Finally read Lester Spence's Knocking the Hustle: Against the Neoliberal Turn in Black Politics. It's short, provocative, and manages to offer some much needed perspective on Cornel West, the need to reorient or renew black politics, and provides a backdrop to the growth of neoliberalism in the last few decades. Expounding on the prosperity gospel, growing income inequality, anti-neoliberal and progressive solutions and politics, Spence's brief book gives the reader important counterbalance to the proliferation of neoliberal values in much of US and black popular culture and institutions. Unfortunately, much of Spence's critique of West was already hinted at by Adolph Reed as early as 1986, and again in the classic, "What Are the Drums Saying, Booker?" However, one can appreciate Spence for developing a lengthier critique of the dangers of Cornel West's "black nihilism" and emphasis on the "black prophetic tradition" and morality rather than politics itself. And to trace it back to the elitist mindset of the DuBois of "The Talented Tenth" is bound to raise debate! As for the other main target of this work, David Harvey's text on neoliberalism, I think Spence comes up short. Besides reasserting the rather obvious fact that racial discrimination and attitudes still influence public opinion in ways that reinforce privatization, I do not think Spence succeeds in offering anything new or earth-shattering about neoliberalism and race. Of course, I have not read Harvey's book, so there definitely is something I am likely overseeing or missed completely.
As for other issues, Spence's book is perhaps too premature in its praise of Black Lives Matter as an attack on neoliberalism. Sure, in some cases and cities, Black Lives Matter and its crossover with the Fight for Fifteen can be construed as an attack on neoliberalism, but the rise of a younger generation of what Adolph Reed termed the "protest elites" in black politics could be forcing itself into mainstream black politics through non-profit connections, ties to Teach for America, and the progressive rhetoric of the Black Lives Matter network. I certainly hope not, but it is troubling to say the least how TFA connections among leading figures in the incipient movement is left out of any discussion in Spence's final chapter on solutions, despite his strong critiques of the corporate education reform movement. Fortunately, the author's avoids some common traps in political studies on youth, for he acknowledges the limitations of youth organizing and activism, avoiding a dangerous trend Adolph Reed has written about as well.
As for other issues, Spence's book is perhaps too premature in its praise of Black Lives Matter as an attack on neoliberalism. Sure, in some cases and cities, Black Lives Matter and its crossover with the Fight for Fifteen can be construed as an attack on neoliberalism, but the rise of a younger generation of what Adolph Reed termed the "protest elites" in black politics could be forcing itself into mainstream black politics through non-profit connections, ties to Teach for America, and the progressive rhetoric of the Black Lives Matter network. I certainly hope not, but it is troubling to say the least how TFA connections among leading figures in the incipient movement is left out of any discussion in Spence's final chapter on solutions, despite his strong critiques of the corporate education reform movement. Fortunately, the author's avoids some common traps in political studies on youth, for he acknowledges the limitations of youth organizing and activism, avoiding a dangerous trend Adolph Reed has written about as well.
