What's Left of Philosophy 131 | What's Left of Black Politics? Brandon Terry's Tragic Vision of the Civil Rights Movement
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Mar 23, 2026 They debate how the Civil Rights Movement shapes expectations for Black politics today. They contrast romantic redemption stories with ironic, skeptical readings and propose tragedy as a middle path. They examine the decline of church-led organizing, polarization and fracturing in the Black electorate, and what resources might authorize new progressive strategies.
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Civil Rights Movement As A Flexible Political Example
- The civil rights movement functions primarily as an exemplary image that shapes contemporary political expectations.
- William Paris explains Terry argues this exemplarity lets disparate political tendencies appropriate MLK to legitimize their own agendas.
Romantic Versus Ironic Narratives About Progress
- Terry identifies two dominant narratives: the romantic vision of national redemption and the ironic vision of deep skepticism.
- William Paris and Owen Glyn-Williams note romance breeds complacency while irony can become fatalistic, eliminating hope for transformation.
Tragedy As A Discipline Of Political Judgment
- Terry proposes a tragic mode as a third way: tragedy recognizes limits while affirming the value of struggle.
- William Paris explains tragedy acknowledges partial successes and responsibility without slipping into resignation or triumphalism.