Multiculturalism And Neoliberalism

1.Neoliberalism often times results in performative solidarity for the sake of multiculturalism, which merely is “being complicit with a dominant neo-liberal structure whose racial politics will always threaten the lives of people of color” (12). Neoliberalism, as defined by Cohen is “a prioritizing of markets and a corresponding commitment to the dismantling or devolution of social welfare, from the national government to the states, to the local government” because of the meritocracy myth that everyone has equal and fair access to the free market. Neoliberalism is framed by the contexts as “greater market expansion” and freedom with a corresponding dissolution of what was formerly known as the “safety net.” It is seen as a utopia of neutrality

Neoliberalism only results in increased policing, criminalization, and incarceration of these communities, which then results in redlining, gentrification, and white flight, with the skyrocketing prices within the real estate market, leaving those unable to afford this lifestyle, therefore reliant on the welfare state for survival. Recently neoliberalism has been decorated with the rhetoric of multiculturalism, not coincidentally by a black president, who is often mistakenly used as a token of racial inclusion and possible success, regardless of one’s race or class, as neoliberals continue to argue is the idea of meritocracy and “pulling one up by their bootstraps” to attain success, disregarding of their position within an oppressive economy. This new phenomenon was amplified by President Obama, to address some of the racial tensions in the country by adopting a colorblind ideology that disregards and dismisses the effects and influence of identity and privilege and faults those of color for their lack of success and assimilation into white culture that typically tends to

Not only does neoliberalism pathologize black bodies, but it is a double edged sword when paired with the equally dangerous, multiculturalism. This only fuels “white resentment politics” fueled by white fear that further works to demonize and separate those whom white society believe as so far from normal, hypersexual, and ultimately invasive (14). This leads to hyper policing of these people and their neighborhoods, which does not prevent nor cease violence of oppression in this area, but only perpetuates it, as “prisons and policing” replace “investment and employment,” and therefore, these marginalized groups are bracketed off from participating in what neoliberalism claims to be “fair” system (15). Neoliberalism is similar to “all lives matter rhetoric, that is responsible for “undermining any state-sponsored programs that would address the special needs of poor black people so their lives could actually matter