Higher Ground

As quickly as an American, anti-racist consensus formed in the wake of George Floyd's death, it seemed to evaporate under the pressures of a highly polarized political system. How do we escape the trap of polarization to reconstruct a consensus for meaningful action against racism? In this book, the lessons of history, problems understanding modern racism, and American political parties' approaches to racism are analyzed from a person-centered, psychological perspective. The author prioritizes arguments and research findings that emphasize humanity and carry "moral weight:" the perspective must demonstrate how racism violates our fundamental sense of right and wrong. The author's analysis of research and history concludes that morality, humanity, and racism are interrelated and mutually influential. The author shows that moral conviction against racism increases the likelihood of meaningful change; this conviction is nurtured through a deeper understanding of the human costs of racism for all Americans. This is the path to higher ground where Americans can unite to pursue true equality.

Brian P. Tilley is professor of psychology and serves as Chair of the Counseling Psychology and Social Work Department at National University in San Diego, California

Acknowledgements
Introduction
Part I: History: A Change is Gonna Come
Chapter 1: Moral Implications of Racism
Chapter 2. How We Got Here: The Politics of Racism and Identity
Chapter 3. The Curious Power of Critical Race Theory
Part II Reality: What's Going On
Chapter 4. Yes, the Struggle Is Real: The Harvest of Racism
Chapter 5. Systemic Racism and the Post-Racial Lie
Chapter 6. What's the Matter with Modern Racism?
Part III Politics: Think
Chapter 7. The Case of the 2016 Election
Chapter 8. The Persistent Whiteness of Republicanism
Chapter 9. The Democratic Party: Anti-Racism and Its Discontents
Conclusion
Bibliography
About the Author