"Read Settlers" is a meme, but it's also a true meme. You should read it, or read other things about this thesis regarding the white working class in the US (I've heard other Marxists have since improved on Sakai's thesis but I don't know who they are).
White Americans are doubling down on the racism. As white settler colonialism is starting to face just a little bit of opposition (like teaching kids that maybe the US isn't a perfect, God-blessed country), they are losing their minds over the idea of losing even a tiny bit of their privileges. This is still a perfectly material explanation. White folks have enjoyed an incredible level of privilege since the beginning of this country and they will fight viciously to keep all of it.
IMO the bulk of white Americans are a lost cause. Not to say white folks can't be revolutionary (I'm white), but I think we probably should be spending our very limited time and resources on folks outside the imperial core break from western imperialism, and focus on the oppressed within the core. Any white Americans who want to join in are welcome but any concession to white supremacy is unacceptable.
Edit: to clarify, I'm not saying the Dems lost because racism or whatever. I don't care if the Dems win or lose, it doesn't matter. My point is much more about using electoral results and the campaigns that precede them to see where winds are blowing. It seems that "CRT" and fear-mongering about crime (and thus the need to fund even more cops) was a very effective message in appealing to large segments of the population - particularly the white population.
i agree. some white people have the ability to be radicalized but it is way more of an uphill battle than most (white) activists/ liberals/ leftists admit and more than I think even black activists, liberals, leftists etc want to admit. Regardless, if you're a poc and you find yourself figuring out whether you should lean in to explain something / accommodate some white person or persuade them that you're worthy of respect, don't. just smoke weed instead
If they haven’t figured it out by now, they’re not gonna. BLM was a loud wake up call for anyone still in denial about this country. Time spent convincing a racist is time wasted.
Yeah I like how you described it here. It's not impossible but it's gonna require expending a lot more energy, and something no poc comrades should feel any obligation to take part in. I hate to admit it but I know there are times in my life where trying to get me to where I am now would have absolutely been a waste of energy. I feel like when you grow up white in the US you get all these... walls? built up in your brain that you first need to tear down yourself. I don't know of that makes sense.