White Guilt and The Grievance Industry

Author Shelby Steele speaks to Quillette’s Jonathan Kay about white guilt, the ‘poetic truth’ of Ferguson, the dead end of racial grievances, and the creative process of working with his son Eli.

Shelby Steele is an American author, scholar, and conservative commentator known for his writings on race relations and cultural issues in the United States. He was born on January 1, 1946, in Chicago, Illinois.

Steele received his education at Coe College and the University of Utah, where he earned a Ph.D. in English. He initially focused on literature and poetry but later shifted his academic and intellectual interests towards social and political topics, particularly the dynamics of race and identity.

His work often challenges prevailing narratives on race, arguing against what he sees as an overemphasis on historical grievances and a culture of victimhood. Steele's writings examine the social and psychological impact of racial dynamics and the role of individual agency in overcoming racial disparities.

Some of his notable books include "The Content of Our Character: A New Vision of Race in America," "White Guilt: How Blacks and Whites Together Destroyed the Promise of the Civil Rights Era," and "Shame: How America's Past Sins Have Polarized Our Country." In these works, Steele offers alternative perspectives on issues such as affirmative action, political correctness, and identity politics.

Steele has been associated with conservative and libertarian-leaning think tanks and institutions. He has been a fellow at the Hoover Institution at Stanford University and has contributed to publications such as The Wall Street Journal, The New York Times, and National Review.

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Quillette is an Australian based online magazine that focuses on long-form analysis and cultural commentary. It is politically non-partisan, but relies on reason, science, and humanism as its guiding values.

Quillette was founded in 2015 by Australian writer Claire Lehmann. It is a platform for free thought and a space for open discussion and debate on a wide range of topics, including politics, culture, science, and technology.

Quillette has gained attention for publishing articles and essays that challenge the heterodoxy on a variety of topics, including gender and sexuality, race and identity politics, and free speech and censorship.

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