Oftentimes, when white dudes are criticized for saying and doing things they actually said and did, their critics are warned that holding them accountable for their actions might further alienate them or send them further into their cocoon of toxic whiteness. If we refer to white supremacist domestic terrorists as “terrorists,” they might do what white supremacist domestic terrorists do. Instead, we must call it “racial resentment” or “economic anxiety” or the “alt-right.” Anything else might further radicalize them. White insurrectionists are not insurrectionists; they are
tourists. (This only applies to white boys. Racially resentful Black people are “
thugs” or “
terrorists” or “
un-American.” Undocumented immigrants are “illegals.” Trans people are “
satanic.” Joe Rogan is a “
free thinker.”)
While this philosophy is biased, it is actually pretty accurate. Accusing a Republican of being racist often makes them care less about Black issues. It’s why a
University of Massachusetts poll recently found that two out of three Republicans believe that “America is in danger of losing its culture and identity” and “the Democratic Party is trying to replace the current electorate with voters from poorer countries around the world.”
The Atlantic found 62 percent of white people think America is “too politically correct” and “affirmative action has become so prevalent that white people now face reverse discrimination in hiring.” They are not bothered by racism as much as they are aggrieved by the responses to racism.
We did this to Joe Rogan.
Despite the assertions of
Don Lemon,
Michael Eric Dyson and most Rogan critics, until recently, Rogan was a pretty liberal, open-minded person whose tragic flaw was that he might have been too intellectually curious (sometimes, without the necessary intellect). He was unafraid to court controversy by publicly exploring polemic topics. But pointing out that people who are less intelligent and lack nuance might be attracted to the positions of his more noxious guests seems to have made Rogan more adamant about giving air to well-spoken dissenters. Now, he’s all in.