What is C. Wilson's (2015) theory of "metaraciam"? Why is it considered particularly useful to capture the paradoxical nature of U.S. racial politics after 1980?

What is C. Wilson's (2015) theory of "metaraciam"? Why is it considered particularly useful to capture the paradoxical nature of U.S. racial politics after 1980?

Answer: Metaracism is the paradoxical combination of progress and regression in terms of conflict between an egalitarian coalition and progressive political culture versus a conservative coalition and a reactionary political culture energized by a new form of racism. In metaracism, individuals in society aren't racists, but metaracists because they sit idly by in a system that continues the work of racism. Metaracism works to explain the immense progress made by blacks while they are still facing intense racial discrimination. Despite the idea that there are no longer racist people in the United States, or that the election of Obama brought us into a post racial society, there is evidence to show that racism is integrated into American culture and institutions. Metaracism can be used to describe the simultaneous disapproval of racism by whites and whites' belief of stereotypes of blacks in the inner city.

"The strategic use of racial politics combined with the growth of concentrated poverty contributed to the formation of metaracism. Metaracism was different from and similar to earlier forms of racism. It was different in the sense that it was not hard-core racism. It was not as blatant, egregious, or hateful as earlier forms. It rejected the biological and genetic determinism, the mythology of pure blood and pure races, the extreme hostility, and the revulsion characteristic of old style racism. Metaracism no longer tolerated racial exclusion or racial prejudices; it was racism without visible racists." Thus, metaracists approved of upper-middle class blacks who subscribed to neoliberal and exceptionalist views, condemning the poor blacks who were seen as reliant on the government (pro- social programs, relying on affirmative action, etc). It demonizes those living in areas of concentrated extreme poverty, painting them to be dangerous and predatory, resistant to education and hard work.
Metaracism is effective in explaining the current paradoxical nature of racial politics in the US because it explains how politics and society are still laced with racism despite people no longer being blatantly racist.