Olúfẹ́mi O. Táíwò's 'Elite Capture' Examines How Identity Politics Was Co-opted by the Powerful

In his book 'Elite Capture: How the Powerful Took Over Identity Politics,' published by Pluto Press, Georgetown philosopher Olúfẹ́mi O. Táíwò explores how elites have co-opted identity politics, tracing its evolution from the Combahee River Collective to contemporary misrepresentations. He characterizes elites as individuals wielding significant resources and power, drawing connections to Frantz Fanon and Walter Rodney. The text also engages with the ideas of thinkers such as Carter G. Woodson and Paulo Freire, portraying resistance as an enduring struggle, highlighted by the George Floyd protests and global instances of police brutality. Táíwò critiques 'deference politics' that elevate certain marginalized voices into a 'hero class,' reflecting on his experiences as a Nigerian immigrant while asserting that elite capture influences cultural production, referencing E.P. Thompson's 1959 essay for historical insight.