S7E23 White Grievance and the Common Good - The Two Kens

In this new episode of the Two Kens, Ken Fong and I explore a growing movement that claims white Americans have become an "unprotected class" in modern America. Sparked by the ideas of author and Claremont Institute fellow Jeremy Carl, whose book The Unprotected Class argues that anti-white discrimination is widespread, we examine the resurgence of white identity politics at a moment when DEI initiatives and anti-racism efforts are facing significant backlash.

We discuss the concept of racism as a perceived zero-sum game—the belief that gains for minorities necessarily mean losses for the dominant culture—and how that narrative is shaping today's political landscape. Along the way, we ask a surprisingly complicated question: What does it mean to be "white" in America? We contrast the emerging politics of white grievance with Martin Luther King Jr.'s vision of a color-blind society and consider whether America's future lies in competing racial identities or in a renewed commitment to common dignity, solidarity, and the common good.

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