respectability politics

Refers to attempts by marginalized groups to police their own members and show their social values as being continuous and compatible with mainstream values rather than challenging the mainstream for its failure to accept difference.

Person 1: If black people get an education, pull up their pants, and stop committing crimes, then they will never have to worry about negative encounters with the police.

Person 2: Please can that respectability politics mess. James Blake went to Harvard, was a star athlete, and never committed a crime, but that didn't prevent an officer in the NYPD from tackling and body slamming him to the ground.

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