> Why then is the explanation of Trump's rise often presented as a reaction to the cultural oppression and disenfranchisement of white people exclusively,
Two reasons: because the liberal left has made simply 'being white' and 'being male' as something to apologize for (check your privilege?), and because working-class white folks have been disproportionately negatively affected by the economic shocks of the last three decades -- this while blacks have been making wide gains in income [2].
The liberal left has been pushing identity politics based on race for a long time. It should surprise no one when poor white people accurately see that they are fast becoming a minority and they should use that type of politics for their own ends.
Two reasons: because the liberal left has made simply 'being white' and 'being male' as something to apologize for (check your privilege?), and because working-class white folks have been disproportionately negatively affected by the economic shocks of the last three decades -- this while blacks have been making wide gains in income [2].
The liberal left has been pushing identity politics based on race for a long time. It should surprise no one when poor white people accurately see that they are fast becoming a minority and they should use that type of politics for their own ends.
[1] http://money.cnn.com/2016/10/05/news/economy/working-class-m... [2] http://www.nielsen.com/us/en/insights/news/2015/african-amer...