It’s revealing that white leftists are usually the first to shift every issue onto the 1%.
As a white leftist myself, it is important to attempt, as best we can, to deconstruct our cultural egos and recognize when we are deflecting blame. White leftists cannot turn to class struggle and economic divide as a way to sidestep confronting our own capacity to perpetuate oppression.
By attributing systemic injustices solely to the actions of the elite 1%, we divert attention from the pervasive nature of white privilege and the responsibilities that come with it.
Focusing criticism solely on the ultra-wealthy serves as a convenient mechanism for white leftists to absolve themselves of complicity in systemic racism. I’ve even started hearing some people saying “the top .01%,” as if we’re being unfair to the portion of society that’s only within the top .02% of wealth — just fewer than $139 million net worth.
By emphasizing economic exploitation as the singular source of oppression, white leftists sideline discussions surrounding white supremacy. This reductionism allows us to position ourselves exclusively as victims of capitalism and overlook the privileges conferred by our racial identity.
Eduardo Bonilla-Silva in “Racism Without Racists” describes this idea as racial-evasiveness — where white people attempt to shift radical theories of thought away from internal racial analysis. We acknowledge race, often in performative ways, but then shift the hard focus onto the ultra-wealthy to avoid confronting the roles we play within racial domination.
While it is undeniable that capitalism exacerbates social inequalities, and I would still consider material analysis as the heart of my political thought, attributing all forms of oppression to the actions of a select few ignores the broader societal structures that uphold white supremacy.
This perspective allows us to externalize blame, thereby avoiding introspection about how racial privilege operates at all income levels.
This issue is especially rife in ‘main-stream’ left wing organizations like the Democratic Socialists of America and publications like Jacobin. It has become a very popular idea to make claims that identity politics aren’t important — we should just focus on class ideology and welcome people into our spaces by being more inclusive to the conservative working class, regardless of any bigoted ideologies they may hold.
While this can be an important part of developing class consciousness, it not only endangers the vulnerable members of our leftist communities but it fundamentally overlooks the extent to which race and class are deeply intersectional.
Addressing economic inequality without confronting racial disparities is insufficient for achieving true social justice. It’s a color-blind perspective that misses the shades and details in the true picture.
The assumption that racial injustices will automatically dissipate under socialist political rule without explicit intervention is illogical.
By centering discussions solely on class struggle, white leftists can create environments that are comfortable for ourselves but oppressive for people of color.
This dynamic often leads to the marginalization of racial justice movements and a reluctance to engage with frameworks that prioritize anti-racist agendas. Such practices perpetuate existing power imbalances and hinder the development and effectiveness of radical thought and organizing.
The same could be said through many other lenses. Men deflect by minimizing patriarchy, cis and straight people dismiss the weight of gender norms and those living on colonized land often overlook Indigenous rights.
Privilege distorts perception, allowing those in power to downplay the realities of systemic oppression.
But identifying this pattern isn’t just about critique — it’s a call to action. Those of us who strive for revolutionary change must first wage that revolution within.
True liberation begins by confronting the ways oppression shapes our own thinking, breaking the chains in our minds so we may have the strength and self awareness to unbind others.
