How Elites Ate the Social Justice Movement

By: Fredrik deBoer

Narrated by: Sean Patrick Hopkins

An eye-opening exploration of American policy reform, or lack thereof, in the wake of the murder of George Floyd and the Black Lives Matter movement and how the country can do better in the future from Fredrik deBoer, “one of the sharpest and funniest writers on the internet” (The New York Times).

In 2020, while the COVID-19 pandemic raged, the United States was hit by a ripple of political discontent the likes of which had not been seen since the 1960s. The spark was the viral video of the horrific police murder of an unarmed Black man in Minneapolis. The killings of George Floyd galvanized a nation already reeling from COVID and a toxic political cycle. Tens of thousands poured into the streets to protest. Major corporations and large nonprofit groups—institutions that are usually resolutely apolitical—raced to join in. The fervor for racial justice intersected with the already simmering demands for change from the #MeToo movement and for economic justice from Gen Z. The entire country suddenly seemed to be roaring for change in one voice.

Then nothing much happened.

In How Elites Ate the Social Justice Movement, Fredrik deBoer explores why these passionate movements failed and how they could succeed in the future. In the digital age, social movements flare up but then lose steam through a lack of tangible goals, the inherent moderating effects of our established institutions and political parties, and the lack of any real grassroots movement in contemporary America. Hidden beneath the rhetoric of the oppressed and symbolism of the downtrodden lies and the inconvenient fact that those are doing the organizing, messaging, protesting, and campaigning are predominantly drawn from this country’s more upwardly mobile educated classes. Poses are more important than policies.

deBoer lays out an alternative vision for how society’s winners can contribute to social justice movements without taking them over, and how activists and their organizations can become more resistant to the influence of elites, nonprofits, corporations, and political parties. Only by organizing around class rather than empty gestures can we begin the hard work of changing minds and driving policy.

©2023 Fredrik deBoer (P)2023 Simon & Schuster Audio

Razor Sharp

His newsletter is a regular breath of fresh air. Unsurprisingly, this feature-length effort is a master stroke.

Short and not so sweet

Every point was well argued, with clear and direct writing. Narration was mighty keen.

Indispensable Reality Check

Anyone who wants to create meaningful change in public policy should read this book. It fairly critiques aspects of social justice movements without overdoing it. We should all be looking for the most effective and concrete strategies to address our challenges.

(The narrator is also excellent, noticeably skilled, one of the best of I have heard.)

4. Something actually

I expect people will try to ignore this book like the last by this author. But it’s minimum fine, theoretically critics and fundamentally concerned with doing things for peoples needs. Not just _______ people’s. Which is ironically better for peoples if you’re into doing things in actual places in and with history. Great if you give a shit about decency and the hard work of goodness, I expect.

Inspiring Call to Action

If the right seems all action and the left all talk, you are not imagining things. In one fell swoop Fredrik both analyses these difference and offers a solution for progressive progress. Too bad the solution is mostly a lot of hard work in the trenches, but if you truly want change, he is convincing that is the best course of action.

A practical look at the revolutionary political framing we need

FD has one of the best takes on where things are and where we need to focus our energy. Great book.

A book that challenges the major organizing principles of the left

I really enjoyed this book for putting into words many of the things I have been feeling in left organizing spaces. It also helped me understand where I should direct my efforts and what types of things distract us. A must read

Must read

Such an important look at social justice, great book, smart and engaging, concise and unapologetic

The best political book I've ever read

The most intellectually honest writer I have ever read by far. His ability to steel man any position while simultaneously fighting for his values and explaining them in a logical and non condescending way is admirable

He says everything I've been thinking

The author makes the case I've been making for years, but more coherently. For a concise and eloquent distillation of what's gone on in the US particularly over the past decade or two, here you go.