‘Indecency has become a new hallmark’: writer and historian Jelani Cobb on race in Donald Trump’s America

The notion of racial politics being secondary to economic concerns, an idea peddled by Trump and his allies, has been a hallmark of American elections for years. However, it is crucial to understand the complexities behind this phenomenon.

As Jelani Cobb notes, in many instances, identity politics are not created but rather forced upon groups who were marginalized or excluded from power. The Democratic party's fixation on economic populism and social justice often overlooks its own complicity in these dynamics.

The author's point that the Trump campaign focused on appealing to white voters' insecurities is well-taken. However, it would be misleading to suggest that this was a new development. Throughout his career, Trump has been adept at mobilizing white-identity politics, exploiting fears and anxieties among white Americans.

In recent times, we have witnessed a resurgence of white nationalist ideologies, and the language used by politicians like Trump has become increasingly stark. His administration's efforts to purge diversity, equity, and inclusion initiatives have only exacerbated this problem, creating an environment where extremism can flourish.

Moreover, the concentration of power in the executive branch and the erosion of democratic institutions have contributed to a climate of fear and repression. The current state of affairs is not new; history has shown us that America's commitment to democracy has been tenuous at best.

Cobb's assertion that we should be mindful of the possibility of our country returning to its racist roots undercuts this notion. This concern arises from a broader understanding of American history, which shows that periods of exceptionalism and progress have always been intertwined with darker undertones. The ongoing struggle for racial justice is a reminder that the fight against systemic racism must remain at the forefront of public discourse.

Ultimately, Cobb's book serves as a powerful warning about the dangers of complacency and the need to continue fighting for democracy and human rights in America.

omg i just finished reading this article and tbh its so deep i mean trump and his crew saying economic issues are more important than racial politics is like, super simplistic right? idk about you guys but im still convinced that identity politics are a real thing that people get forced into when they dont have power my friend went through this with her family and its like, super heartbreaking. but for real though Cobb's book is like, so needed we need to keep fighting for racial justice in america the current state of affairs is wild im not sure how much longer america can keep pretending like everything is okay

I think Trump's rise was always gonna be about tapping into white people's fears ... like, have you seen his rallies? they're all about "us vs them" and it's super concerning. The way he talks about immigrants and Mexicans, it's like he's trying to stir up some serious drama . And yeah, we need to keep an eye on white nationalism, 'cause if we don't, it could get outta control . But at the same time, I think Cobb is right that racism isn't always just about one guy or party... like, the system's got its own issues too . Anyway, Trump's definitely made things more polarized and toxic , but we gotta keep talking about these problems 'cause someone's gotta be the voice of reason

I think it's really interesting how Trump's campaign worked on tapping into white anxieties . I mean, we've seen this before with politicians like Nixon and Reagan, but Trump just seemed to take it to a whole new level . And you're right, the current state of affairs isn't exactly new – I mean, we've been living in a world where systemic racism is a thing since, like, forever . But what's different now is that the language and tone of some politicians have become really stark, which is scaring a lot of people . It's not just about Trump, either – it's about the broader erosion of democratic institutions and the concentration of power in the executive branch . We need to keep talking about racism and equality, even when it feels uncomfortable or difficult .

I dont really get why we gotta focus on economic stuff tho? Like, cant we talk about racial issues too?? I mean im all for jobs and stuff but racism is still super important I just saw this video of a kid doing a prank where he pretended to be a police officer and it was SO funny but also kinda disturbing...like why do ppl do that?

I'm like totally confused by people who think racial politics are secondary to economic concerns . I mean, come on, they're not even acknowledging the elephant in the room! Identity politics aren't being created, they're just being forced upon groups that have been marginalized for so long. It's like, hello, racism is still a thing and we need to be addressing it . And yeah, Trump and his crew know exactly how to tap into people's insecurities, but that doesn't make it okay . We can't just ignore the fact that white nationalist ideologies are on the rise and our government is doing everything in its power to suppress diversity and inclusion initiatives. It's not just a matter of politics, it's about basic human rights . We need to be having these conversations and holding our leaders accountable for their actions .

I cant even believe the audacity of people who think we can just ignore racial politics like it's not a thing anymore. I mean, come on, we've been down this road before and look where it got us Trump's whole campaign was about tapping into white people's insecurities and fears, but like, that's not new news he's been doing that since day one.

And don't even get me started on how the Democratic party is always trying to balance economic populism with social justice it's like they think we can just forget about racism for a hot second. Newsflash: we cant and the fact that Cobb is saying this is so true is what's giving me anxiety .

We need to be acknowledging our country's racist history and the ways in which we're still struggling today it's not like progress has been linear or anything . And yes, Trump's administration has definitely made things worse, but let's not pretend like this is a new problem .

I think Cobb's point about America potentially returning to its racist roots is a super valid one we need to stay vigilant and keep fighting for racial justice . Otherwise, I'm just gonna be over here stressing about the state of our country

I'm not convinced that we're just seeing a resurgence of old ideologies because of Trump. I mean, have you seen his approval ratings? People are still pretty happy with him . Plus, it's easy to say that white nationalism is rising when you look at the surface level. What about all the white people who aren't into that stuff? Are they just suddenly going to start supporting extremist groups?

And I don't buy the idea that Trump's campaign was some kind of radical departure from politics as usual. Look at the 2016 election, for example - wasn't there already a pretty significant divide between the GOP and the rest of America on issues like immigration? It feels like we're just now realizing how deep-seated those divisions are.

I also want to see some actual data or stats on how much more extreme Trump's language has become. Is it really that stark? Or is that just something that's getting a lot more attention because it's convenient for the narrative?

OMG, can you even believe how messed up our politics are? Like, I get it, economic stuff is important but come on, we can't just ignore the racism and inequality that's still super prevalent in this country . I mean, Trump and his crew are all about playing on people's fears and anxieties, but let's be real, that's not new. He's always been a master of white-identity politics and it's only gotten worse under him . And don't even get me started on the purge of diversity initiatives - like, what is wrong with this admin? . We need to be aware of our history and how we can easily slip back into racist roots . The fight for racial justice is real and it's still so important that we keep pushing for human rights in America .

can't believe we still haven't acknowledged our racist past America's history is messy, but we gotta own it. Trump might've stirred up white anxiety, but we all know racism was there long before him

I'm still trying to wrap my head around this whole "identity politics" thing . I mean, it sounds like these politicians are pitting people against each other to get votes. Like, what's next? They're just gonna keep stirring up the pot until we can't take it anymore . And don't even get me started on how Trump's rhetoric is basically fueling white nationalism . It's crazy how our system is so flawed that we're still dealing with this stuff in 2025. We need to be having these conversations about racism and inequality, like Cobb says, not just when it's convenient for the party in power .

I just saw this thread and I'm like totally out of the loop ... but seriously, I think Jelani Cobb is hitting the nail on the head here. The whole identity politics thing can be super complex, but what really gets me is how much the Democratic party's focus on economic populism kinda ignores its own role in perpetuating these dynamics. Like, they're trying to appeal to all these groups at once and it's hard to know who's really being heard ...

Trump's latest move? Make white ppl feel uncomfortable again I mean, come on, who doesn't love being told they're not welcome? It's like, dude, we get it, you're trying to stoke the fires of racism... again And don't even get me started on the whole "economic concerns" thing. Like, no one actually believes that's more important than racial tensions, right?

I'm totally with Jelani Cobb on this one . It's easy to say that identity politics is the problem, but the thing is, these issues have been forced upon marginalized groups for centuries... it's not like they just magically decided to become activists, you know? The system has always had flaws and it's only natural that people are fighting back against those injustices . And let's be real, Trump's whole "white identity politics" thing is nothing new, but now he's got the megaphone to spread his toxic ideology . We can't just dismiss this as a one-off event or say it's all just about Trump - the systemic problems are what need to be addressed .

this is getting crazy ... like what even is going on anymore? we're supposed to be living in a country where everyone has an equal say, but instead it feels like there's this undercurrent of fear and hatred that's just simmering beneath the surface... and trump is just the tip of the iceberg, right? he's not the first one to play on people's insecurities, but what's worrying me is how widespread this kind of thing is getting... i mean, we're seeing more and more white nationalist stuff popping up everywhere... it's like our democracy is literally being eroded from the inside out