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Professor whose book reading was invaded by neo-Nazis:
It’s time for conservatives to decide what side of history they’re on
Jonathan Metzl is a professor of psychiatry and sociology at Vanderbilt University and the author of the new book “Dying of Whiteness: How the Politics of Racial Resentment Is Killing America’s Heartland.”
Last Saturday, his presentation for the 2019 National Antiracist Book Festival at the Politics and Prose bookstore in Washington was disrupted by a group of about 10 white nationalists.
On the same day as a professed neo-Nazi apparently committed a lethal hate crime in a California synagogue, a group of his allies entered the bookstore, began chanting slogans and prevented Metzl from continuing his presentation, before finally leaving. This was a highly choreographed publicity stunt that offers one more example of how emboldened and encouraged neo-Nazis, white supremacists and other elements of the militant right feel, thanks to Donald Trump’s white identity movement.
I recently spoke with Metzl about what occurred on Saturday, his thoughts on being Jewish in the age of Trump and a moment of resurgent white supremacy, as well as the moral crisis that faces Republicans and other conservatives who continue to support a president who gives aid and comfort to some of the most dangerous and destructive elements in American society.
Metzl also shared his views that white Americans must fashion a new vision of whiteness if the United States is to survive and triumphant over Trump’s anti-democratic authoritarian movement.
Our conversation has been edited for length and clarity.
https://www.alternet.org/2019/04/professor-whose-book-reading-was-invaded-by-neo-nazis-its-time-for-conservatives-to-decide-what-side-of-history-theyre-on/
Jonathan Metzl is a professor of psychiatry and sociology at Vanderbilt University and the author of the new book “Dying of Whiteness: How the Politics of Racial Resentment Is Killing America’s Heartland.”
Last Saturday, his presentation for the 2019 National Antiracist Book Festival at the Politics and Prose bookstore in Washington was disrupted by a group of about 10 white nationalists.
On the same day as a professed neo-Nazi apparently committed a lethal hate crime in a California synagogue, a group of his allies entered the bookstore, began chanting slogans and prevented Metzl from continuing his presentation, before finally leaving. This was a highly choreographed publicity stunt that offers one more example of how emboldened and encouraged neo-Nazis, white supremacists and other elements of the militant right feel, thanks to Donald Trump’s white identity movement.
I recently spoke with Metzl about what occurred on Saturday, his thoughts on being Jewish in the age of Trump and a moment of resurgent white supremacy, as well as the moral crisis that faces Republicans and other conservatives who continue to support a president who gives aid and comfort to some of the most dangerous and destructive elements in American society.
Metzl also shared his views that white Americans must fashion a new vision of whiteness if the United States is to survive and triumphant over Trump’s anti-democratic authoritarian movement.
Our conversation has been edited for length and clarity.
https://www.alternet.org/2019/04/professor-whose-book-reading-was-invaded-by-neo-nazis-its-time-for-conservatives-to-decide-what-side-of-history-theyre-on/
