for agency and responsibility.

The Rise of Therapeutic Society

Society needs deep introspection and reflection to determine what kind of society we want to create and conserve.

Identity politics is an example of a therapeutic society where people gain recognition or authority in the political sphere through grievance-based identity.

This type of politics does not advocate for agency or responsibility but instead demands recognition from external forces.

Victimhood Hierarchy

Identity politics creates a victimhood hierarchy where individuals are placed based on their intersectional identities.

This hierarchy puts victims at the top, making it the primary thing about someone's identity.

This new form of essentialism is holding people back as those who do not align with the things being said are seen as less authentic.

Stereotyping and Abuse

People are wanting to be stereotyped, which is problematic as it creates a new form of stereotyping.

The speaker does not receive as much abuse as other commentators when criticizing Black Lives Matter due to specific arguments made.

Confusion and Nastiness in the Black Lives Matter Movement

In this section, the speaker discusses the confusion surrounding her identity as a commentator with dreadlocks and shares her thoughts on the vitriolic nastiness of those who advocate for Black Lives Matter. She also talks about how Calvin Robinson was treated on Twitter and how it exposed the movement's contradictions.

The Nastiness of Black Lives Matter Advocates

The speaker believes that those who advocate for Black Lives Matter frequently position themselves as coming from a place of moral superiority but when their contradictions are exposed, their nastiness comes out.

She thinks that the movement is not based on genuine principles to create a better society but rather filled with vengeful and resentful undertones.

The speaker believes that someone like Calvin Robinson, an ethnic minority man who has his own thoughts and disagrees with them, challenges their whole conception that they're speaking on behalf of all black people.

Political Activism

The speaker stood for the Brexit Party because respecting such a powerful democratic expression was important to her.

She thinks there are too many issues underlying political parties at the moment to actually affect change.

The speaker believes politics is downstream from culture. If you're not willing to be part of the process that ignites agency responsibility, vibrant democratic spirit then you'll have lackluster policy.

Underlying Problems in Politics

The basic ability to call out what happened in protests which wasn't even law and order shows a lack of political will needed to respond therapeutically or traditionally.

Demonstrations show that we're not necessarily at the precipice yet which would be needed to get some life back into political parties.

The Absence of Class and Inequality in Identity Politics

In this section, the speakers discuss the absence of discussions on class or inequality in identity politics. They argue that identity politics focuses on superficial things like gender and race, while ignoring deep-rooted issues of extreme inequality.

Identity Politics vs. Class Politics

Identity politics is a deflection from class politics.

Class is a more significant determiner of one's ability to access different spaces than race.

Social mobility has decreased, with people who get ahead usually being privately educated.

The focus on identity politics ignores structural barriers regardless of race.

Race and Social Mobility

Black people aged 16 to 30 living in Britain are at income parity with their white counterparts.

Ethnic minority Britons have higher levels of social mobility than their white British counterparts.

Diversity schemes often end up benefiting middle-class minorities rather than those facing structural barriers regardless of race.

Differences Between Racial Histories in America and Britain

In this section, the speakers discuss the fundamental differences between racial histories in America and Britain. They argue that importing American racial culture to Britain cannot be taken seriously due to these differences.

American Racial History vs. British Racial History

African Americans have a relatively unified history compared to black British people, who have a story of heterogeneity due to different backgrounds.

Laws against interracial relationships existed in America but not in Britain.

Black Caribbean men in Britain are more likely to have a child with a white woman than a black woman.

The transcript is in English, and the notes are also written in English.

Multiculturalism and Social Cohesion

In this section, the speakers discuss the impact of multiculturalism on social cohesion in Britain and how it differs from the American narrative. They also talk about the challenges of creating an integrated society while respecting cultural differences.

Multiculturalism in Britain

The idea of cultural appropriation is not as powerful in Britain as it is in America.

The Equiano Project promotes universalism and a focus on creating a future society that values diversity.

Multiculturalism as a public policy categorizes people based on cultures, which can be damaging to social cohesion.

The speakers argue for conceiving of ourselves as one nation with equal footing rather than staying in fixed racial or cultural silos.

Challenges of Creating an Integrated Society

The speakers discuss the challenges of creating an integrated society while respecting cultural differences.

Multiculturalism has not worked well in Britain, despite being challenged by leaders like Angela Merkel and David Cameron.

America has taken a leaf out of Britain's book with its emphasis on multiculturalism, but it no longer functions as a melting pot.

Capitalizing B for black and W for white is seen as a backwards step towards segregating cultures rather than promoting unity.

Impact on Social Cohesion

Multiculturalism does damage to social cohesion by keeping people in static positions that are not progressive.

People who do not fit into traditional cultural roles may be seen as less authentic, which can further divide communities.

Indoctrination in Education

In this section, the speakers discuss the level of indoctrination in education and how it affects students' ability to form their own opinions.

Level of Indoctrination

The speakers discuss the extraordinary level of indoctrination in education.

They wonder how some people manage to come out with their own thoughts and judgments intact.

The speakers note that they have encountered many university students who share the same views on virtually everything.

Developing Independent Thinking

In this section, the speaker talks about how he developed a sense of suspicion towards ideological conformity and the need for cultivating independent-minded citizens.

Cultivating Suspicion Towards Ideological Conformity

The speaker developed a sense of suspicion towards anything that was too powerfully trying to say what to think versus how.

At university, the speaker distanced himself from ideological conformity quite early on.

Despite the fact that the country overwhelmingly voted one way in regards to the Brexit referendum, the speaker wasn't exposed to any pro-Brexit opinion at university.

Cultivating Independent-Minded Citizens

The tide is very one way at university, making it hard to cultivate independent-minded citizens.

People need to be aware that there is an alternative thinking that promotes harmony and emphasizes what unites us rather than divides us.

To get involved with promoting this alternative thinking, people can visit equinoproject.com and find information on how to participate in community events or become members.

Creating Alternatives for Extreme Division

In this section, the speaker discusses creating alternatives for extreme division and his involvement with organizations like Free Speech Union.

Creating Alternatives for Extreme Division

The Equino Project aims to create an alternative that champions our common humanity and emphasizes what unites us rather than divides us.

As we get closer to the precipice of extreme division, more organizations are starting up as a response.

We don't want everything defined by race in every single element and layer of our society.

Involvement with Free Speech Union

The speaker is on the board of Free Speech Union, which he thinks is a brilliant organization.

People need to say no to extreme division in their workplaces, schools, and organizations.

Moving Away from Division

In this section, the speaker talks about what moving away from division would look like and his hopes for the future.

Moving Away from Division

The speaker hopes that we don't get to the point of riots and violence seen in America.

We don't want everything defined by race in every single element and layer of our society.

Each individual needs to say no to extreme division in their workplaces, schools, and organizations.

Hopes for the Future

The speaker hopes that people will observe recent events and realize that we need to change as individuals and collectively.

We need to work towards promoting harmony rather than constant division.

Reminder to Subscribe to Save Our Statues Campaign

In this section, the speaker reminds the audience about their campaign, saveourstatues.org.uk and encourages them to subscribe.

The speaker thanks the audience for their participation in shaping and defending what they value.

The speaker reminds the audience about their campaign, saveourstatues.org.uk.

The speaker encourages the audience to subscribe to the campaign.