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Wesley Lowery Discusses "American Whitelash" and its Connection to the Supreme Court Affirmative Action Rulings
Pulitzer-Prize-winning journalist Wesley Lowery engaged in a thought-provoking discussion with Axios Senior Political Reporter Eugene Scott at the Martin Luther King Jr. Memorial Library. The conversation revolved around Lowery's book, "American Whitelash: A Changing Nation and the Cost of Progress." In the conversation Lowery and Scott also reacted to the Supreme Court ruling on college admissions programs.
The discussion was held hours after the landmark Supreme Court ruling in Students for Fair Admissions declared race-conscious admissions policies at Harvard and the University of North Carolina unconstitutional. This landmark decision has significant implications for colleges and universities nationwide, prompting an evaluation of the decision as a form of "Whitelash."
"So it's interesting is that this book looks at and focuses very specifically and very directly on violence of avowed white supremacists," said Lowery. "But, what we also see in these moments are the ways in which white supremacist structures and systems are wielded as means of slowing down, preventing or undoing the appearance or the perception of racialized progress."
In "American Whitelash," Lowery looks at the rise of racial resentment, racial violence and the efforts of white supremacists to sow division and incite violence within Black communities following the 2008 election of Barack Obama. Lowery's insightful analysis explores the setbacks caused by systemic racism and the barriers that hinder equity.
The event was made possible through the Library's partnership with The Washington Association of Black Journalists with support from the DC Public Library Foundation. To view the discussion click here.