White Fear and US Racism in the Era of Obama: The Relevance of Neoliberalism

Abstract

Despite having more access to wealth and political influence than other groups, many White Americans perceive themselves-- perhaps more than ever--as victims of political correctness and state sponsored reverse discrimination. In light of these concerns, I make three general points in this article. First, I argue that the presumed shift away from neoliberalism by Obama's "big government" has spurred an anti-statist backlash in the US that draws from, and reinforces, the myth of white victimhood. Second, I address how neoliberalism and post-racialism (which Obama embraces) are mutually supportive ideologies that sustain the racial status quo. Lastly, I suggest that challenging contemporary structures of racial inequity requires anti-racist measures that break completely from the neoliberal/post-racial paradigm. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]