Much of what makes progressives so insufferable is their constant craving for racial narratives. Far leftists of all ethnicities have demonstrated a need to inject race into everything they possibly can.
In this instance, professors at Arizona State University (ASU) participated in a panel focused on the appropriation of culture and history. The focus? How white folks have somehow claimed ownership of playwright William Shakespeare and how the state has manipulated black history.
English professor Ruben Espinosa and historian Curtis Austin discussed the matter in front of a live and virtual audience of faculty members and students, according to audio of the lecture obtained from the school by the College Fix.
Espinosa centered his critique around the notion that Shakespeare has somehow been appropriated by white culture as a symbol of white exceptionalism, racial hierarchy, and exclusion. “Shakespeare sits atop of that racial hierarchy. He is the epitome of what they consider white exceptionalism…and this is why he’s valuable,” the professor said.
Espinosa went on to claim that figures associated with the January 6th riot at the U.S. Capitol sought to protect institutions like the Folger Shakespeare Library:
The organizers sent a letter to the Folger Shakespeare Library, the world’s largest Shakespeare collection located one block from the U.S. Capitol, and not to other institutions like the Library of Congress to notify them of the protest beforehand, he said.
Espinosa said this act reflects the insurrectionists’ perception of Shakespeare as an emblem of “white superiority,” which is why they deemed it important to protect the library during the protest.
The professor pointed out that Joseph Quincy Adams, the institution’s first director, viewed the museum as “a preservation of the language of the American people at a time when immigrants are coming in like locusts to steal our culture, to steal our language.”
Austin argued that the state has given an inaccurate portrayal of black history, presenting itself as a champion of civil rights while actively working against the fight for equal rights. “But the fact of the matter is, the federal government, as well as state and local governments, pushed back very hard against movement activists and the movement itself,” Austin told the audience.
The historian said the narrative of civil rights in America has often been distorted, portraying white figures as saviors and diminishing the agency of black Americans:
He cited films including “The Help,” “Mississippi Burning,” and “The Butler” as examples of media that distort the narrative by focusing on “white saviors” and “white redemption” rather than “black agency” and leadership. They “have appropriated the black freedom struggle,” he said.
“This appropriation is problematic because it reinforces the notion that the fight for civil rights required white intervention and leadership while downplaying the role of black agencies,” Austin said.
For starters, the notion that white Americans have somehow taken ownership of William Shakespeare at the expense of racial minorities is nothing more than a silly way to use Shakespeare to promote the typical “everyone is racist narrative” favored by progressives.
Shakespeare does not belong to white people. He belongs to everyone. Black and brown individuals have not been prohibited or discouraged from enjoying his works. Yes, there are likely some of the white supremacist persuasion who might believe differently, but the notion that this belief is widespread is absurd.
Several minority actors have portrayed various Shakespeare characters over the years. Denzel Washington, for example, played a prince in Kenneth Branaugh's version of Shakespeare's "Much Ado About Nothing" (1993):
However, there is quite a bit of truth to Austin’s points. In many ways, some have promoted the white savior narrative in relation to the fight for civil rights. However, it is essential to note that many white people did stand alongside black Americans as they fought for equal rights in America.Nevertheless, the films he points to, such as “The Help” and others, have promoted the idea that black folks can only flourish if white folks ride to our rescue. This is often taught as history. Black people are portrayed as helpless victims who lack agency or the ingenuity to fight for themselves.
I wrote about this in a piece for WrongSpeak Publishing, where I gave several examples of black Americans taking up arms to fight against racists trying to victimize and subjugate them. These are stories one would never hear in K-12 schools or films.
However, the white folks who promote these narratives are the same ones who prop up these professors and others like them. It is the white progressive who has always portrayed himself or herself as the hero riding to save black America from racism. These are the folks that Espinosa and Austin align with politically despite the damage they have done. As long as this is the case, these narratives will persist as folks on the left insist on labeling white conservatives as white supremacists.
