In light of the afropessimism discourse, I want to share some of my favorite points raised in an excellent article by @touchfaith on the topic in @JournalSpectre. Full article can be read here (though you should subscribe to Spectre if you can afford it): https://www.academia.edu/44499560/Nick_Mitchell_The_View_from_Nowhere_On_Frank_Wildersons_Afropessimism_Spectre_November_2020_
Nick Mitchell - The View from Nowhere: On Frank Wilderson's Afropessimism (Spectre, November 2020)

An essay on knowledge and the political organized through an engagement with Frank B. Wilderson, III's book Afropessimism (2020). Subscribe to Spectre, a Marxist Journal at spectrejournal.com

https://www.academia.edu/44499560/Nick_Mitchell_The_View_from_Nowhere_On_Frank_Wildersons_Afropessimism_Spectre_November_2020_
First, all important observations on the methodological constraints of afropessimism, especially in Wilderson's most recent book. Insofar as the work is autobiographical, standard practices of critical scrutiny are discouraged––but still necessary to assess its theoretical merits
First, all important observations on the methodological constraints of afropessimism, especially in Wilderson's most recent book. Insofar as the work is autobiographical, standard practices of critical scrutiny are discouraged––but still necessary to assess its theoretical merits
First, all important observations on the methodological constraints of afropessimism, especially in Wilderson's most recent book. Insofar as the work is autobiographical, standard practices of critical scrutiny are discouraged––but still necessary to assess its theoretical merits
First, all important observations on the methodological constraints of afropessimism, especially in Wilderson's most recent book. Insofar as the work is autobiographical, standard practices of critical scrutiny are discouraged––but still necessary to assess its theoretical merits
First, all important observations on the methodological constraints of afropessimism, especially in Wilderson's most recent book. Insofar as the work is autobiographical, standard practices of critical scrutiny are discouraged––but still necessary to assess its theoretical merits
The fact that Wilderson grew up middle-class to become a second-generation PhD is treated as inconsequential. According to Wilderson, there is no crucial interaction between class and blackness; antiblackness manifests regardless of socioeconomic status.
The fact that Wilderson grew up middle-class to become a second-generation PhD is treated as inconsequential. According to Wilderson, there is no crucial interaction between class and blackness; antiblackness manifests regardless of socioeconomic status.
The fact that Wilderson grew up middle-class to become a second-generation PhD is treated as inconsequential. According to Wilderson, there is no crucial interaction between class and blackness; antiblackness manifests regardless of socioeconomic status.
The fact that Wilderson grew up middle-class to become a second-generation PhD is treated as inconsequential. According to Wilderson, there is no crucial interaction between class and blackness; antiblackness manifests regardless of socioeconomic status.
The fact that Wilderson grew up middle-class to become a second-generation PhD is treated as inconsequential. According to Wilderson, there is no crucial interaction between class and blackness; antiblackness manifests regardless of socioeconomic status.
This is necessary if the reader is to accept the afropessimist's classification of Wilderson, like all other black people, as a slave.
This point is crucial to understanding the backlash to @timeforjaya -- or anyone else, for that matter -- criticizing afropessimism: it has a built-in rhetorical capacity to shut down any and all criticism as yet another manifestation of the antiblackness it diagnoses.
This point is crucial to understanding the backlash to @timeforjaya -- or anyone else, for that matter -- criticizing afropessimism: it has a built-in rhetorical capacity to shut down any and all criticism as yet another manifestation of the antiblackness it diagnoses.
This point is crucial to understanding the backlash to @timeforjaya -- or anyone else, for that matter -- criticizing afropessimism: it has a built-in rhetorical capacity to shut down any and all criticism as yet another manifestation of the antiblackness it diagnoses.
As Mitchell notes, in practice Wilderson's ideas tend to neglect complexities of context. Everything is understood as though his own experience of blackness provides all the necessary tools for understanding blackness anywhere and everywhere. E.g.: Ethiopian-Palestinian relations
As Mitchell notes, in practice Wilderson's ideas tend to neglect complexities of context. Everything is understood as though his own experience of blackness provides all the necessary tools for understanding blackness anywhere and everywhere. E.g.: Ethiopian-Palestinian relations
As Mitchell notes, in practice Wilderson's ideas tend to neglect complexities of context. Everything is understood as though his own experience of blackness provides all the necessary tools for understanding blackness anywhere and everywhere. E.g.: Ethiopian-Palestinian relations
As Mitchell notes, in practice Wilderson's ideas tend to neglect complexities of context. Everything is understood as though his own experience of blackness provides all the necessary tools for understanding blackness anywhere and everywhere. E.g.: Ethiopian-Palestinian relations
But none of these criticisms are likely to influence those who already subscribe to afropessimism, because its ultimate value is less theoretical than therapeutic. (This helps make sense of the response that nonblack people have no business criticizing afropessimism.)
But none of these criticisms are likely to influence those who already subscribe to afropessimism, because its ultimate value is less theoretical than therapeutic. (This helps make sense of the response that nonblack people have no business criticizing afropessimism.)
But none of these criticisms are likely to influence those who already subscribe to afropessimism, because its ultimate value is less theoretical than therapeutic. (This helps make sense of the response that nonblack people have no business criticizing afropessimism.)
But none of these criticisms are likely to influence those who already subscribe to afropessimism, because its ultimate value is less theoretical than therapeutic. (This helps make sense of the response that nonblack people have no business criticizing afropessimism.)
But none of these criticisms are likely to influence those who already subscribe to afropessimism, because its ultimate value is less theoretical than therapeutic. (This helps make sense of the response that nonblack people have no business criticizing afropessimism.)
Mitchell's takeaway: far from diagnosing a problem without prescribing a solution, as Wilderson claims, afropessimism presents itself as the only possible solution.
Mitchell's takeaway: far from diagnosing a problem without prescribing a solution, as Wilderson claims, afropessimism presents itself as the only possible solution.
Mitchell's takeaway: far from diagnosing a problem without prescribing a solution, as Wilderson claims, afropessimism presents itself as the only possible solution.
Wilderson's depiction of an office hours encounter with an undergraduate reveals a lot about how he is able to maintain his theory's centre-stage location of antiblackness while marginalizing virtually every other power dynamic at play.
Wilderson's depiction of an office hours encounter with an undergraduate reveals a lot about how he is able to maintain his theory's centre-stage location of antiblackness while marginalizing virtually every other power dynamic at play.
Wilderson's depiction of an office hours encounter with an undergraduate reveals a lot about how he is able to maintain his theory's centre-stage location of antiblackness while marginalizing virtually every other power dynamic at play.
Wilderson's depiction of an office hours encounter with an undergraduate reveals a lot about how he is able to maintain his theory's centre-stage location of antiblackness while marginalizing virtually every other power dynamic at play.
I'll let the conclusion speak for itself. Many thanks to @touchfaith for this fantastic piece of writing.
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