bumblehui's review
3.5
This could have been condensed into an easier to read essay. It brought up issues to think on but the two that stayed in my mind were that people going along with oppressive systems does not mean they agree. They just want to avoid what the consequence would be to not go along with the system. Cue the Emperor has no clothes story.
The second was that marginalized people are not always the best person to have the mic in the room. Trauma and marginalization does not equal great problem solver.
The second was that marginalized people are not always the best person to have the mic in the room. Trauma and marginalization does not equal great problem solver.
bukushelves's review against another edition
reflective
medium-paced
4.0
"I also believe that deference politics asks us to be less than we are—and not even for our own benefit. As scholar-activist Nick Estes explains in the context of Indigenous politics, “The cunning of trauma politics is that it turns actual people and struggles, whether racial or Indigenous citizenship and belonging, into matters of injury. It defines an entire people mostly on their trauma and not by their aspirations or sheer humanity.” This performance is not for the benefit of Indigenous people; rather, “it’s for white audiences or institutions of power.”"
vogtcp's review
challenging
informative
fast-paced
5.0
Clearly written analysis that helpfully and sympathetically points out the limits of identity politics and trauma politics then sketches briefly an alternative constructive politics that focuses on changing people’s material circumstances and shifting power away from elites. Very extensive end notes for those who want to pursue these themes in greater depth.
leah_irl's review against another edition
Brings up some very interesting points but I just can’t get behind this whole new world order/powers that be jargon