Direct self-interest weakly drives Whites’ racial political behavior

Evidence

We believe that racism has been an integral part of the American legal system since its founding, rather than an aberrational spot on the pristine white body politic. Racial progress is not necessarily inevitable, but may be cyclical. Gains often occur only if they are within white power elite self-interest (Bell, 1980). We thus reject the notion that the legal system has ever been color-blind, and specifically embrace color-consciousness and identity politics as the way to rectify today’s racist legal legacies (Gotanda, 1991). — David Theo Goldberg, John Solomos, A Companion to Racial and Ethnic Studies, 1153 (#complicates, via linked claim)

Categorization

• corroborated: 2 independent passages support this claim
• XREF: connects to: Mortality salience shifts Whites’ racial-pride and discrimination judgments in favor of their own race. — Jeff Greenberg and Spee Kosloff, Terror Management Theory: Implications…, 44; Racial attitudes influence white Americans’ policy and candidate preferences beyond ideology — John T. Jost and Jim Sidanius, Political Psychology, 3600; Racial progress is cyclical and occurs only within white elite self-interest — David Theo Goldberg, John Solomos, A Companion to Racial and Ethnic Studies, 1153 (+2 more)

Broader Connections

• Racial progress is cyclical and occurs only within white elite self-interest #complicates (0.78) — David Theo Goldberg, John Solomos, A Companion to Racial and Ethnic Studies, 1153