Michael Mohr's Sincere American Writing is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber. A writer friend of mine recently sent me a link to an interview with author Alex Perez about his experience at the Iowa Writers Workshop. I LOVE his responses. He rails on White Wokeism, and it deserves it 100%.
Enjoyed this piece. It's very difficult to discuss the subject of inter-minority racialized violence because it doesn't map onto politically binding meta-narratives that form the basis of our domestic politics.
If you like Perez, you might like some pieces in a series I wrote about his work:
Basically just that there’s been a long historical friction between Asian-Americans and black Americans, mainly because blacks often viewed Asians as a (in general) more successful ‘model minority.’ But also because, like Jews historically, Asians (Koreans in LA for example) have played a ‘middleman’ role, owning grocery stores and small businesses, etc. It was strange during Covid to see (literally see with my own eyes; I lived in NYC at the time) Asian-Americans being stomped and beat up by black men and to watch the leftist media proclaim it ‘white supremacy.’ It truly sickens me.
Michael, thank you for the article. I wonder if you’ve considered (or know of any movement) starting your own publishing company? These problems in industries lead to a lot of polarization which I find very unsettling, but it’s natural to say, hey let’s start our own university, our own publishing house, where honest questions are allowed to be asked and especially good talent and craft are not bound and discarded by ideology.
I second that! It's difficult enough to be white these days but it pales in comparison to being a White Male. I love the "fuck it" attitude which I myself have also adopted. It's very liberating. Your article offers small glimpses of hope that I'm starting to see. A professor @ NYU named Jonathan Haidt wrote an eye popping letter to the Society for Personality and Social Psychology stating he's "quitting". I highly recommend reading it.
I LOVE Haidt! Have you read The Coddling of the American Mind? It’s brilliant. Explains why we’re where we are culturally and politically right now. Thanks for reading!! I’ll check out that letter.
Enjoyed this piece. It's very difficult to discuss the subject of inter-minority racialized violence because it doesn't map onto politically binding meta-narratives that form the basis of our domestic politics.
If you like Perez, you might like some pieces in a series I wrote about his work:
https://www.decentralizedfiction.com/p/revisiting-the-perezhobart-controversy
https://www.decentralizedfiction.com/p/revisiting-the-perezhobart-controversy-2c6
Hi Michael, I've never read "Notes of a Native Son". Can you tell me what James Baldwin says about Asian people? I'm very interested in this topic.
Basically just that there’s been a long historical friction between Asian-Americans and black Americans, mainly because blacks often viewed Asians as a (in general) more successful ‘model minority.’ But also because, like Jews historically, Asians (Koreans in LA for example) have played a ‘middleman’ role, owning grocery stores and small businesses, etc. It was strange during Covid to see (literally see with my own eyes; I lived in NYC at the time) Asian-Americans being stomped and beat up by black men and to watch the leftist media proclaim it ‘white supremacy.’ It truly sickens me.
Michael, thank you for the article. I wonder if you’ve considered (or know of any movement) starting your own publishing company? These problems in industries lead to a lot of polarization which I find very unsettling, but it’s natural to say, hey let’s start our own university, our own publishing house, where honest questions are allowed to be asked and especially good talent and craft are not bound and discarded by ideology.
Very well done! I applaud you.
I second that! It's difficult enough to be white these days but it pales in comparison to being a White Male. I love the "fuck it" attitude which I myself have also adopted. It's very liberating. Your article offers small glimpses of hope that I'm starting to see. A professor @ NYU named Jonathan Haidt wrote an eye popping letter to the Society for Personality and Social Psychology stating he's "quitting". I highly recommend reading it.
I LOVE Haidt! Have you read The Coddling of the American Mind? It’s brilliant. Explains why we’re where we are culturally and politically right now. Thanks for reading!! I’ll check out that letter.
I have not read that but thanks for the suggestion. I'll check it out
Thank you Ben 🙏