Elite Capture: Philosopher Olu fẹ mi O. Ta i wo on How the Powerful Took Over Identity Politics

We speak with philosopher Olufẹmi O. Táíwò, who has recently written two widely acclaimed books: Elite Capture: How the Powerful Took Over Identity Politics (And Everything Else) and Reconsidering Reparations, which focuses in part on the climate crisis. He says identity politics is a concept that was stripped of its radical power to build solidarity and is now weaponized to split people into ever narrower categories that hamper movements for racial and social justice. Elite capture is what happens when the advantaged few in a group steer the resources and political direction of organizations or movements or parts of our social structure like the justice system toward their narrower interests and aims, Taiwo says. Democracy Now is an independent global news hour that airs on over 1, 500 TV and radio stations Monday through Friday. Watch our livestream at Mondays to Fridays 89 a. m. ET.