Planetary Chess Research Paper: The Substantiation of the Cress Theory of Color Confrontation (513 hits)
I have a new film and newsletter that will be dropping soon. Both will promote the idea that our best scholars have already "Dismantled" systemic racism intellectually. I submitted this paper to a journal but I needed a place to reference it for the Dismantled newsletter (https://planetarychess.beehiiv.com/subscribe): **************************************************************
**The Substantiation of the Cress Theory of Color Confrontation: Connecting Independent Black Scholarship to White Supremacist Ideology**
*Janga Bussaja*
*Independent Researcher, Las Vegas, NV, USA*
**Abstract**
This paper seeks to empirically validate Dr. Frances Cress Welsing's groundbreaking "Cress Theory of Color Confrontation" by analyzing contemporary white supremacist rhetoric. Drawing parallels between Welsing's identification of subconscious racial anxiety and the core tenets of the "Great Replacement" conspiracy theory, this research underscores the psychological underpinnings of racism. The alignment of independent Black scholarship with inadvertent affirmations by white supremacists challenges conventional externalized conceptions of racism. By integrating psychoanalytic perspectives, as pioneered by Welsing, this paper aims to enrich social scientific explanations of prejudice and stimulate interdisciplinary interest in Welsing’s seminal contributions.
**Introduction**
The murder of George Floyd in 2020 catalyzed global activism and scholarship aimed at dismantling systemic racism. This watershed moment in racial justice brought to the forefront the deep-seated racial inequities and violence that persist in society. Yet, despite the global outcry, the root causes of racism, particularly its psychological underpinnings, remain inadequately explored [1]. This paper bridges Dr. Frances Cress Welsing’s pioneering 1970 critical race theory with modern white supremacist rhetoric, highlighting the continued empirical relevance of her insights and the urgency of understanding racism's deeper psychological roots.
**Welsing’s Prescient Theoretical Framework**
Dr. Welsing's theory, developed in the late 20th century, was ahead of its time. She posited that a deep-seated fixation on racial purity and survival underpins the collective white unconscious, manifesting as systemic oppression against people of color [2]. This preoccupation, rooted in a subconscious fear of genetic annihilation, drives the compulsive need for dominance. Despite her profound insights, Welsing's scholarship remains marginalized in mainstream discourse, perhaps due to its challenging nature that confronts deeply held societal beliefs.
**An Unexpected Source of Validation**
Empirical validation of Welsing’s psychoanalytic insights has been challenging due to their introspective nature. However, the rise of white supremacist rhetoric in recent years, particularly the "Great Replacement" theory, inadvertently echoes Welsing's identification of annihilation anxiety [3]. This theory, which suggests that mass immigration threatens the demographic and cultural existence of whites, mirrors Welsing's insights, providing unexpected empirical support. The very groups that perpetuate racism are, unknowingly, validating the theories that seek to explain their behavior.
**Discussion**
The alignment between Welsing’s theory and its inadvertent validation by white supremacists challenges dominant narratives that externalize racism as merely a product of socio-economic factors or historical events [4]. By centering racism within the human psyche, Welsing's model offers a more nuanced understanding of prejudice. Her insights suggest new avenues for scholarship and activism, emphasizing the need to unearth and address racism's irrational underpinnings.
This research underscores the importance of centering marginalized voices in discussions about racial oppression. The resonance between Welsing's theory and white supremacist ideology reveals gaps in dominant frameworks, emphasizing the need for a more holistic understanding of racism. It calls for a reevaluation of mainstream academic thought, urging scholars to delve deeper into the psychological roots of racial prejudice.
**Conclusion**
This paper underscores the profound parallels between Dr. Frances Cress Welsing’s insights into racialized genetic anxiety and its manifestation within white supremacist ideology. By highlighting the continued relevance of Welsing's theory, this research calls for renewed engagement with her contributions and a deeper, more inclusive understanding of racism's roots. As society grapples with the challenges of racial prejudice, it is imperative to draw from all available knowledge, especially from marginalized voices that offer profound insights into the heart of the issue.
**References**
[1] Ray, R. (2020). Examining Racial Inequities in the Aftermath of George Floyd’s Killing. Brookings.
[2] Welsing, F. C. (1991). The Cress Theory of Color-Confrontation. The Isis Papers. Third World Press.
[3] Davey, J. (2019). The Great Replacement: The Violent Consequences of Mainstreamed Extremism. ICCT.
[4] Kendi, I. X. (2019). How to Be an Antiracist. One World.
