White people alone must dismantle the idea of whiteness for America to change

Evidence

If we are going to change how we see black people, white people—and only white people can do this—will have to kill the idea of white people. It is the precondition of America’s release into a different, democratic future. If we don’t do this, we condemn ourselves to whatever tragedy awaits at the end of our current path. — Eddie S. Glaude Jr., Democracy in Black, 552

Categorization

• QUESTION: Worth interrogating the claim that ‘only white people can’ kill the idea of white people — it conflicts with readings of Black-led collective action as the engine of change, and is central to assessing how his politics aged.