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White Devils, Black Gods: Race, Masculinity, and Religious Codependency
Interweaving academic theory, (auto)ethnography, and memoir-styled narrative, Christopher M. Driscoll explores what the “white devil” trope means for understanding and responding to tensions emerging from toxic white masculinity.
The book provides a historical and philosophical account of the “white devil” as it appears in the stories and myths of various black religious and philosophical traditions, particularly as these traditions are expressed through the contemporary cultural expression of hip-hop. Driscoll argues that the trope of the white devil emerges from a self-hatred in many white men that is concealed (and revealed) through various defence mechanisms – principally, anger – and the book provides rich ground to discuss the relationship between perceptions of self (i.e. who we are), emotional regulation, and our behaviour towards others (i.e. how we act).
The book provides a historical and philosophical account of the “white devil” as it appears in the stories and myths of various black religious and philosophical traditions, particularly as these traditions are expressed through the contemporary cultural expression of hip-hop. Driscoll argues that the trope of the white devil emerges from a self-hatred in many white men that is concealed (and revealed) through various defence mechanisms – principally, anger – and the book provides rich ground to discuss the relationship between perceptions of self (i.e. who we are), emotional regulation, and our behaviour towards others (i.e. how we act).
357 pages, Kindle Edition
Published October 6, 2022
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June 23, 2023
This follow-up to his first, highly academic book about whiteness is utterly brilliant and accessible. While Chris' early work in 'high theory' is exceptional, it is also exceptionally difficult to give to people outside of graduate school. In his second full-length book, Driscoll has minimal footnotes, does not use 'big' words and complex sentences, he tells it like it is: simple and plain. It is a revelation.
Driscoll writes to and for white men about the struggles they face. Through his own experiences with ACA (Adult Children of Alcoholics) and the Nation of Gods and Earths, Driscoll offers a heartwrenching tale of growth and transformation through recognizing the "codependency" that has stunted his emotional and interpersonal life. The chapters are short and punch. In the first 7, he discusses his encounters with very real, fleshy, embodied 'Black Gods', who are masters of the Nation of Gods and Earths, a religious community spun-off from the Nation of Islam. In these chapters he reveals the lessons he learned about considering oneself a 'devil' and sets the stage for how he believes white men might respond reflectively to such claims, rather than falling only into shame and denial of our past deeds and our ancestral history.
In the second half of the book, Driscoll brings to page the lessons he learned from ACA, providing the Laundry List of 14 traits that children of alcoholics struggle with -- his argument being that white male culture is highly similar to that of an alcoholic family and thus has much to learn from this list and the 12 step program of healing that accompanies it. He offers a revised 'healing' program in the final chapter.
What is co-dependency? This is the topic of chapter 8, and I will offer a few definitions here to encourage anyone reading this review to delve into the book.
"Codependency is characterized by 'constantly looking outside of ourselves for love, affirmation, and attention from people who cannot provide it.' As those people, for whatever reason, cannot provide this love, codependents seek to control others.... Could it be that whiteness's reliance on blackness, and masculinity's reliance on the production of an othered woman, leaves white men today with dysfunctional behaviors and emotions and thoughts as it concerns women and people of color? In our constant theft and exploitation of the labor of others, could it be that we white men have been addicted to others in a manner similar to psychological codependence?" (102) -- It seems obvious in this cultural moment (2023) that cis people relying on trans people can be added to this list.
Futhermore, the codependent always takes the position of the victim, and "suppresses their own feelings and needs and teaches their children to do the same" (104). He provides Cermak's diagnostic criteria for codependency on the same page (although quite long), but a criteria which fits almost every white man I have ever encountered -- which is, well a lot, being a white person who grew up in the American suburbs.
Of course, like all theories, this is not all-encompassing, but I think that Driscoll provides a powerful lens to understand whiteness, masculinity, and monotheism in this book. A damning account, but one that has its redemptive path, towards mutuality and love with others in a dynamic, non-dependent manner. I highly recommend this book to all white men who are looking to grow in their emotional worlds, be a better accomplish for justice, and seek to understand some of the poisoned roots that may hinder their transformations.
Driscoll writes to and for white men about the struggles they face. Through his own experiences with ACA (Adult Children of Alcoholics) and the Nation of Gods and Earths, Driscoll offers a heartwrenching tale of growth and transformation through recognizing the "codependency" that has stunted his emotional and interpersonal life. The chapters are short and punch. In the first 7, he discusses his encounters with very real, fleshy, embodied 'Black Gods', who are masters of the Nation of Gods and Earths, a religious community spun-off from the Nation of Islam. In these chapters he reveals the lessons he learned about considering oneself a 'devil' and sets the stage for how he believes white men might respond reflectively to such claims, rather than falling only into shame and denial of our past deeds and our ancestral history.
In the second half of the book, Driscoll brings to page the lessons he learned from ACA, providing the Laundry List of 14 traits that children of alcoholics struggle with -- his argument being that white male culture is highly similar to that of an alcoholic family and thus has much to learn from this list and the 12 step program of healing that accompanies it. He offers a revised 'healing' program in the final chapter.
What is co-dependency? This is the topic of chapter 8, and I will offer a few definitions here to encourage anyone reading this review to delve into the book.
"Codependency is characterized by 'constantly looking outside of ourselves for love, affirmation, and attention from people who cannot provide it.' As those people, for whatever reason, cannot provide this love, codependents seek to control others.... Could it be that whiteness's reliance on blackness, and masculinity's reliance on the production of an othered woman, leaves white men today with dysfunctional behaviors and emotions and thoughts as it concerns women and people of color? In our constant theft and exploitation of the labor of others, could it be that we white men have been addicted to others in a manner similar to psychological codependence?" (102) -- It seems obvious in this cultural moment (2023) that cis people relying on trans people can be added to this list.
Futhermore, the codependent always takes the position of the victim, and "suppresses their own feelings and needs and teaches their children to do the same" (104). He provides Cermak's diagnostic criteria for codependency on the same page (although quite long), but a criteria which fits almost every white man I have ever encountered -- which is, well a lot, being a white person who grew up in the American suburbs.
Of course, like all theories, this is not all-encompassing, but I think that Driscoll provides a powerful lens to understand whiteness, masculinity, and monotheism in this book. A damning account, but one that has its redemptive path, towards mutuality and love with others in a dynamic, non-dependent manner. I highly recommend this book to all white men who are looking to grow in their emotional worlds, be a better accomplish for justice, and seek to understand some of the poisoned roots that may hinder their transformations.
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