George Bernard Shaw once said that there's nothing more dangerous "than the conscience of a bigot." Stephen Eric Bronner, distinguished professor of political science at Rutgers University and author of A Rumor About the Jews, explains why in his wise and thoughtful The Bigot.
The prejudice of a bigot is hostile, destructive and malignant. The offender can be, among other things, a sexist, a narcissist, an anti-Semite, a chauvinist, a so-called "true believer" or an elitist. Their feelings, Bronner argues, are fueled by contempt, intolerance, paranoia and a desire for revenge. He notes a rise in bigotry since the growth of science, technology and capitalism. The bigot "hates the modern notions of progress." They have brought him "nothing but grief."
The last chapter, "The Bigot Today," is an astute examination of the rise of the conservative right in the U.S. and the Moral Majority's influence. The bigot became integrated into the conservative mainstream while the Tea Party "channeled the bigot's prejudice" and enabled reactionary fanatics. Bronner notes that there are now more than 10,000 hate websites and their crude (often pseudo-scholarly) articles are directed primarily to young people and even preteens. Sadly, Bronner concludes that fighting the bigot is a "labor of Sisyphus."
At just over 200 pages, Bronner's work reads like an extended essay and draws on a variety of sources for support, including history, political philosophy, novels, films and music. The prose is measured and accessible. One hopes that a future paperback edition will give The Bigot the opportunity to reach the wider audience it deserves. --Tom Lavoie, former publisher