The tragedy of "racialization"

Reihan Salam has a two-in-one post over at AndrewSullivan.com on the "tragedy" of identity politics. In this case it's the Hispanic community that is being discussed, but his point covers all efforts to "racialize" an issue. All attempts to use racial distinctions as a political tool represent a step backward. I'm willing to believe that there may be times when this "step backward" can be useful, but these are very rare occasions, limited in scope, with a very definite end point. Racial politics, indeed any race-based policies, are, at their very best, like chemotherapy treatment. You have to use it very carefully and you don't really start healing until it stops. From Reihan's post:

The notion that the Census Bureau merely describes “sociological reality” by codifying race is flatly absurd. The “ethnoracial pentagon” drives and then reinforces a process initiated by political entrepreneurs like López. It manufactures “sociological reality.” It sharpens divisions, and only a handful of interpreters and middlemen-in the social-services industry, among the marketing gurus, and, of course, among the professors-stand to benefit. Don’t let it happen.

When your politics and your policies are based upon racial distinctions, it is very much in your interest to maintain and develop those racial distinctions. People who are pursuing these sorts of identity politics are eager to keep race and cultural divisions top of mind in America.