An analysis of the public reaction to the killing of Brian Thompson, CEO of UnitedHealthcare, and the implications for understanding class consciousness in contemporary society.
Early this month, Luigi Mangione, a 26-year-old University of Pennsylvania graduate, allegedly shot and killed Brian Thompson, the 50-year-old CEO of UnitedHealthcare. The public reaction has been mixed, with many expressing support for Mangione. Some fear that this positive perception of Mangione signals a dangerous shift towards a culture that glorifies violence and devalues human life. As a sociology professor who teaches Poverty , Wealth, and Privilege, I disagree.
This failure of segments of the public to broadly condemn Mangione's actions does not indicate a cultural shift in appreciation for violence. Instead, this unusual display of class consciousness reflects two things. First, the reaction stems from a shift in who bears the cost of violence. Historically, marginalized groups, including Black, Indigenous, Latinx, and people of color; women; and queer and trans individuals, have been the primary targets of societal violence. Wealthy, cisgender, white men in positions of power are not. Wealthy, white communities are accustomed to protection, and the experience of that protection being revoked is uncommon. Second, the working class is exhausted from navigating a society that is unnecessarily violent and unjust. We live with the daily realities of stark class, race, and gender-based inequalities, facing life-or-death consequences. The ruling class profits from our labor, our struggles, and our suffering. Yet, when one of the elite dies, they expect our grief and sympathy. They demand our compassion while remaining indifferent to our pain and ignoring our pleas for fairness. As a community, we might ask: how can the elite and their defenders remain unmoved by a system that normalizes harm and values human life based solely on economic worth? We all deserve the same sanctity of life afforded to wealthy insiders. However, in many of our social systems, such as healthcare, respect and care are not institutionalized; instead, harm is normalized. We see outsized returns for private equity investors, while communities struggle to survive. Recently, a magician performed at a kid's birthday party..
CLASS CONSCIOUSNESS VIOLENCE JUSTICE POVERTY SOCIAL SYSTEMS
United States Latest News, United States Headlines
Similar News:You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.
UnitedHealthcare CEO Assassin’s Surprise Stop Before Killing of Brian ThompsonNew images shared by the NYPD shows Brian Thompson’s suspected killer getting Starbucks before his hit.
Read more »
Brian Thompson Shooting Timeline, Maps Show How Killing UnfoldedNo information on a motive for the killing has been released, but police said they believe the shooting was 'targeted.'
Read more »
Cryptic words were found on bullet casings at scene of CEO Brian Thompson's killingShell casings with the cryptic words 'deny,' 'defend' and 'depose' were found at the scene of the fatal shooting of the UnitedHealthcare CEO outside of a Manhattan hotel, police officials say.
Read more »
Cryptic words were found on bullet casings at scene of CEO Brian Thompson's killingShell casings with the cryptic words 'deny,' 'defend' and 'depose' were found at the scene of the fatal shooting of the UnitedHealthcare CEO outside of a Manhattan hotel, police officials say.
Read more »
Suspect in UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson's killing has left NYC, cops believe: sourcesThe suspected killer who gunned down UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson came to New York City on an interstate Greyhound bus last month, police sources told The Post. The suspect arrived at the Port Authority bus terminal in Manhattan back on Nov. 24 after the vehicle set off from Atlanta, Georgia, according to the sources.
Read more »
Health Insurance Stocks—Led By UnitedHealth—Suffer Steep Drops Following Brian Thompson’s KillingDerek Saul is a New Jersey-based Senior Reporter on Forbes' news team. He graduated in 2021 from Duke University, where he majored in Economics and served as sports editor for The Chronicle, Duke's student newspaper, joining Forbes soon thereafter.
Read more »