Politics

Michael David Cobb Bowen’s political evolution, as reflected on his blog Cobb (cobb.typepad.com), is a journey from progressive and anti-racist activism to a stoic, skeptical, and centrist perspective that prioritizes individual agency, critiques identity politics, and embraces a nuanced view of race and culture. Below is a detailed description of this evolution, drawn from his blog posts and related sources, highlighting key shifts in his thinking over time.

Early Years: Progressive Roots and Anti-Racist Activism (1990s–Early 2000s) Link to heading

In the 1990s, Bowen’s online presence, under the pseudonym “boohab,” was rooted in a desire to extend hip-hop’s cultural and intellectual potential through digital media. He envisioned using the internet to create a “public backchannel” for Black communities to correct mainstream media distortions and promote models of success, motivated by events like the Los Angeles riots and what he called the “semiotic swamp” of misrepresentation. His early work was aligned with progressive ideals, particularly anti-racist politics, as he sought to contextualize Black identity in a way that challenged stereotypes and fostered dialogue. He described himself as part of the “talented tenth” and post-soul generation, influenced by figures like Spike Lee and Cornel West, and aimed to combat racial misunderstandings through online forums like Cafe Utne and Salon Table Talk.

Bowen’s initial political engagement was not explicitly partisan but leaned left, focusing on cultural and racial justice. He was critical of mainstream narratives and sought to amplify Black voices, though he was skeptical of oversimplified racial unity, noting the diversity of Black experiences. For example, he rejected assumptions about Black attitudes toward Jews when living in Brooklyn and resisted being pigeonholed into Fulton County’s Black culture after moving to Cobb County, Georgia. This early skepticism of monolithic racial narratives foreshadowed his later critiques.

Shift Toward Conservatism (Mid-2000s–2010) Link to heading

By the mid-2000s, Bowen’s blog began reflecting a shift toward conservative ideas, particularly a “black neoconservative pragmatism” influenced by the Chicago school. He started identifying with the “American Right,” as seen in his blog’s description, though his conservatism was pragmatic rather than ideological. He admired figures like Steve Biko, Teddy Roosevelt, and Winston Churchill for their strength and principle, indicating a preference for individual leadership over collective movements. His posts from this period, such as those in 2007, show support for Republican figures like Duncan Hunter and Fred Thompson, whom he saw as capable of unifying the country without the “Red vs. Blue” divisiveness.

Bowen’s conservatism was also shaped by a growing disillusionment with progressive racial politics. He began to question the efficacy of civil rights activism beyond its initial legal victories, arguing that the movement’s focus on economic power and perpetual grievance was misguided. In a 2016 post, he wrote, “The greatest mistake of civil rights activists and those who followed them was to believe there was more to gain from that formula, specifically economic power.” He cited successful Black individuals like Colin Powell and Vernon Jordan to argue that personal achievement, not political tactics, was the path forward for Black Americans. This marked a rejection of collective racial strategies in favor of individualism.

His critique of progressive narratives extended to media and cultural representations. In 2007, he expressed frustration with the Los Angeles Times for overlooking his contributions to the Black blogosphere in favor of newer, more activist-driven groups like Afrospear, indicating a sense of alienation from the progressive Black intellectual mainstream. He also dismissed the “politics of tragedy,” such as media focus on racialized disasters, and began to prioritize personal responsibility over systemic critiques.

Reversal on Feminist Ethics and Patriarchy (2000s–2010s) Link to heading

A significant intellectual shift occurred in Bowen’s views on feminist ethics. In a 2007 normblog profile, he admitted to reversing his stance on patriarchy, moving from distrusting it to believing that feminism offered little to replace it. This change reflected a broader skepticism of utopian ideologies that sought to dismantle traditional structures without viable alternatives. He viewed patriarchy as a flawed but functional system, and his embrace of stoicism—evident in later writings—reinforced this preference for enduring structures over radical reform.

Transition to the “New Center” and Stoic Skepticism (2010s–2020) Link to heading

By the 2010s, Bowen’s blog description evolved from the “American Right” to the “New Center with a healthy amount of stoic skepticism,” signaling a move away from strict conservatism toward a more independent, pragmatic stance. This shift was driven by his frustration with both left and right dogmas, particularly the left’s identity politics and the right’s occasional racial insensitivity. He began to see political partisanship as “cheaply value-laden” and sought to avoid the “madness” of polarized narratives.

Bowen’s stoicism, influenced by thinkers like Nassim Taleb, became a cornerstone of his worldview. He embraced Taleb’s concepts of antifragility and risk management, applying them to social and political issues. His 2019 and 2020 posts reflect a focus on reason, evidence, and individual agency, as seen in his rejection of Black Lives Matter’s narrative, which he called a “death cult” fixated on Black tragedy rather than life. He argued that “blackness” was not a monolithic identity to be politically mobilized but a personal characteristic that individuals could define for themselves.

His critique of identity politics intensified, particularly in response to movements like Black Lives Matter. In a 2020 post, he wrote, “My Black Life Doesn’t Matter,” expressing discomfort with the movement’s collectivism and its divergence from the civil rights era’s focus on constitutional principles. He saw modern racial activism as disconnected from the Declaration of Independence and Constitution, which he believed early civil rights leaders effectively leveraged. This marked a clear break from his earlier anti-racist activism, as he now viewed such efforts as perpetuating division rather than resolving it.

Founding Free Black Thought and Post-Racial Aspirations (2020s) Link to heading

Bowen’s political evolution culminated in his role as a founding member of Free Black Thought, a platform advocating for intellectual diversity among Black Americans. His work with Free Black Thought and his Substack, Stoic Observations, reflects a post-racial ethos, emphasizing universal human values over racial categories. He critiques the “obligatory seriousness” of racial discourse and explores what it means to move beyond “blackness” as a defining identity. In a 2024 podcast with Winkfield Twyman Jr., he discussed the “evolution and nuances of ‘Black Pride,’” questioning its class-based snobbiness and advocating for a broader, more inclusive understanding of success.

His 2024 Substack post on anthropology reveals a detached, almost scientific approach to human behavior, likening people to “schools of fish” and prioritizing systems over individual stories. This aligns with his career as a data engineer, where he builds decision-support systems, and his philosophical commitment to reason over ideology. He remains critical of both progressive and conservative narratives, seeking a “revolution in communications” to enable transparency in economics, language, and law.

Key Themes and Influences Link to heading

Throughout his evolution, several themes emerge:

Skepticism of Ideology: Bowen rejects utopian promises, whether from feminism, civil rights activism, or identity politics, favoring pragmatic, evidence-based approaches.
Individualism: He prioritizes personal agency over collective identity, urging Black Americans to define themselves beyond “blackness.”
Stoicism and Antifragility: Influenced by Taleb and Jordan Peterson, Bowen embraces resilience and reason, seeing them as antidotes to political chaos.
Critique of Racial Narratives: He challenges both liberal and conservative assumptions about race, advocating for Black diversity and post-racial ethics.
Western Civilization: Bowen’s later work defends Western values through Socratic dialogue, viewing them as a framework for human flourishing.

Conclusion Link to heading

Michael David Cobb Bowen’s political evolution, as documented on Cobb, traces a path from progressive anti-racism to conservative pragmatism, and finally to a stoic, centrist skepticism that transcends traditional political categories. His journey reflects a deep engagement with race, culture, and philosophy, shaped by personal experiences, intellectual influences like Taleb and Peterson, and a commitment to individual agency. By the 2020s, Bowen’s focus on Free Black Thought and his rejection of identity-driven narratives position him as a voice for intellectual freedom and post-racial thought, challenging both left and right to rethink their assumptions about race and society.