Mannig and Bradley's book isn't just a buzzy blog post / porpaganada, it's a well researched and nuanced piece of academic literature.
It also resonates with our modern conception of how the state and power centers "repurpose" legitimate mechanisms of dissent and discourse for their own ends.
For example, the "respectability politics" of the civil rights era gave way to the toxic myths of the "welfare queen" and "Ebonics" - if we can demonstrate you're not respectable, we can deny your rights.
If you've heard about "the War on Christmas" or "the most discriminated against people in America are straight white men", then you know there absolutely is power in declaring yourself a victim in 21st century America.
It also resonates with our modern conception of how the state and power centers "repurpose" legitimate mechanisms of dissent and discourse for their own ends.
For example, the "respectability politics" of the civil rights era gave way to the toxic myths of the "welfare queen" and "Ebonics" - if we can demonstrate you're not respectable, we can deny your rights.
If you've heard about "the War on Christmas" or "the most discriminated against people in America are straight white men", then you know there absolutely is power in declaring yourself a victim in 21st century America.