A Post-Black World?

One of the most promising and troubling proclivities of postmodern identity exploration is the argument that long-held identity markers have become more porous or completely disentangled. Among the more absurd maneuvers along this trajectory is the "post-Blackness" discourse that emerged in the 90s and came to full fruition with the election of Barack Obama. A new book by MSNBC correspondent, contributing editor to Rolling Stone, and author of three previous books Toure takes on this daunting task.

While I haven't yet read the book, there is an interesting review in the New York Times Sunday book review section: NYT. I do not want to critique the arguments laid out in a book I haven't read, nor to cast my white gaze too acutely on a subject that will always be alien to me. Instead I want to look at the ramifications of the discourse. It is certainly positive to consider the Black artist and scholar freed from the dark shadow of the collective past, pigeon-holed into writing about their experiences and thoughts from a "Black" perspective." It is certainly also true that identity has become more fluid and that the next generation (at least in urban centers) appears to have cast aside many of the prejudices that once dominated the cultural landscape.

What troubles me is the ramifications of eliminating important points of connection that can be used in the struggle for social justice and democracy. Postmodernism too often ends up atomizing the public into minute groups that would find it hard to have the political will or clout to enact any meaningful change. This is made more troubling when we consider that one of the two parties in American politics finds it difficult even to move to the center-left. What happens to the statistical and very real differences that continue to persist along color lines in this new narrative? Do we ignore bell hook's valid point that essentialism can be a powerful political weapon, even if it is ill-conceived? What is really interesting in these debates is what is more important in identity formation -- the beliefs of those forming the identity or the external stereotypes that define the body externally? I think it is important to recognize that the new generation is not saddled by the overt racism that once reigned in America, but the invisible racism that seeps out of every corner still has the power to play a huge role in defining "Blackness" and youth still determining their position in the social pyramid. I hope for the day when race no longer matters; but seriously doubt whether than day is anon ...