I don’t think he’s a “grifter.” Kendi thought is just the logical combination of three mainstream progressive ideas:
1) (a) The history and experience of Black people in America is sui generis and (b) justifies responses that don’t need to be generalizable or measure up to ordinary standards of procedural fairness.
2) the “bootstraps”approach of Kendi’s parent’s generation has failed.
3) bureaucratic institutions operated by well meaning credentialed people can solve every problem.
Really, the only area where I substantively disagree with him is (3)—the white people in charge of bureaucratic institutions will inevitably use any special powers given to them to advance their own economic and cultural interests.
1) (a) The history and experience of Black people in America is sui generis and (b) justifies responses that don’t need to be generalizable or measure up to ordinary standards of procedural fairness.
2) the “bootstraps”approach of Kendi’s parent’s generation has failed.
3) bureaucratic institutions operated by well meaning credentialed people can solve every problem.
Really, the only area where I substantively disagree with him is (3)—the white people in charge of bureaucratic institutions will inevitably use any special powers given to them to advance their own economic and cultural interests.