Adolph Reed’s strategies for defeating Trump

Adolph Reed, a prominent Black socialist, emphasizes the importance of class-based politics over identity politics in his recent conversation with population scholar Selcuk Gultasli. Reed critiques contemporary political analysis for treating concepts such as "white supremacy" and "racism" as standalone forces rather than as historically specific ideologies deeply rooted in social relations. He argues that understanding these terms requires a historical context and specificity, rather than viewing them as primordial or inherent traits. This approach encourages scholars to investigate how these ideologies are mobilized and who benefits from them, rather than simply labeling them as problems to be solved.

Reed draws on the work of sociologist Rogers Brubaker, who suggests that race, ethnicity, and nationality are interconnected concepts, shaped by context and cultural stimuli. He illustrates this point by discussing how shared identities can emerge based on common experiences, such as religion or family heritage. Reed argues that political entrepreneurs often exploit these identities to gain support for their agendas, highlighting the need to understand the historical and situational factors that influence the prominence of these identities.

In the context of Trump’s presidency, Reed reflects on the historical parallels with the post-Civil War South, where a weakened ruling class constructed a white supremacist ideology to maintain power. He notes that while the commitment to racial hierarchy was genuine among white supremacists, it also served as a strategic tool for dividing opposition and consolidating elite interests. This dual function of ideology is crucial for understanding contemporary racial politics, as it reveals how racial discourse can be both a sincere belief and a means of social control.

Reed advocates for viewing race as part of a broader spectrum of hierarchies and ideologies, which can help clarify its historical function. He argues that various forms of ascriptive hierarchy—based on characteristics such as religion or ethnicity—have been used throughout history to establish dominance. By analyzing race within this wider context, it becomes easier to understand its role in political mobilization and social stratification.

Addressing critiques of universalist politics, Reed contends that the argument against universal programs reproducing racial inequalities is a distraction. He asserts that a commitment to active anti-discrimination within a universalist framework can effectively challenge prejudice and discrimination. This perspective promotes the idea of solidarity among diverse groups based on shared material interests, which Reed believes is essential for fostering a genuinely multiracial, democratic socialist movement. Ultimately, he calls for a politics that prioritizes class solidarity while remaining attentive to the historical and contextual nuances of race and identity.