Speaking of Race

November 9, 2020
Roberts-Miller (Rhetoric and Demagoguery), a professor of rhetoric at the University of Texas, breaks down the reasons why disagreements about racism go off the rails so quickly, and explains how to get them back on track, in this useful and well-articulated guide. The core issue, according to Roberts-Miller, is that many people “misunderstand what racism is and how it works.” She contends that “liking or saying something racist doesn’t necessarily mean that you are a horrible and hateful person,” and compares systemic racism to wheelchair-inaccessible buildings (“a sort of bigotry that is so widespread that participating in it doesn’t require conscious thought—it can rely on thoughtlessness”). By finding common ground on the idea that racism can be unintentional, Roberts-Miller writes, people can avoid the first mistake in arguments about racism: “making it about how stupid/misguided/ignorant the other person is for having the position they do.” She also discusses how confirmation bias and in-group favoritism lead to racist stereotyping, and advises readers on how to “consider context” and “understand the role of privilege” when interrogating their own beliefs and actions. Packed with helpful examples and analogies, this lucid account takes a meaningful step toward “reducing racism in our world.”