On a recent episode of On Point with Juandolyn Stokes, host Juandolyn Stokes sat down with author, scholar, and cultural theorist Dante King to discuss his groundbreaking work, “Diagnosing Whiteness & Anti-Blackness,” and his new podcast, “Diagnosing Whiteness.” The conversation was a thought-provoking exploration into the psychological, political, and historical roots of race, power, and privilege in America.
The discussion was anchored by a profound quote from the late Toni Morrison: “White people have a problem.” King and Stokes unpacked this statement, taking a deep dive into the constructs of entitlement and privilege that shape societal systems and the collective consciousness. King described whiteness not as a biological reality, but as a dangerous idea—a social invention designed to sustain dominance and justify exclusion, exploitation, and violence.
From a psycho-political and psycho-economic perspective, King explained how the systems of whiteness have perpetuated what he called “selective psychosis”—a mental and moral dissonance that allows people to ignore the brutality of racial injustice while benefiting from it. This selective awareness, he noted, has deep historical roots that continue to influence modern institutions and policies.
King also addressed the political functions of whiteness, highlighting how colonial laws were created to control, suppress, and punish rebellion—particularly among enslaved Africans and Indigenous peoples. Historical examples such as the Casual Killing Act of 1669 in colonial Virginia, which allowed white individuals to kill enslaved Africans without penalty, illustrated how legal systems were structured to uphold white supremacy and dehumanize Black lives.
Together, Stokes and King examined how these early laws laid the groundwork for systemic racism that persists today—from economic inequities to criminal justice disparities to citizenship. The conversation called for awareness, healing, and honest reflection, urging listeners to confront uncomfortable truths about the psychological architecture of race in America.
As King launches his new podcast “Diagnosing Whiteness,” he continues the mission of helping audiences understand how history, psychology, and policy intertwine to perpetuate anti-Blackness—and how acknowledging this reality is the first step toward genuine liberation and equity.
Juandolyn Stokes once again provided a platform for bold and necessary dialogue—bridging intellect, empathy, and truth on the airwaves.
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