Uses and Abuses of Antiracism

Walter Benn Michaels discusses class politics in relation to identity politics. He suggests the re-location of the gap between ‘us’ and ‘other’ in the economic divide. To Michaels, identity politics are mainly a vehicle to emphasize easily affirmable differences which translate into ‘racial’ identities, but ultimately distract from the larger issues in terms of inequality. Drawing from statistical data on the correlation of ‘race,’ affiliation and wealth, Michaels analyzes contemporary activist movements from a perspective critical of capitalism, arguing for the necessity of class politics (instead of identity politics) in order to enable social and political change.