Document Type

Working Paper

Publication Date

8-10-2008

SSRN Discipline

Legal Scholarship Network; PRN Subject Matter eJournals; PSN Subject Matter eJournals; Philosophy Research Network; Political Theory eJournals; Law School Research Papers - Legal Studies; LSN Subject Matter eJournals; Humanities Network; Political Science Network; Political Behavior eJournals

Abstract

The purpose of this Essay is twofold first to recall Critical Race Theory to its materialist roots and second to encourage it to consider making common cause with the incipient movement for economic democracy I begin by demonstrating through examples and argument that idealist theories like Professor Charles R Lawrences which explain racial dynamics in terms of thoughts words and internal urges are analytically incomplete I will then argue that attending to the material side of race and racism confers a number of benefits while at the same time avoiding numerous drawbacks associated with the idealist approach Finally I will demonstrate that the approach I have recommended enhances the analysis of certain recurring social problems

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