Victimhood and the White Savior Complex: Two Sides of the American Political Coin

In the 21^st century, victimhood has permeated America’s entire political spectrum. Nowadays, being a victim holds much currency regardless of which side of the political fence one falls. While the victimhood has been attributed to racial minorities, members of the LGBTQ community, and other marginalized folks, it has also become pervasive among the white majority. 

This raises a critical question: What can society do about this increasing embrace of victimhood status?

In recent years, various groups have given voice to the systemic challenges they have faced in America. Indeed, many of the concerns they express are based on valid experiences that many have had in this nation throughout its history. The left has positioned itself as the champion of these people, purporting to be working on their behalf to attain true equality and justice. But along with the genuine challenges many communities face has come a trend of taking on the identity of the victim and using it to further personal and political agendas.

On the left, people leverage their victimhood status – perceived and real – to gain a sort of twisted credibility. This can be seen in how intersectional theory has been employed, especially on college campuses, where straight white students’ voices are diminished in favor of uplifting people who belong to communities that have been historically oppressed by government and society.

The diversity, equity, inclusion (DEI) movement, in particular, has been a mostly well-intentioned effort to promote belongingness among various groups of people in the workplace, academia, and elsewhere. However, in many cases, it has simply been used as a cudgel to infuse a far-leftist agenda in these areas – especially in America’s most longstanding institutions. This, in turn, has prompted a fierce backlash from those who have valid concerns about the advent of the DEI movement – even from folks on the left.

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In conservative circles, it has been fashionable to claim that racial minorities have adopted a victimhood mindset. It’s a common trope, especially among black conservative influencers and politicians, who minimize – or even completely dismiss – the historical and current effects of racism on black Americans living today.

Many of these folks insist that America is a land of equal opportunity for everyone, regardless of race, sex, or creed, and that all of its prior issues have been sufficiently addressed. In this world, people who complain about racist policing or other governmental policies that disproportionately affect one segment of the population are simply “being a victim” or refusing to “take responsibility” for their lives.

Of course, these pronouncements are true of some. But folks on the right seem to have been misled to believe that this applies to most – if not all – who decry the impact of racism, sexism, and other forms of bigotry.

On the other side, conservatives have also adopted their own version of victimhood and tend to engage in the same type of behavior that they criticize on the left. White conservatives, in particular, have expressed feelings of marginalization and discrimination. Complaints about affirmative action, censorship in public discourse, and anti-white sentiments expressed by the loud but fringe minority on the left. 

But what is truly noteworthy about this paradigm, especially among white Americans is that there seems to be one group that does not embrace victimhood: White progressives. The narrative that white progressives adopt is quite different from white conservatives.

Instead of putting on victimhood, white progressives take up the mantle of white savior, people whose mission is to fight on behalf of the oppressed. They are not victims, they are advocates using their privilege to protect and advance the cause of social justice. To put it simply, they are the heroes that black folks like me need and deserve.

We have already seen where this leads, haven’t we?

The white savior complex is deeply rooted in, and motivated by white guilt. In a sense, these individuals seek to make up for real and perceived sins perpetuated by themselves or by others who look like them. This leads them to engage in some rather problematic behavior. They advocate for government policies that seem intended to help the underprivileged but are actually more ways to expand the size and scope of government while doing little or nothing to help. Indeed, most of these policies cause more harm than good.

The victimhood mindset is pernicious in that it often leads to a mindset that embraces resentment and defeatism. It can cripple an individual, preventing them from trying to move forward because they have resigned themselves to the idea that they can never get ahead due to external circumstances. It does not promote an attitude that empowers people to succeed despite the roadblocks set by others.

However, the victimhood mindset does not hold a candle to the white savior complex in terms of toxicity. The need for people to feel like virtuous heroes can lead to feelings of superiority, typically unconscious, over those they decide to save. This results in behaving as if they know better what the marginalized person needs more than those who are dealing with the problems themselves. When elitists adopt this paradigm, they feel justified in ruling over others “for their own good.”

While a victimhood mindset can be self-limiting, the savior complex seen in white progressives is even more toxic because it motivates people to limit other people under the guise of championing their causes. It is even more pernicious because its destructive nature is cloaked under a mask of caring, which causes those needing help to view the savior as their friend instead of the one perpetuating the suffering.

Jeff Charles is the host of "A Fresh Perspective" podcast. He is a contributor for RedState, Newsweek Opinion, and also has a Substack called "Chasing Liberty." Jeff is also a freelance writer and political contributor who has appeared on Fox News, The Hill's "Rising," Fox Soul, Newsmax, and the First TV Network.