I have a large company, 5000 people and I like to think meritocracy, promotion based on merit is our culture and practice. A distinct pattern has emerged: Canadian born are not getting promoted. People, new to Canada keep moving forward, Canadian born underperform. The victimhood mentality is much more prevalent amongst the Canadian born. I don’t think it occurs to people who come from poor countries to dwell on trauma, in their country it is everywhere, they seem to except that as normal and strive to overcome. The academic left has captured education and the popular imagination with a lesson too well learned. They convinced us that we are victims, which makes the native born unfit for competition with people used to hardship and who are enthused about achievement.Professor McWhorter, I think undersells enthusiasm as an elixir. Whoa is me will get a pitiful outcome.
A teacher friend of mine, who's teaching in a high school where there is lots of CRT emphasis, tells me that even her Black students are complaining about the unrelenting emphasis on black victimization past and present in some of their classes.
It wouldn't be difficult to correlate the characteristics of the victimhood mindset described the The Scientific American article mentioned by John with the depression-enhancing cognitive dysfunctions explained in the classic self-help book "Feeling Good" by David Burns.
I recently tried to google the question of whether CRT in the schools causes depression among the students, especially among Black kids (no luck: instead all that comes up is stuff like this: "Critical race theory provides a much‐needed framework for improving the study of race and racism's influence on psychological health and illness.") I imagine that there are therapists, teachers, parents and mentors out there who are trying to help kids develop mentally-healthy, effective attitudes for dealing with the world and their personal circumstances within it, but they're probably afraid to speak out about any observations on the harmfulness and helplessness contributed by these victimhood messages.
Those who embrace their victimhood have a built-in excuse for failure, or for underachieving relative to their inner standards. This can be enormously comforting.
Interestingly, the research you linked to was done in Israel by and on Israeli Jews. I am an Israeli born Jew myself who was raised in a heavily Zionist milieu in the United States including an almost majority Jewish neighborhood, Hebrew School, and Zionist youth movement/camp/ trips to Israel.
Both the authors and I note the pervasive collective victimhood mindset among Jewish Israelis (and by extension, the Jewish Zionist diaspora). I was, in fact, socialized to this mindset in the various Zionist spaces I occupied. Educational activities in these spaces was guided by an obsessive focus on the Holocaust and other historical Jewish oppression, despite the overall privileged status of Jews in the United States and prosperity and stability of Israel. Victimhood seems baked into Jewish identity, Zionist, and non-Zionist alike. Many holidays are recitations of Jewish victimhood - most prominently Passover, Purim, and Hanukkah- though there is an element of resistance in all these narratives as well. There is an entire holiday devoted to blanket Jewish victimhood called Tisha B'av, which commemorates the destruction of the Temple in Jerusalem.
This obsessive focus on Jewish oppression, coupled with an equally obsessive sense of Jewish pride (often bleeding into chauvinism), was used implicitly and explicitly to justify Israel's actions vis-a-vis the Palestinians. As with "Electism," Zionism is a kind of secular gospel, preached with the same degree of zealotry. Meanwhile, the Palestinians were/are caught up in their own victimhood narrative.It's a tragic cycle, which I see repeated in some of the pushback to "Electism," which takes on its own rigid and doctrinaire character.
Long story short, I recognize a lot of similarities between the anti-racist victimhood mindset John laments here and the Zionist victimhood mindset that I was socialized in as a youth. This can be a difficult connection for people to make because being hyper critical of Zionism is almost always associated with leftwing politics broadly speaking (and is quite popular amongst the most radical elements of the left). Oddly, at least to my mind, this is the same camp that embraces critical race theory inspired anti-racism. Accordingly, support for Zionism is most prominent in rightwing circles, where criticism of critical race theory inspired anti-racism is most vocal and vociferous.
A closer look reveals that strong identification with Zionist ideology and identity, and strong identification with critical race theory inspired anti-racism both arise out of a similar embrace of the victimhood mindset. Both are understandable and somewhat functional reactions to monumental long lasting oppression. Both, however, are not compatible with liberal democratic values and norms in an open and pluralistic society. Both are harmful to the psychology of those who subscribe to the gospel. Both engender push back that tends to be equally zealous.
I think the way forward is a more nuanced and less dogmatic sort of pushback.
I highly recommend Helmut Schoeck’s book, “Envy: A Theory of Social Behavior”. IMO it offers the clearest window into the unconscious mindset of the Woke or as you’ve dubbed them, the “Elect”. John — you might especially appreciate chapter 2: “Envy in Language.” Would love to hear your thoughts on it.
Bravo, John. What a concise, cogent piece of journalism. The links to research are very useful and compelling. Have you disseminated this article beyond Substack? It deserves a wide audience.
John, again you showcase an amazing clarity of thought. The victimhood mentality you describe is the opposite of empowerment. It diminishes the individual and drives one to despair.
John, Love your writing and thought. But as a linguist you should understand that, in the language of the internet, ALL CAPS is the equivalent of shouting. Dial back the subject lines.
I just read Salon's piece on an appearance by Mr. McWhorter on Fox. How do you debate people who always deny that their ideas are their ideas whenever you call them out. It's impossible.
Here’s a thought; what if the very concept of “Intelligence” is totally arbitrary, created to measure ones’ perceived ability to master skills the white patriarchy deems valuable? Take reading, for example. Almost all books in print center the white gaze. Where are the rich oral traditions from indigenous and African cultures?
This is laughable. There is no corner of American society more snobbish, as in sans nobilis, than private prep schools. In the first years after college, when meeting a certain type in a social setting, one was greeted by “Where did you go to school”? That meant prep school, not college. Students inhabit islands worlds away from public school plebes, with after school riding, la crosse, and private buses. The sense of superiority is baked in; don’t ever doubt it, especially now. Headmasters and mistresses of mainly middle-upper middle class origins affect upper class manners, speech, and clothes. I attended one, briefly, against my will. I eventually majored in sociology --as a kid, I noticed these things.
I think what we’re seeing from that corner of the world is the latest form of snobbery. It’s either bellicose, F-you arrogance or calculated condescension. The former is in nearly every line of Taylor’s manic treatise on critical race theory. A letter from a Brearley student in response to the furor at that school fairly dripped the latter. Hard to miss: Guttman is a plebe. This is snobbery, the islands in the midst of the masses.
The juxtaposition of the photograph of the leafy, Riverdale entrance, and the headmaster’s manifesto on what is indisputably a form of Marxism belongs in Spy magazine. Once again where are they when you need them.
That Kaufman quote, though - isn't that the beauty of the struggle of life. I'm an older white woman - I've had a few things in my day that allowed "victim" into my experiences. Shocking, right? White folks shouldn't have any negative experiences in life, right? And for a while in my young life, I allowed myself to sink into that victimhood. But as I grew, and found God and WISE people to give me wise counsel, I began to see what I was doing...TO MYSELF. Yeah, I was wronged, but the wrong I was doing to myself was far worse than anyone was able to do to me. I got it, found a new lease on life, and began to see the BEAUTY in that growth. Believer or not, you have to see, right, that those struggles, those real life HURTS and then healing make a person. I hate what happened. I hate more how I allowed it to seep into my being for so long.
Why is it that other racial and ethnic groups don’t respond this way? Jews have been victimized over centuries in every possible way and yet don’t see themselves as primarily victims. And what about Chinese immigrants to the US who were openly discriminated against, Japanese who were interned during WWII, and even Irish immigrants mistreated in various ways - you know “no dogs or Irish admitted.” Is there a lesson here?
I have benefitted greatly from my close association with military physicians of color over the last 14 years. To the person, they tell stories of being subject to different forms of racism, sometimes relatively benign stereotyping or on the other extreme, frightening encounters with authority. However troubling these moments may have been, they don’t appear to be defined by them. On the contrary, I think that many have relished the opportunity to aggressively compete and to symbolically silence the few pathetic human speedbumps they’ve encountered on the road to success and even fortune.
In my opinion, there are hundreds even thousands of current, former and retired military professionals with whom your message resonates and would answer a call to action
When in doubt, pray. Ask for God's help to get ourselves back on track. Arguing isms and issues is a word game and does not lead to the serenity experienced as repeating the Serenity Prayer. It has served me well and remains my go to for Sanity!
I have a large company, 5000 people and I like to think meritocracy, promotion based on merit is our culture and practice. A distinct pattern has emerged: Canadian born are not getting promoted. People, new to Canada keep moving forward, Canadian born underperform. The victimhood mentality is much more prevalent amongst the Canadian born. I don’t think it occurs to people who come from poor countries to dwell on trauma, in their country it is everywhere, they seem to except that as normal and strive to overcome. The academic left has captured education and the popular imagination with a lesson too well learned. They convinced us that we are victims, which makes the native born unfit for competition with people used to hardship and who are enthused about achievement.Professor McWhorter, I think undersells enthusiasm as an elixir. Whoa is me will get a pitiful outcome.
A teacher friend of mine, who's teaching in a high school where there is lots of CRT emphasis, tells me that even her Black students are complaining about the unrelenting emphasis on black victimization past and present in some of their classes.
It wouldn't be difficult to correlate the characteristics of the victimhood mindset described the The Scientific American article mentioned by John with the depression-enhancing cognitive dysfunctions explained in the classic self-help book "Feeling Good" by David Burns.
I recently tried to google the question of whether CRT in the schools causes depression among the students, especially among Black kids (no luck: instead all that comes up is stuff like this: "Critical race theory provides a much‐needed framework for improving the study of race and racism's influence on psychological health and illness.") I imagine that there are therapists, teachers, parents and mentors out there who are trying to help kids develop mentally-healthy, effective attitudes for dealing with the world and their personal circumstances within it, but they're probably afraid to speak out about any observations on the harmfulness and helplessness contributed by these victimhood messages.
Those who embrace their victimhood have a built-in excuse for failure, or for underachieving relative to their inner standards. This can be enormously comforting.
It seems to me the key is deciding whether you want to be a victim and a survivor of circumstances in life.
Interestingly, the research you linked to was done in Israel by and on Israeli Jews. I am an Israeli born Jew myself who was raised in a heavily Zionist milieu in the United States including an almost majority Jewish neighborhood, Hebrew School, and Zionist youth movement/camp/ trips to Israel.
Both the authors and I note the pervasive collective victimhood mindset among Jewish Israelis (and by extension, the Jewish Zionist diaspora). I was, in fact, socialized to this mindset in the various Zionist spaces I occupied. Educational activities in these spaces was guided by an obsessive focus on the Holocaust and other historical Jewish oppression, despite the overall privileged status of Jews in the United States and prosperity and stability of Israel. Victimhood seems baked into Jewish identity, Zionist, and non-Zionist alike. Many holidays are recitations of Jewish victimhood - most prominently Passover, Purim, and Hanukkah- though there is an element of resistance in all these narratives as well. There is an entire holiday devoted to blanket Jewish victimhood called Tisha B'av, which commemorates the destruction of the Temple in Jerusalem.
This obsessive focus on Jewish oppression, coupled with an equally obsessive sense of Jewish pride (often bleeding into chauvinism), was used implicitly and explicitly to justify Israel's actions vis-a-vis the Palestinians. As with "Electism," Zionism is a kind of secular gospel, preached with the same degree of zealotry. Meanwhile, the Palestinians were/are caught up in their own victimhood narrative.It's a tragic cycle, which I see repeated in some of the pushback to "Electism," which takes on its own rigid and doctrinaire character.
Long story short, I recognize a lot of similarities between the anti-racist victimhood mindset John laments here and the Zionist victimhood mindset that I was socialized in as a youth. This can be a difficult connection for people to make because being hyper critical of Zionism is almost always associated with leftwing politics broadly speaking (and is quite popular amongst the most radical elements of the left). Oddly, at least to my mind, this is the same camp that embraces critical race theory inspired anti-racism. Accordingly, support for Zionism is most prominent in rightwing circles, where criticism of critical race theory inspired anti-racism is most vocal and vociferous.
A closer look reveals that strong identification with Zionist ideology and identity, and strong identification with critical race theory inspired anti-racism both arise out of a similar embrace of the victimhood mindset. Both are understandable and somewhat functional reactions to monumental long lasting oppression. Both, however, are not compatible with liberal democratic values and norms in an open and pluralistic society. Both are harmful to the psychology of those who subscribe to the gospel. Both engender push back that tends to be equally zealous.
I think the way forward is a more nuanced and less dogmatic sort of pushback.
I highly recommend Helmut Schoeck’s book, “Envy: A Theory of Social Behavior”. IMO it offers the clearest window into the unconscious mindset of the Woke or as you’ve dubbed them, the “Elect”. John — you might especially appreciate chapter 2: “Envy in Language.” Would love to hear your thoughts on it.
Bravo, John. What a concise, cogent piece of journalism. The links to research are very useful and compelling. Have you disseminated this article beyond Substack? It deserves a wide audience.
John, again you showcase an amazing clarity of thought. The victimhood mentality you describe is the opposite of empowerment. It diminishes the individual and drives one to despair.
John, Love your writing and thought. But as a linguist you should understand that, in the language of the internet, ALL CAPS is the equivalent of shouting. Dial back the subject lines.
I just read Salon's piece on an appearance by Mr. McWhorter on Fox. How do you debate people who always deny that their ideas are their ideas whenever you call them out. It's impossible.
https://www.salon.com/2021/04/24/fox-news-guest-claims-the-hyper-woke-believe-in-a-world-where-black-people-dont-have-to-do-math/
Here’s a thought; what if the very concept of “Intelligence” is totally arbitrary, created to measure ones’ perceived ability to master skills the white patriarchy deems valuable? Take reading, for example. Almost all books in print center the white gaze. Where are the rich oral traditions from indigenous and African cultures?
This is laughable. There is no corner of American society more snobbish, as in sans nobilis, than private prep schools. In the first years after college, when meeting a certain type in a social setting, one was greeted by “Where did you go to school”? That meant prep school, not college. Students inhabit islands worlds away from public school plebes, with after school riding, la crosse, and private buses. The sense of superiority is baked in; don’t ever doubt it, especially now. Headmasters and mistresses of mainly middle-upper middle class origins affect upper class manners, speech, and clothes. I attended one, briefly, against my will. I eventually majored in sociology --as a kid, I noticed these things.
I think what we’re seeing from that corner of the world is the latest form of snobbery. It’s either bellicose, F-you arrogance or calculated condescension. The former is in nearly every line of Taylor’s manic treatise on critical race theory. A letter from a Brearley student in response to the furor at that school fairly dripped the latter. Hard to miss: Guttman is a plebe. This is snobbery, the islands in the midst of the masses.
The juxtaposition of the photograph of the leafy, Riverdale entrance, and the headmaster’s manifesto on what is indisputably a form of Marxism belongs in Spy magazine. Once again where are they when you need them.
That Kaufman quote, though - isn't that the beauty of the struggle of life. I'm an older white woman - I've had a few things in my day that allowed "victim" into my experiences. Shocking, right? White folks shouldn't have any negative experiences in life, right? And for a while in my young life, I allowed myself to sink into that victimhood. But as I grew, and found God and WISE people to give me wise counsel, I began to see what I was doing...TO MYSELF. Yeah, I was wronged, but the wrong I was doing to myself was far worse than anyone was able to do to me. I got it, found a new lease on life, and began to see the BEAUTY in that growth. Believer or not, you have to see, right, that those struggles, those real life HURTS and then healing make a person. I hate what happened. I hate more how I allowed it to seep into my being for so long.
Why is it that other racial and ethnic groups don’t respond this way? Jews have been victimized over centuries in every possible way and yet don’t see themselves as primarily victims. And what about Chinese immigrants to the US who were openly discriminated against, Japanese who were interned during WWII, and even Irish immigrants mistreated in various ways - you know “no dogs or Irish admitted.” Is there a lesson here?
Thank you Prof. McWhorter.
I have benefitted greatly from my close association with military physicians of color over the last 14 years. To the person, they tell stories of being subject to different forms of racism, sometimes relatively benign stereotyping or on the other extreme, frightening encounters with authority. However troubling these moments may have been, they don’t appear to be defined by them. On the contrary, I think that many have relished the opportunity to aggressively compete and to symbolically silence the few pathetic human speedbumps they’ve encountered on the road to success and even fortune.
In my opinion, there are hundreds even thousands of current, former and retired military professionals with whom your message resonates and would answer a call to action
When in doubt, pray. Ask for God's help to get ourselves back on track. Arguing isms and issues is a word game and does not lead to the serenity experienced as repeating the Serenity Prayer. It has served me well and remains my go to for Sanity!