This book's point of view is similar to that of linguist and author John McWhorter. McWhorter, who is black, makes the observation that American blacks suffer from a culture of victimhood, racial separatism, and anti-intellectialism.
Campbell and Manning focus mainly on the victimhood part, but also touch on racial separatism as well. They report on a number of campus racial conflict incidents that have been well documented. These incidents have received deserved widespread condemnations of student protestor violence and intimidation.
The authors make the case of cultures in conflict. An honor culture, a dignity culture, and a victimhood culture. The honor culture is common in the South and in the inner city. "Insult me and I will harm or kill you." The dignity culture is more commonplace in the overall country. "Insult me and I will either shrug it off or verbally rebuke you. If things get out if hand, I will call the authorities." Victimhood culture is found in black communities and also amongst feminists and other minorities. "You (If you are white or male) owe me. You are the oppressor. I will inform the authorities of your behavior for punishment." The authors take the view that victimhood and honor cultures are less than desirable and that the dignity culture should replace the others--or such is my interpretation.
The authors definitely appear to have a conservative slant. I am a left of center liberal, but agree with a fair amount of their arguments. They do blunder on occasion, though. They cite a very small study which claimed 41% of rape claims were false. I have several family members that have been the victims of rape. The 41% greatly exceeds any credible # that I have heard of. Not saying, however, that false rape claims are not a problem.
The authors take on the issue of "social justice" rather poorly--I thought. They more or less dismiss it out of hand. I suppose they might subscribe to the meme that we are in, "The best of all possible worlds." This is the common narrative amongst conservative economists. Beggars on many street corners and bloody violence in our inner cities as opposed to luxurious waste amongst our well-to-do do not argue for, "Just another day in paradise." "Justice" is not a merely abstract concept, but a concept that is reflected in the way people live their lives. Poor children in this country of great wealth live in "unjust" circumstances--due to no fault of their own.
Finally, the authors claim that their arguments are "value-free" and only based on scientific data. When it comes to the social sciences, I think this is nonsense. Our sense of morality and ethics usually reflect our family upbringing and life experience. Those values provide the framing with which we approach social, economic, legal, philosophical, etc. problems. To claim "complete scientific objectivity" is a precious conceit. Also, while it is easy to make fun of "victimhood" as an ideology, the history of black oppression and the subordination of women in the US should not be forgotten and its negative outcomes should be addressed in this day and age.
Overall, though, a worthwhile book. Despite some of its shortcomings.
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Top reviews from other countries
David O 'Sullivan
a very good book on explaining this issue/trend of passively or actively embracing one's own life.
Reviewed in Canada 🇨🇦 on August 31, 2021
Pinko
Timely, given the chill in our classrooms these days.
Reviewed in Canada 🇨🇦 on September 24, 2018
