Dr. Joe McManus visited to Politics Done Right to discuss defeating racism and his book “A Brother’s Insight: Guidance on Defeating Racism and Advancing Freedom.”
Defeating racism and advancing freedom.
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Podcasts (Video — Audio)
Summary
Dr. Joe “JoJo” McManus, an executive advisor on anti-racism and inclusive excellence, discusses the ongoing challenges to diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) efforts in the United States. He highlights how systemic racism continues to suppress marginalized communities, the reactionary backlash against DEI, and the need for cross-racial solidarity to counteract white supremacy. Through personal experiences, including his upbringing in a multiracial family and his professional work in higher education and policy, he illustrates the importance of continuing the fight for justice. His book, A Brother’s Insight: Guidance on Defeating Racism and Advancing Freedom, calls for people to engage in this crucial work.
Key Takeaways
- DEI Backlash & White Supremacy: The opposition to DEI is a reactionary attempt to maintain white privilege by falsely framing equity efforts as discriminatory.
- White Privilege Hires vs. DEI: McManus challenges the notion of “DEI hires” and exposes the reality of unqualified white privilege hires in politics and leadership.
- Intersectional Oppression: White supremacy harms not only people of color but also working-class white Americans, who are often manipulated into defending the status quo.
- Excellence as a Survival Mechanism: Marginalized individuals must achieve extraordinary levels of success just to be seen as equals, reinforcing systemic inequities.
- Call to Action: The time for silence is over—people must raise their voices and fight back against right-wing efforts to dismantle racial and social progress.
Progressive Perspective
Dr. McManus’s insights underscore the urgent need to confront the systemic injustices that have long shaped American society. The current backlash against DEI is not just about race—it is about maintaining the power of the few at the expense of the many. The fight against white supremacy is also a fight for economic justice, democratic integrity, and the right of all people to thrive. The progressive movement must recognize that real change comes from collective action, amplifying marginalized voices, and refusing to be silenced in the face of growing right-wing extremism.
Premium Content (Complimentary)
Dr. Joe “Joe Joe” McManus offers a compelling and deeply personal perspective on the fight against racism, the importance of diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI), and the structural barriers that maintain systemic oppression. As an executive advisor specializing in anti-racism and inclusive excellence, his work is grounded in lived experience and academic expertise. His insights reveal the mechanisms of white supremacy, the backlash against DEI initiatives, and the need for cross-racial solidarity to achieve real systemic change.
Understanding DEI and the Backlash Against Progress
Dr. McManus describes DEI as a tool to create a more meritocratic society, contrary to the right-wing narrative that positions it as an attack on merit. The push against DEI from conservative forces, particularly under the current administration, is a reactionary response to the progress made in increasing access and equity for historically marginalized groups. Right-wing leaders have strategically framed DEI efforts as a threat to white Americans, misleading them into believing that equity for marginalized communities somehow equates to discrimination against them.
This manufactured narrative plays into long-standing racial fears, particularly among working-class white Americans, who are manipulated into defending systems that ultimately do not serve them. The opposition to DEI is not about fairness or meritocracy but about maintaining the status quo of privilege, where power remains concentrated among a select few.
The Reality of White Privilege and White Supremacy Hires
Dr. McManus challenges the concept of “DEI hires” by flipping the narrative to expose what he calls “white privilege hires.” He highlights figures like Marjorie Taylor Greene, who, despite their lack of expertise, hold significant political power, juxtaposing them against highly educated and accomplished politicians such as Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (AOC) and Jasmine Crockett. The implication is clear: The real issue is not that DEI gives unqualified individuals opportunities; rather, it exposes the entrenched history of white mediocrity being rewarded simply because of racial privilege.
This is particularly evident in government appointments under the current administration. The replacement of highly qualified individuals—such as Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin—with underqualified political operatives speaks to a deliberate effort to dismantle DEI efforts in favor of white nationalist ideology. It underscores a broader effort to reaffirm white dominance, even at the cost of national security and functional governance.
Intersectionality: How White Supremacy Harms Everyone
A key point Dr. McManus makes is that white supremacy does not just harm people of color—it also actively harms white people. He references the historical tactic of dividing working-class whites from Black and brown communities by granting them “privilege scraps” to prevent cross-racial solidarity. This divide-and-conquer strategy has kept power in the hands of the elite for generations, ensuring that poor and working-class whites fight against their own interests by aligning with a racial hierarchy that ultimately exploits them too.
He also points out that many white Americans are beginning to “find out” that the ruling class does not care about them either. The policies of the current administration, while overtly targeting communities of color, also strip working-class white Americans of labor protections, healthcare access, and economic opportunities. The fight against racism, then, is not just a moral imperative—it is a fundamental battle for economic justice and true democracy.
The Burden of Excellence on Marginalized Communities
Another powerful insight from Dr. McManus is the way racism has forced marginalized individuals to achieve extraordinary levels of excellence just to be considered on par with their white counterparts. He references figures like Tiger Woods and Serena Williams, pointing out that their dominance in their respective fields is not a product of inherent racial superiority, but rather a reflection of the additional barriers they had to overcome.
For Black and brown professionals, being twice as good has long been the standard expectation, a necessary requirement just to be given a fair shot. This undue burden of excellence, while often producing remarkable figures, is an injustice in itself. True equity would mean a system where all individuals, regardless of race, have an equal opportunity to succeed without having to prove themselves at exponentially higher standards.
A Brother’s Insight: Why Dr. McManus Wrote His Book
Dr. McManus’s book, A Brother’s Insight: Guidance on Defeating Racism and Advancing Freedom, was born out of a deeply personal moment with his daughter. In the wake of George Floyd’s murder, she confronted him with a harsh truth: “Isn’t this what you’re supposed to stop from happening?” This moment of reckoning pushed him to take his decades of experience and put it into writing, not just as an academic exercise, but as a call to action.
He initially planned to write a professional, policy-driven book, but was encouraged to share his personal story instead. This choice makes his work more accessible and emotionally resonant, demonstrating that the fight against racism is not just about policy—it’s about real people, real pain, and real struggles.
The Importance of Raising Our Voices
Dr. McManus stresses that now is not the time for silence. The forces of white supremacy are loud, organized, and determined to roll back decades of progress. If those committed to justice do not speak up, the vacuum will be filled by reactionary voices intent on maintaining racial hierarchies. He argues that everyone—whether in leadership positions or as community members—must raise their voices, participate in activism, and challenge racist structures wherever they appear.
Movements that have been successful in the past, such as Black Lives Matter, have done so by bridging divides and fostering cross-community solidarity. The future of anti-racism work will require an even greater emphasis on intersectionality, ensuring that all marginalized groups recognize their shared struggle and fight together for systemic change.
Conclusion: The Path Forward
Dr. Joe McManus’s insights serve as both a warning and a roadmap for the future. The backlash against DEI is not just about race—it is a broader attack on democracy, equity, and the fundamental idea that all people deserve equal opportunities. The challenge is immense, but so too is the potential for progress.
To truly defeat racism and advance freedom, society must reject the false narratives of meritocracy that ignore systemic barriers. It must confront the reality of white supremacy and its impacts on all people, and it must demand better from leaders, institutions, and individuals alike. Dr. McManus’s work reminds us that we cannot afford complacency. The fight for justice is ongoing, and now more than ever, it requires all of us to be active participants in shaping a fairer, more inclusive future.
