The big problem w/& #39;countering extremism& #39; framing is that it profoundly (& dangerously) mistakes the nature of racism: & #39;extremists& #39; arent picking up their ideas & attitudes from obscure 8chan sites, but from a deep, rich vein w/in our collective intellectual, cultural, social life

We need to start from the position that we are all vulnerable to racist thinking & actions because of this heritage & its ongoing resonances & effects. We wont be able to tackle racism if we so underestimate & misunderstand its sources, roots & what continues to give it sustenanc

It& #39;s really not a good idea to start from a position that the & #39;mainsteam& #39; right, liberals, the left, libertarians or whatever are somehow on one side , untainted by racist thinking or actions, with the & #39;far right& #39; (or & #39;far left& #39;) the onyl ones contaminated by it. This is wishful,

naive, and frankly ignorant thinking. If you don& #39;t know abt the racism in your tradition or movement frankly you don& #39;t know your movement or you& #39;re being dishonest. It is a nice story to think racism isn& #39;t at the heart of our history and who we are, but it& #39;s a story that prevents

us from spotting the dangers, understanding what is plain in front of us. Of course there are some who are principally motivated by racism, & they are ofc much much worse. But their relatively greater success recently proves the breadth & depth of the ideas theyre tapping into