Construction work Quote by Michael S. Kimmel
““So, who are they really, these hundred thousand white supremacists? They're every white guy who believed that this land was his land, made for you and me. They're every down-on-his-luck guy who just wanted to live a decent life but got stepped on, every character in a Bruce Springsteen or Merle Haggard song, every cop, soldier, auto mechanic, steelworker, and construction worker in America's small towns who can't make ends meet and wonders why everyone else is getting a break except him. But instead of becoming Tom Joad, a left-leaning populist, they take a hard right turn, ultimately supporting the very people who have dispossessed them. They're America's Everymen, whose pain at downward mobility and whose anger at what they see as an indifferent government have become twisted by a hate that tells them they are better than others, disfigured by a resentment so deep that there are no more bridges to be built, no more ladders of upward mobility to be climbed, a howl of pain mangled into the scream of a warrior. Their rage is as sad as it is frightening, as impotent as it is shrill.””
About This Quote
Source Essay: White Identity and Populism, Michael S. Kimmel, 2020
Economic insecurity fuels resentment, leading some working‑class whites to adopt extremist views despite shared struggles with broader society.
In simple terms: Hardship can turn into hate and right‑wing populism.
Address economic inequality and foster inclusive dialogue.
Themes
Mood
Type
When to use this quote
- policy debates
- community outreach
- education programs
Key Concepts
Questions to Reflect On
- How can we rebuild trust in institutions?
- What policies reduce economic despair?
Complex historical and regional factors also shape attitudes.