Reckoning With Harris' Silence On Gaza | Ta-Nehisi Coates | TMR
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Quick Read
Summary
Takeaways
- ❖The article's provocative headline on Kamala Harris and Gaza was a tactic to draw readers into a broader discussion about American empire.
- ❖American imperialism is a continuous tradition, not an aberration, spanning from indigenous genocide to 20th-century coups.
- ❖Black leaders, including presidents and vice presidents, inherit and often perpetuate this imperial tradition, creating a profound paradox.
- ❖The black freedom struggle's vision of liberty historically extended beyond domestic gains to international solidarity, as exemplified by Coretta Scott King and Fannie Lou Hamer.
- ❖The expectation that oppressed groups are immune to perpetrating oppression is a fallacy; historical trauma can be weaponized or lead to a 'mass psychosis' rather than universal empathy.
- ❖There's a critical distinction between moral expectations and political realities for leaders operating within an imperial system.
- ❖Coates questions the ultimate 'worth' of a black presidency if it means becoming the 'face' of systemic violence and empire.
Insights
1Gaza as an Expression of American Imperial Tradition
Coates asserts that the U.S.'s stance on Gaza is not a deviation from American democratic ideals but a direct manifestation of its long-standing imperial tradition. He details how this tradition, often justified by shifting pretexts like anti-communism, has involved overthrowing governments and securing resources globally, making it a consistent feature of U.S. foreign policy throughout history.
Coates states, "Gaza is not a betrayal of American democratic tradition but an expression of an American imperial tradition." He cites examples like the overthrow of the Queen of Hawaii, the war in the Philippines, and numerous 20th-century interventions under presidents like Eisenhower and Kennedy, often using 'communism' as a pretext for resource control.
2The Paradox of Black Presidency and Imperial Power
Coates highlights the fundamental contradiction of a black presidency or vice-presidency: it owes its existence to a movement against racist state violence domestically, yet the office itself has historically and consistently practiced racist state violence abroad. This places black leaders in a position where their identity and historical struggle clash with the demands of maintaining American empire.
Coates quotes his own piece: "a black presidency as a contradiction. It owes its power to a movement against racist state violence at home, but seeks an office which has always practiced racist state violence abroad." He applies this framework to both Obama and Harris, noting their roles in perpetuating U.S. foreign policy.
3The Black Freedom Tradition's Universal Vision
The black freedom struggle, from its inception, often held a universal vision of liberty, extending beyond the rights of black Americans to encompass solidarity with oppressed people worldwide. This tradition, exemplified by figures like Coretta Scott King and Fannie Lou Hamer, actively challenged U.S. imperialism, viewing it as antithetical to true liberation.
Coates recalls Coretta Scott King's opposition to the Vietnam War, questioning how Lyndon B. Johnson could be sympathetic to black kids in Alabama while bombing Vietnamese children. He also mentions Fannie Lou Hamer's stance against the 'racist war in Vietnam' alongside her fight against segregation.
4The Danger of Becoming the 'Face of Empire'
Coates expresses deep concern that black leaders, by occupying prominent positions within the U.S. government, are increasingly becoming the public face of American imperialism. He fears this normalizes and legitimizes actions that contradict the historical struggle for black liberation, making it harder to challenge the system itself.
Coates states, "What I am concerned with is that from Colin Powell to Condoleezza Rice to Barack Obama through Susan Rice through Linda Thomas-Greenfield through Kamala Harris that we are becoming the face of this. And I don't want us to be the face of it."
Bottom Line
The lessons of historical trauma, like the Holocaust, are often misinterpreted or weaponized, leading to a 'mass psychosis' where the oppressed become oppressors, rather than fostering universal empathy and preventing future atrocities.
This suggests that simply experiencing or learning about oppression does not inoculate against perpetrating it. Educational frameworks around historical trauma need to be critically examined to ensure they promote universal human rights rather than nationalistic self-justification for violence.
Develop educational programs that explicitly connect historical traumas to universal principles of justice and non-violence, challenging nationalistic interpretations and fostering critical thinking about power dynamics in contemporary conflicts.
The pursuit of 'knowledge' and sophistication in analysis, particularly within elite institutions, can sometimes obscure a fundamental moral truth that is more readily apparent to those with a simpler, intuitive understanding of oppression.
This implies that intellectual sophistication can create a distance from basic human morality, potentially leading to justifications for actions that are morally wrong. It challenges the assumption that 'more knowledge' always leads to 'better morality' in political discourse.
Encourage a re-evaluation of how 'expertise' is valued in public discourse, emphasizing the integration of moral frameworks and lived experiences alongside academic knowledge, particularly when discussing issues of justice and human rights.
Key Concepts
American Imperial Tradition
The idea that U.S. foreign policy, characterized by interventions, coups, and resource exploitation, is not a series of isolated incidents but a continuous, foundational tradition extending from the country's origins to the present day, often masked by narratives of democracy or anti-communism.
The Paradox of Black Leadership in Empire
The inherent contradiction faced by black political figures who rise to power through movements against state violence and oppression at home, only to find themselves in offices that historically and currently practice state violence and imperialism abroad. This creates a tension between the ideals of the black freedom tradition and the realities of governing an imperial state.
Knowledge vs. Morality
The realization that extensive knowledge, education, or experience does not automatically lead to moral outcomes or correct political stances. Sometimes, a simpler, intuitive moral sense (like that of Coates's mother) can be more accurate than the sophisticated analyses of those with greater access to information and elite institutions.
Lessons
- Critically examine the historical continuity of American foreign policy, recognizing its imperial tradition rather than viewing interventions as isolated incidents or betrayals of democratic ideals.
- Challenge the notion that representation alone guarantees moral governance, especially when leaders from oppressed groups operate within systems that perpetuate violence and exploitation abroad.
- Reflect on the lessons of historical traumas (e.g., the Holocaust, slavery) to ensure they foster universal compassion and a commitment to justice for all, rather than being used to justify aggression or a 'never again for us alone' mentality.
Notable Moments
Coates reveals the strategic decision to change his article's headline to a 'hot question' about Kamala Harris and Gaza to attract readers, despite his primary interest being a deeper conversation about American empire.
This highlights the media landscape's demand for sensationalism over nuanced analysis, even for serious journalistic work, and how authors must navigate this to engage a broader audience on complex topics.
Sam Seder shares his personal experience of being taught that Jews would 'never do what they're doing in Israel,' only to be proven wrong, leading him to view current events as a 'mass trauma' reaction.
This personal reflection underscores the profound disillusionment and re-evaluation many individuals undergo when their foundational beliefs about identity and morality clash with observed geopolitical realities, particularly concerning historical trauma and its contemporary manifestations.
Coates reflects on his personal journey from his radical upbringing to working in elite institutions, realizing that while his parents' analysis might not have been 'sophisticated,' their 'basic moral sense was right.'
This moment emphasizes the tension between academic knowledge and intuitive morality, suggesting that sometimes a simpler, morally grounded perspective can be more accurate than complex, institutionalized analyses, especially regarding issues of justice and oppression.
Quotes
"Gaza is not a betrayal of American democratic tradition but an expression of an American imperial tradition."
"A black presidency as a contradiction. It owes its power to a movement against racist state violence at home, but seeks an office which has always practiced racist state violence abroad."
"What I am concerned with is that from Colin Powell to Condoleezza Rice to Barack Obama through Susan Rice through Linda Thomas-Greenfield through Kamala Harris that we are becoming the face of this. And I don't want us to be the face of it."
"How can Lyndon B. Johnson be so sympathetic, you know, to these, you know, black kids in Alabama while dropping bombs on Vietnam, you know, Vietnamese children? And she says something really, really important. I think it's because we let him."
"At the end of the day, my mom was right though, right? Like morally my mom was correct."
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