Summary
Think of the Democrats’ identity politics like overseasoning a dish. It started with a good intention to bring out flavors, addressing societal inequalities, but they’ve poured too much into it, making the dish unpalatable to many voters. The article suggests they need to find a balance, like a chef would, celebrating diversity but avoiding the extremes that have led to discrimination and alienation, and instead embracing a universal vision of equal treatment for all, regardless of their identity group. This shift could be like the secret recipe to regain their connection with the everyday voters.
Key Points
• Democrats are reconsidering the role of identity politics in their coalition after Trump’s 2024 victory where he gained significant ground with diverse voters.
• Some Democrats argue that identity politics failed electorally and strategically, leading to calls for its elimination within the party.
• Progressives who pushed for identity politics had noble intentions but made a mistake in assuming that the majority would support pursuing equity instead of equality.
• There is a risk of overcorrecting and discarding essential tools for connection and understanding, therefore, Democrats need a guiding principle.
• The most promising guiding principle is equal treatment, as majorities of every racial group value it and see how much good the civil-rights movement did by rooting itself in this ideal.
Background
• Identity politics has been a significant part of the Democratic Party, with politicians like Kamala Harris appearing to embrace their narrative. However, the 2024 election results have spurred reconsideration of its role in the party.
• At the height of the “Great Awokening,” some progressive intellectuals saw identity politics as the future of liberalism and advocated for more radical measures to address societal inequalities.
• The concept of “treating groups differently” for the sake of true equality, however, has turned out to be politically unsustainable.
Future Implications
• The Democratic Party must find a balance between celebrating diversity and rejecting harmful identity-politics excesses. This adjustment may affect the party’s future electoral performance.
• Equal treatment for all will require repudiating racially discriminatory practices, which could result in a shift in the party’s policy direction and public perception.
• The stance Democrats take on identity politics and equal treatment could potentially influence the broader discourse on race and equality in American society.
